Chapter 10 - THE MONEY I NEVER RECEIVED
The transfer had been for five million dollars.
Emily stared at the banking record.
Recipient:
EMILY CARTER FAMILY TRUST.
She had never owned such a trust.
The money was sent seven years earlier.
Three days after Evan’s birth.
From a private account controlled by Dominic Kane.
“To me?”
Martin nodded.
“Dominic wanted the child protected.”
“He was already dead.”
Martin shook his head.
“Officially, he died two weeks later.”
Emily frowned.
Her memory rearranged.
She had been told the Kane patriarch died before Evan was born because that was what Julian claimed.
Another lie.
“Why send me money?”
“He learned there had been a live birth.”
Adrian stared.
“So he did know.”
“For a few days.”
Martin explained.
Dominic discovered Simon had created a pregnancy using Adrian’s stored genetic material.
He was furious.
Not because of consent.
At least not initially.
Because Simon acted outside his authority.
Emily’s disgust deepened.
But Dominic later learned Emily had not consented.
According to Martin, he ordered the program shut down.
He created a five-million-dollar trust intended for Emily and the child.
“Where is it?”
Martin looked ashamed.
“Intercepted.”
“By Simon?”
“No.”
“Julian?”
“No.”
Martin swallowed.
“Me.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You took five million dollars from her?”
“I followed Dominic’s instructions.”
“What instructions?”
“Hold the funds until paternity and custody were resolved.”
Emily laughed.
“Seven years?”
Martin’s face broke.
“No. Something happened.”
The account disappeared from Martin’s control two months later.
Transferred by forged authorization.
For years he assumed Dominic’s estate lawyers had moved it.
After recognizing Emily at the restaurant, Martin checked.
The money had been routed through a Nevada trust.
Then multiple companies.
Most of it still existed.
“Who controls it now?”
Martin handed Emily a report.
She read the name.
JULIAN CROSS.
Her jaw tightened.
Of course.
The man who stole her choices had also taken money intended to protect her.
Then Julian called.
As if summoned by rage.
Emily answered.
“Tell me you didn’t steal five million dollars.”
Silence.
Then:
“I moved it.”
“You stole it.”
“I prevented Simon from finding it.”
“Where is it?”
“Still there.”
“Why?”
“Because I never considered it mine.”
“That did not stop you from controlling it.”
“No.”
Emily’s anger became strangely quiet.
“I want every document.”
“You’ll have them.”
“Today.”
“Yes.”
“And then you stay out of my life unless investigators or a court require you.”
Julian went silent.
“That’s fair.”
“No. Fair would have been telling me the truth seven years ago.”
She ended the call.
Adrian watched her.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She almost laughed at the echo of herself.
The funds were transferred under court supervision into a protected account pending resolution.
Emily did not need the money.
She was already wealthy.
So she made a decision.
“If it legally becomes mine, I want it used for victims of reproductive fraud.”
Adrian nodded.
“Agreed.”
“It isn’t yours.”
“I know.”
That mattered too.
The investigation around Simon expanded internationally.
Canada issued a detention request.
Helix victims began surfacing.
Families.
Donors.
Children now old enough to ask questions.
Emily’s story became potentially public.
Her board panicked.
“Meridian’s reputation—”
“My body was violated,” Emily said.
The room went silent.
“This company’s reputation will survive people knowing that.”
Her communications chief looked embarrassed.
Emily continued.
“We disclose only what protects Evan and other children’s privacy. But I will not behave as though being victimized is shameful.”
That night, Evan called from Adrian’s home.
“Mom?”
The word still stopped her heart.
“Yes?”
“Father says you’re good at building things.”
“Sometimes.”
“I need help.”
“With?”
“A school project.”
She smiled.
“Emergency?”
“Very.”
“What time tomorrow?”
“Seven.”
She arrived at six fifty.
Adrian opened the door.
“You’re early.”
“I run a robotics company.”
“I run freight.”
“And yet your tea is criminal.”
He smiled.
Then Evan shouted from the dining room.
“Mom!”
Emily walked toward him.
It felt impossible.
And right.
But on the table beside Evan’s project sat something that did not belong there.
A small padded envelope.
No return address.
Adrian saw it at the same time.
Security had not delivered it.
Evan looked confused.
“It was in my backpack.”
Inside was a single photograph.
Rachel Owens leaving her prenatal clinic.
On the back:
ONE CHILD WAS AN EXPERIMENT.
TWO CHILDREN ARE A LEGACY.
May you like
Simon was still watching them.
And now he knew exactly who carried the second baby.
