Chapter 7 - THE MAN WHO WASN'T MY FATHER
I stared at my mother.
“Then who is?”
She looked almost relieved.
“Now you understand why I was afraid.”
“You've lied to me my entire life.”
“Yes.”
“About my father.”
“Yes.”
“My children.”
“Yes.”
“My past.”
“Yes.”
“Everything.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because the truth would have gotten you killed.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You're saying this now?”
“I have no reason to lie anymore.”
“Who is my father?”
She whispered:
“Richard Roth.”
I froze.
Gabriel's grandfather.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Your grandmother was having an affair.”
“With Richard?”
“Yes.”
“And Gabriel?”
“Gabriel is not your brother.”
I stared.
“Then why does Lily's DNA match him?”
“Because Gabriel's father is Richard's son.”
I couldn't breathe.
My mother continued.
“Your bloodline is complicated.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“You and Gabriel share no biological relationship.”
I closed my eyes.
At least that.
“But Lily?”
“Gabriel is her father.”
“Then why did you take her?”
“Because Richard wanted a Roth heir.”
“And you helped him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he threatened Noah.”
I froze.
“What?”
“He said if I didn't surrender Lily, he would kill you and Noah.”
My mother's voice broke.
“I chose Lily because I thought I could get her back later.”
“You never did.”
“No.”
“Because you were paid.”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
She whispered:
“Twenty million dollars.”
I stared.
The woman who had raised me.
The woman who had called me her daughter.
Had sold my child.
“For money.”
“For survival.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“For greed.”
She began crying.
“You're right.”
The door opened.
A man walked inside.
My grandfather.
Gabriel's grandfather.
Richard Roth.
He was older than I expected.
Elegant.
Calm.
Terrifying.
“Hello, Claire.”
I stared.
“You did all this.”
He smiled.
“I built it.”
“Why?”
“Because families like ours don't survive on love.”
“What do they survive on?”
“Blood.”
He stepped closer.
“Your children are valuable.”
“They're human beings.”
“To you.”
He smiled.
“To the world, they are genetic assets.”
I felt sick.
“What are you going to do?”
“Nothing.”
He turned.
“Someone else will.”
The door opened.
Gabriel walked inside.
Blood covered his shirt.
His eyes found mine.
“Claire.”
Richard smiled.
“Welcome, Gabriel.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“You're finished.”
Richard laughed.
“You don't understand.”
Gabriel raised a phone.
“I have everything.”
Richard's smile disappeared.
“Everything?”
“Financial records.”
“Not enough.”
“Medical records.”
“Still not enough.”
“Your conversations.”
Richard's face changed.
Gabriel stepped closer.
“And DNA files.”
Silence.
“You used my genetic material.”
Richard's eyes narrowed.
“You were created to serve this family.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“And I choose mine.”
Richard reached for a gun.
Gabriel moved faster.
Security stormed in.
Richard was arrested.
My mother collapsed.
Gabriel ran toward me.
He cut the ropes.
I grabbed him.
“What about Noah?”
“Safe.”
“Lily?”
“Safe.”
I started crying.
Gabriel held me.
Then Ethan appeared.
He smiled.
“It's over.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He frowned.
“What?”
I looked toward Richard.
“He said someone else will.”
Then my phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
You arrested the wrong man.
Then another.
Richard Roth isn't the one who started the program.
A final message appeared.
Ask your mother what happened seven years before Noah was born.
I looked at Eleanor.
She went white.
“Oh God.”
I whispered:
“What?”
She looked at me.
May you like
“Your first child wasn't Noah.”
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