Chapter 2 - The Boy Who Was StolenThe ballroom became chaos.
Guests whispered.
Phones appeared.
Security guards stood frozen.
Victoria struggled against the officers.
“You have no idea what you're doing!”
The officer remained calm.
“Mrs. Vance, you will have an opportunity to explain yourself at the station.”
“I am a respected woman!”
“That doesn't put you above the law.”
Victoria looked toward Arthur.
“Tell them!”
Arthur didn't move.
“Arthur!”
He looked at her.
“For years, I believed you.”
Victoria's eyes widened.
“You believe this servant?”
Arthur shook his head.
“I believe the evidence.”
Sarah stood with Leo in her arms.
She was shaking.
She couldn't understand how the evening had become this.
Only hours ago, she had been a woman nobody noticed.
Now everyone was staring at her.
Arthur approached carefully.
“Sarah.”
She stepped backward.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn't.”
His honesty surprised her.
“But I can explain.”
Sarah looked at Leo.
“Then explain everything.”
Arthur nodded.
“Four years ago, my wife told me she had given birth to a son.”
Sarah's eyes narrowed.
“Victoria was pregnant?”
“No.”
Sarah's heart sank.
Arthur continued.
“She told me the child was born through a private arrangement.”
Sarah looked at Leo.
“An adoption?”
Arthur shook his head.
“She said the biological mother had agreed to give him up.”
Sarah's voice broke.
“I never agreed to anything.”
“I know.”
“Someone took him from me.”
Arthur lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
Leo clung to Sarah.
“Mummy, don't let them take me again.”
Sarah held him tighter.
“No one will.”
Arthur looked toward the police.
“There are records.”
One detective opened a folder.
“Mr. Vance has provided evidence of falsified adoption documents.”
Sarah stared.
“Who signed them?”
The detective hesitated.
“Victoria.”
Sarah closed her eyes.
She remembered that terrible day.
Four years earlier.
She had been working as a housekeeper at a luxury hotel.
She had been twenty-four.
She was pregnant and struggling financially.
Her son had been born prematurely.
The hospital had told her he was healthy enough to survive.
Then, while Sarah was recovering from surgery, someone had entered the hospital room.
A woman pretending to be a social worker.
She had asked Sarah questions.
Then Sarah had fallen asleep.
When she woke up, Leo was gone.
The hospital told her he had been transferred.
Then they said the records were missing.
Then someone threatened her.
If she kept searching, she would be arrested for kidnapping.
Sarah had spent four years believing the world had decided her child didn't belong to her.
Now she knew why.
Victoria had stolen him.
Sarah looked at Arthur.
“Why didn't you investigate?”
His face tightened.
“Because I trusted my wife.”
Sarah shook her head.
“My son was taken from me.”
“I know.”
“You raised him.”
Arthur looked at Leo.
“I loved him.”
Sarah's expression softened slightly.
“But you didn't know he was stolen.”
“No.”
Leo looked at Arthur.
“Daddy?”
Arthur knelt.
Leo stared at him.
“Are you still my daddy?”
Arthur's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Sarah watched.
She understood something.
Arthur wasn't the person who had stolen Leo.
He had been deceived too.
The police officer approached.
“Sarah, we need you to come with us.”
Sarah immediately stiffened.
“Why?”
“We need your statement.”
She looked at Leo.
“I won't let him out of my sight.”
“You won't have to.”
Arthur stepped forward.
“I'll arrange a private room.”
Sarah looked at him.
“Thank you.”
Victoria screamed from across the ballroom.
“Don't believe them!”
Sarah turned.
Victoria stared at her.
“You don't know what you're getting into!”
Sarah hugged Leo.
“I know exactly what I'm getting into.”
Then she whispered to her son,
May you like
“I came for you.”
“And this time, I'm taking you home.”
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