Chapter 5 - The Missing ManMarcus Vale had vanished.
His apartment was empty.
His bank account had been drained.
His passport was missing.
The police issued a nationwide alert.
Sarah became terrified.
“What if he takes Leo again?”
Arthur shook his head.
“He won't.”
“How can you know?”
“Because this time, we're watching.”
Arthur hired security.
Not to control Sarah.
To protect her.
Meanwhile, Detective Morgan traced Marcus's last payment.
It came from an offshore account.
The account belonged to Victoria.
Sarah stared at the transaction records.
“She paid him to disappear.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows where the original documents are.”
Arthur looked at the detective.
“What documents?”
“The adoption contract.”
Sarah's heart pounded.
“If we find it…”
“We can prove the entire scheme.”
Three days later, Marcus was found at an airport.
He was trying to leave the country.
Police arrested him.
During interrogation, he confessed.
Victoria had paid him to remove Leo from the hospital.
She had paid him to falsify documents.
She had paid him to convince hospital staff that Sarah had abandoned her child.
But Marcus revealed something else.
Victoria had never legally adopted Leo.
Not once.
Every document was fake.
Leo had been stolen.
Sarah listened to the confession with tears in her eyes.
She finally had proof.
Not just suspicion.
Not just memories.
Proof.
When Victoria heard Marcus had confessed, she broke down.
She demanded to speak to Sarah.
Sarah refused.
Then Victoria sent a message.
I can tell you why I really did it.
Sarah hesitated.
Arthur looked at her.
“You don't have to.”
“I know.”
Sarah thought about Leo.
Then nodded.
“I want to hear it.”
They met at the detention center.
Victoria entered wearing plain clothes.
No diamonds.
No makeup.
No power.
She looked like an ordinary woman.
Sarah sat across from her.
“Why?”
Victoria stared at her.
“I was terrified.”
“That isn't enough.”
“I couldn't have children.”
“That doesn't justify stealing mine.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Victoria began crying.
“Because when I saw Leo, I thought I could finally become the woman everyone believed I was.”
Sarah's expression hardened.
“A mother.”
“Yes.”
“You could have adopted a child.”
“I wanted him.”
“He wasn't yours.”
“I know.”
Victoria looked down.
“I became obsessed.”
Sarah whispered,
“You destroyed my life.”
“I know.”
“You destroyed Arthur's trust.”
“I know.”
“You made Leo believe I abandoned him.”
Victoria began sobbing.
“I know.”
Sarah stood.
“I hope you understand something.”
Victoria looked up.
“I don't want your life.”
Victoria blinked.
“I don't want your money.”
Sarah walked toward the door.
“I only wanted my son.”
She paused.
“And now I have him.”
Victoria whispered,
“I'm sorry.”
Sarah didn't turn around.
“Sorry doesn't give me back four years.”
Then she left.
May you like
For the first time, Victoria understood that punishment wasn't losing her money.
It was living with the knowledge that she had stolen four years from a mother and a child that could never be returned.
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