Chapter 4 - My Husband Came for the Girls
The alarm sounded at 2:13 a.m.
I woke instantly.
Elias was already standing beside my bed.
“Stay here.”
“Where are my babies?”
“With the nurses.”
He opened the door.
Gunfire echoed somewhere below.
I screamed.
“Elias!”
He looked back.
“I'll bring them back.”
Then he disappeared.
Minutes later, the lights went out.
The building went dark.
I heard footsteps.
Someone entered my room.
I reached for the lamp.
A hand covered my mouth.
“Don't scream.”
I froze.
Nathan.
My husband.
He whispered,
“Where are the girls?”
I bit his hand.
He cursed.
I ran toward the hallway.
Nathan grabbed me.
“You don't understand.”
“You threw us away!”
“I had no choice.”
“You called them curses!”
“I needed everyone to believe I didn't care.”
“You left me to die!”
“I was trying to keep you alive.”
I stared at him.
“You're lying.”
He shook his head.
“Your father-in-law ordered your death.”
“What?”
“He wanted the babies.”
“Why?”
“Because they belong to the Vance family.”
I pushed him away.
“They belong to me.”
Nathan looked at me sadly.
“No, Ava.”
He stepped closer.
“They were never supposed to be born.”
I froze.
“What?”
“The experiment was supposed to produce one child.”
My heart stopped.
“But there were two.”
He nodded.
“That's why everyone is terrified.”
“Why?”
“Because the two embryos developed independently.”
He whispered,
“They are the first successful genetic replicas in history.”
I stared at him.
“And you knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you marry me?”
“To monitor the pregnancy.”
The words destroyed whatever remained of my love for him.
“You never loved me.”
“No.”
He looked ashamed.
“I was ordered to use you.”
I slapped him.
He didn't stop me.
“You ruined my life.”
“I know.”
“You nearly killed my daughters.”
“I tried to protect them.”
“By abandoning us?”
“I had no choice.”
A gunshot sounded down the hallway.
Nathan looked toward the door.
“They're coming.”
“Who?”
“My father.”
I froze.
“You mean your father?”
He nodded.
“He wants the girls dead.”
“Why?”
“Because if they survive, Elias controls the inheritance.”
I heard footsteps.
Nathan grabbed my wrist.
“We have to go.”
“No.”
“Ava.”
“I don't trust you.”
“You shouldn't.”
He looked at me.
“But I'm still their father.”
I stared at him.
Then the door exploded open.
Elias stood there.
His gun was raised.
His eyes went directly to Nathan.
“Step away from her.”
Nathan slowly lifted his hands.
“Elias—”
“Step away.”
Nathan obeyed.
Elias looked at me.
“Are you hurt?”
I shook my head.
Then he looked at Nathan.
“You have ten seconds to explain why you're alive.”
Nathan smiled bitterly.
“Because your enemies haven't killed me yet.”
Elias raised his weapon.
Nathan whispered,
May you like
“Your father is alive.”
The room went silent.
