Chapter 5 - The Father Elias Buried
Elias's face became unreadable.
“My father is dead.”
Nathan shook his head.
“That's what everyone was told.”
“Where is he?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Connecticut.”
Elias grabbed him.
“Where?”
Nathan gave him an address.
Then he looked at me.
“Your father-in-law isn't the only person behind this.”
I felt cold.
“Who else?”
Nathan whispered,
“Your own mother.”
My heart stopped.
“My mother is dead.”
“So is my father.”
He looked at Elias.
“But they're both alive.”
We drove through the night.
Elias kept the babies in his SUV.
I sat beside them.
Nathan was handcuffed in another vehicle.
When we arrived at the estate, everything became clear.
A man stepped onto the balcony.
Older.
Gray-haired.
But unmistakably Elias.
His father.
Victor Vance.
Elias stepped out of the SUV.
“You're dead.”
Victor smiled.
“I had to be.”
Elias raised his gun.
“Why?”
“Because your enemies wanted me dead.”
“You created those children.”
Victor looked toward the babies.
“Yes.”
I stepped forward.
“Why?”
Victor looked at me.
“Because I needed an heir.”
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“You used my husband.”
“Yes.”
“You destroyed my family.”
He looked almost regretful.
“I never intended for you to suffer.”
I laughed.
“You threw my babies away.”
Victor shook his head.
“I didn't.”
He looked at Nathan.
“Your husband did.”
Nathan shouted,
“You ordered it!”
Victor smiled.
“I ordered the children retrieved.”
“Not killed.”
Nathan stared.
“You wanted them taken.”
“Yes.”
I stepped between them.
“Why?”
Victor's answer stunned me.
“Because the children are not heirs.”
I frowned.
“They are evidence.”
“Evidence of what?”
Victor looked at Elias.
“Your father didn't create the experiment.”
He pointed toward Nathan.
“Your husband's family did.”
I looked at Nathan.
He lowered his head.
Then Victor revealed the final secret.
The experiment had been designed to create genetically identical heirs for wealthy families.
But the program had failed.
Every embryo had died.
Except Ava's daughters.
The twins were proof that the program worked.
And whoever controlled them could sell the technology for billions.
I stared at my babies.
“I won't let you.”
Victor smiled.
“You don't have a choice.”
Elias stepped forward.
“She does.”
Victor looked at his son.
“You would destroy your own family for a woman you barely know?”
Elias answered without hesitation.
“Yes.”
Victor laughed.
“Then you really are my son.”
Gunfire erupted.
Men appeared around the estate.
Elias grabbed me.
“Get down!”
The battle began.
And in the chaos, Victor disappeared.
So did Nathan.
But before Nathan vanished, he shouted something.
“Ava!”
I looked up.
May you like
“Trust Elias!”
Then he was gone.
