Chapter 8 - My Mother Was Never the Villain
We found my mother alive.
She was living under another name in Vermont.
When I saw her, I couldn't speak.
She cried before I did.
“Ava.”
I ran toward her.
She held me.
For several minutes, neither of us said anything.
Then I asked the question that had haunted me.
“Why?”
She wiped her tears.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“From what?”
“Your father.”
I froze.
“My father?”
She nodded.
“Your father was involved with Victor.”
She explained that she had discovered the genetics program years ago.
She had tried to expose it.
Victor threatened her.
Then he threatened me.
So she disappeared.
But before she did, she secretly arranged for Nathan to watch over me.
“I didn't know he would become your husband.”
I stared at her.
“You paid him?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
“Victor.”
My mother had spent years believing Nathan was protecting me.
Instead, he had become part of the conspiracy.
She cried.
“I failed you.”
I shook my head.
“You saved me.”
She looked toward the twins.
“Are those my granddaughters?”
I smiled through tears.
“Yes.”
She held them.
And something inside me healed.
That night, we discovered another secret.
Victor had been planning to release the genetic technology publicly.
He wanted chaos.
He wanted powerful families fighting over the children.
And he had one final move.
He planned to kidnap the twins during a charity gala where Elias would be publicly exposed.
The gala was three days away.
Elias wanted to cancel.
I refused.
“No.”
“You're not going.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Ava.”
“They're my children.”
“I know.”
“Then let me fight.”
He stared at me.
Then smiled.
“That's what I was hoping you'd say.”
We built a plan.
Nathan would testify.
My mother would provide evidence.
Elias would expose Victor's organization.
And I would bring the girls to the gala.
The night arrived.
The ballroom glittered.
Hundreds of guests filled the room.
The girls wore matching blue dresses.
Elias held one.
I held the other.
Then the lights went out.
A gunshot echoed.
People screamed.
Security rushed forward.
And a voice came through the speakers.
“Good evening, Elias.”
Victor.
He had taken control of the building.
The doors locked.
The cameras turned toward us.
Then Victor appeared on every screen.
He smiled.
“Give me the children.”
Elias stepped in front of us.
“No.”
Victor laughed.
“You don't understand.”
He pressed a button.
The entire building shook.
Explosives.
I grabbed my daughters.
Elias looked at me.
“Run.”
We ran.
But the hallway ahead was blocked.
And behind us, Victor's men were closing in.
Then Nathan appeared.
He fired twice.
“Go!”
I grabbed Elias's hand.
May you like
We ran toward the emergency exit.
And behind us, the building began to collapse.
