Chapter 4 - The Boy Who DisappearedThree weeks passed.
Michael found nothing.
No adoption record.
No school record.
No medical record.
Nothing.
It was as if Elizabeth's son had never existed.
Then one afternoon, Michael called.
“I found something.”
Victoria rushed to his office.
He placed a photograph on the desk.
It showed a young man in his early twenties.
Brown hair.
Green eyes.
A small birthmark on his right shoulder.
Victoria stared.
“Who is he?”
“His name is Noah.”
“Where is he?”
“Ohio.”
Victoria's heart raced.
“Is he…”
“We don't know yet.”
Lily stood beside her.
“Can we meet him?”
Michael nodded.
The next morning, they flew there.
Noah worked at an auto repair shop.
He was twenty-two.
He lived in a small apartment.
He had no idea that he was connected to one of the wealthiest families in the country.
When Victoria walked into the garage, he looked up.
“Can I help you?”
Victoria couldn't speak.
Lily stepped forward.
“Are you Noah?”
He frowned.
“Yes.”
She pulled out the old photograph.
Noah stared at it.
His face changed.
“Where did you get that?”
“My mother.”
“Who is your mother?”
“Elizabeth.”
Noah stepped backward.
“Elizabeth…”
He whispered the name like he had heard it before.
“My adoptive parents mentioned that name.”
Victoria's heart stopped.
“You were adopted?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know who your biological father is?”
Noah shook his head.
“I was told my parents died.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Your mother didn't die.”
Noah stared.
“She disappeared.”
He looked at Lily.
“Are you…”
“My name is Lily.”
Noah's eyes filled with tears.
“You're my sister.”
Lily nodded.
He covered his mouth.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Noah hugged her.
Victoria watched them.
The twins had finally found each other.
Afterward, Noah asked:
“Why did she leave?”
Victoria couldn't answer.
Michael did.
“She didn't.”
He told Noah everything.
Elizabeth had discovered Richard's crimes.
Richard had taken Noah.
Elizabeth had disappeared trying to protect her children.
Noah sat silently.
Then he asked:
“Where is she now?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“She's gone.”
Noah looked at her.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
“How?”
Victoria hesitated.
“We're still investigating.”
Noah looked away.
Then something occurred to him.
“My adoptive father left me a letter.”
“What did it say?”
Noah went to his car.
He returned with an envelope.
Victoria opened it.
Inside was a single sentence.
Your biological family will come looking for you when the truth becomes dangerous.
Victoria stared at it.
“What does that mean?”
Noah shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Then Michael's phone rang.
His face changed.
“What?”
He listened.
Then looked at Victoria.
“We have another problem.”
“What?”
“Someone broke into Elizabeth's old house.”
Victoria froze.
“Did they take anything?”
“No.”
Michael paused.
“They left something.”
“What?”
“A photograph.”
He handed it to Victoria.
It showed Elizabeth.
Richard.
And another man.
Victoria recognized him immediately.
Her father.
She stared at the photograph.
“No…”
Michael whispered:
May you like
“Your father was involved.”
Victoria felt the last piece of her world collapse.
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