Chapter 3 - The Family That Bought a BabyAmber learned the truth in fragments.
That was almost worse than hearing it all at once.
Her grandfather, Robert Reed, had been involved in a criminal alliance with two families.
The Marinos.
And the Whitakers.
Twenty years ago, a war was coming.
Robert wanted protection.
The Whitakers wanted leverage.
The Marinos wanted peace.
A child became the bargaining piece.
Gabriel and Rose had twin daughters.
The agreement was simple.
One child would remain with Rose.
The other would be raised by the Whitakers.
Nobody called it buying a child.
They called it a guardianship agreement.
But money changed hands.
Contracts existed.
And the child was given a new identity.
Claire Donovan.
Amber's sister.
“What about Rose?” Amber asked.
Daniel lowered his eyes.
“She refused the arrangement.”
“What happened?”
“She tried to leave.”
“Where?”
“Canada.”
“She never made it.”
“No.”
“She was murdered?”
“We don't know.”
Amber stared at him.
“My mother died in a car accident.”
“That's what the report says.”
“And you don't believe it?”
Daniel's expression was grim.
“We never found the second vehicle.”
Amber felt sick.
Vincent sat silently nearby.
For the first time, Amber noticed how much pain he carried when Rose's name came up.
“You loved her.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you find her?”
“Because my father threatened to kill you.”
Amber stopped.
“Me?”
“You were a baby.”
Vincent's voice broke.
“He told me that if I tried to take you, he'd kill Rose and the child.”
“The other child.”
“Yes.”
Amber realized something.
“You weren't told Claire was alive.”
“No.”
“Then how did you find her?”
“DNA.”
He had submitted his DNA years later.
A match appeared.
Claire.
It wasn't enough to prove everything.
But it was enough to start searching.
The problem was that by then, Claire was already embedded in the Whitaker family.
She had grown up rich.
Protected.
Loved, perhaps.
But controlled.
Amber remembered Patricia's obsession with grandchildren.
Her constant comments about family bloodlines.
Her hatred for Amber.
It had never made sense.
Until now.
Patricia hadn't wanted a baby.
She had wanted control of the family line.
And Amber had been the wrong woman standing in the wrong place.
Vincent warned her.
“Do not confront them yet.”
“Why?”
“They'll run.”
“Let them.”
“No.”
His eyes hardened.
“They know things we don't.”
The next day, Amber went to see Claire.
Claire opened the door.
She was beautiful.
Twenty years old.
Dark hair.
Amber's eyes.
For a second, neither spoke.
Claire smiled politely.
“Can I help you?”
Amber almost cried.
Instead she said:
“My name is Amber Reed.”
Claire's expression changed.
“I know.”
“You know me?”
“You were married to my brother.”
Amber's heart stopped.
Brother.
“Yes.”
Claire frowned.
“You okay?”
Amber stared at her.
She couldn't do it.
Not yet.
She couldn't tell a stranger that they were sisters.
Not before confirmation.
Not before understanding who had lied.
So she simply said:
“I wanted to return something.”
She handed Claire the silver flower necklace.
Claire stared.
“Where did you get this?”
“My mother.”
Claire touched it.
“My mother had one just like this.”
Amber's breath caught.
“Who was your mother?”
Claire said:
“Patricia.”
Not Rose.
Not even hesitation.
Amber nodded.
“Take care of yourself.”
Claire watched her walk away.
That evening, Amber received a call.
Dean.
“Where are you?”
“Why?”
“Because my mother knows you've been asking about Claire.”
Amber stiffened.
“And?”
“You need to leave town.”
“No.”
“Amber.”
“Why?”
Dean whispered:
“She told my father to prepare.”
“Prepare for what?”
A pause.
“War.”
The next morning, Amber woke to broken windows.
Nero barked.
A stone lay on the kitchen floor.
Wrapped around it was a note.
Stop looking for the girl.
Amber stared at it.
Then the phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
A woman's voice whispered:
“Your mother didn't die in an accident.”
Amber stopped breathing.
“Who are you?”
The woman said:
“She was killed the night she tried to take your sister back.”
Amber's hand began to shake.
“Who killed her?”
May you like
The woman replied:
“Your husband's family.”
Related Stories
