Chapter 8: The Woman Who Stole Three Children
Lucas didn't speak to Evelyn until the children were safely inside the private family wing.
Daniel, Lily, and Sophie were being watched by two guards Lucas trusted with his own life.
A doctor had examined them.
None were injured.
But Daniel refused to sleep without holding his father's hand.
Lily sat beside him, quietly drawing on a sheet of paper.
Sophie stayed near the window.
She had not stopped asking when Margaret was coming back.
Lucas looked at the three children.
Three faces.
Three different personalities.
One family.
He had missed everything.
Their first words.
Their first steps.
Their birthdays.
And someone had deliberately made sure he would never know.
He kissed Daniel's forehead.
“Stay with Elias.””
Daniel grabbed his sleeve.
“Are you leaving?””
“I have to speak with someone.””
“Will you come back?””
Lucas looked at him.
“Always.””
Then he turned toward the door.
Evelyn was waiting outside.
“Now,” Lucas said.
His study felt different.
The photographs on the shelves seemed to accuse him.
Isabella.
Daniel.
The empty family portrait that had once included only three people.
Lucas placed the photograph of the triplets on the desk.
“Tell me everything.””
Evelyn sat down.
For several seconds, she stared at her gloved hands.
Then she removed them.
“I wasn't supposed to raise you.””
Lucas frowned.
“What?””
“Your father had another wife before me. Her name was Catherine.””
Lucas went still.
Catherine.
He remembered a woman in an old photograph.
His biological mother.
The woman who had died when he was twelve.
“Catherine was your mother,” Evelyn continued.
“She loved you more than anything. But your father believed she was too soft to raise the heir of the Moretti family.””
Lucas looked at her.
“So he replaced her?””
Evelyn nodded.
“He married me after she died. I was supposed to be a companion, someone who would help maintain the household.””
Lucas laughed without humor.
“And instead you became the woman who raised me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Because I loved you.””
Lucas shook his head.
“You helped Victor steal my children.””
Her face crumpled.
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid your father would destroy them.””
Lucas slammed his hand against the desk.
“Your fear destroyed them anyway!””
Evelyn lowered her head.
“I know.””
He paced across the room.
“Tell me about the third child.””
Evelyn wiped her eyes.
“After the triplets were born, Anthony ordered Margaret to take one baby away. He said the child would be raised outside the family and used as insurance.””
“Insurance against what?””
“Against you.””
Lucas stopped.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father believed you would eventually try to leave the family. He wanted something that could bring you back.””
Lucas stared.
“My daughter was a hostage?””
Evelyn nodded.
“And Margaret raised her as Sophie.””
Lucas looked toward the family wing.
“She knew?””
“No. Not until recently.””
“Then why did she take Daniel?””
“Because Victor told her you had discovered the truth.””
Lucas felt a wave of anger.
“And you helped her?””
Evelyn's eyes filled.
“I thought she was taking Daniel somewhere safe.””
“You thought?””
“She said she had a plan.””
Lucas leaned over the desk.
“Where is the plane?””
Evelyn hesitated.
“An airfield in New Jersey.””
“Destination?””
“I don't know.””
“Evelyn.””
She looked at him.
“Please.””
Lucas stared.
“Do you understand what you've done?””
“Yes.””
“You helped a woman kidnap my son.””
“I thought I was saving him.””
“From what?””
Evelyn's voice dropped.
“From the people who ordered the children separated.””
Lucas went still.
“Who ordered it?””
Evelyn slowly reached into her handbag.
She removed a small audio recorder.
“Your father.””
Lucas stared.
“Anthony is dead.””
Evelyn nodded.
“But before he died, he left instructions.””
She pressed play.
A man's voice filled the room.
Old.
Deep.
Unmistakably Anthony Moretti.
*"If Lucas ever attempts to abandon the family, remove the children from his custody. The boy will remain under Victor's supervision. The girls will be separated and raised under different names.""*
A second voice answered.
*"And if Isabella refuses?""*
Anthony's response was chilling.
*"Then make her disappear.""*
The recording ended.
Lucas stood motionless.
His father had planned everything before he died.
Victor had simply carried out the instructions.
But Lucas wasn't finished.
“Who is the second voice?””
Evelyn looked at him.
“Margaret.””
Lucas took the recorder.
“Then we're going to find her.””
At the private airfield, Margaret Shaw sat inside a black vehicle.
Daniel was beside her.
His hands were trembling.
She handed him a small bottle of water.
“Drink.””
Daniel refused.
“I want my daddy.””
Margaret sighed.
“Your father is dangerous.””
“He isn't.””
“You don't understand.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Then why did he come looking for me?””
Margaret had no answer.
A man opened the vehicle door.
“Mrs. Shaw, we're ready.””
Margaret nodded.
“Get the boy aboard.””
Daniel pulled away.
“No!””
The man grabbed his arm.
“I want my daddy!””
Margaret closed her eyes.
For one moment, she looked almost sorry.
Then she turned away.
“Get him on the plane.””
Lucas's convoy reached the airfield at 7:05 a.m.
The plane was already moving toward the runway.
“Stop it!”” Lucas shouted.
Elias spoke into his radio.
“Block the runway!””
Two security vehicles moved across the service road.
The plane slowed.
Then stopped.
Lucas jumped out before the SUV had fully halted.
He ran toward the aircraft.
Margaret emerged from the passenger door.
Daniel appeared behind her.
“Daddy!””
Lucas stopped.
“Daniel!””
Margaret placed a hand against the boy's shoulder.
“Don't come closer.””
Lucas stared at her.
“Let him go.””
“You don't understand what you're doing.””
“I understand perfectly.””
Margaret shook her head.
“Your father gave me one responsibility. To protect the children.””
“You kidnapped my son.””
“I raised him.””
Lucas's eyes hardened.
“You kept him from his mother.””
Margaret looked away.
“She was unstable.””
“She was a grieving mother who had lost her husband and been told her children were dead.””
Margaret's face tightened.
“She was a danger to the family.””
Lucas stepped closer.
“You're not protecting anyone anymore.””
A second vehicle arrived.
Elias jumped out.
“Boss!””
Lucas turned.
Elias held up a phone.
“We have the police on the line. They're asking for authorization to arrest Margaret and Victor.””
Lucas nodded.
“Do it.””
Margaret's face changed.
“You can't!””
Lucas looked at her.
“Watch me.””
Daniel ran toward him.
Lucas caught him and lifted him into his arms.
The boy buried his face against his father's neck.
Margaret began crying.
“Anthony told me to do it.””
Lucas looked at her.
“My father is dead.””
“But his wishes—”
“His wishes ended with him.””
Margaret lowered her head.
Then she looked toward the runway.
“There's something you don't know.””
Lucas held Daniel tighter.
“What?””
Margaret swallowed.
“Victor didn't take Isabella three years ago.””
Lucas froze.
“What?””
“She escaped.””
Lucas stared.
“Then why did she disappear?””
Margaret looked directly into his eyes.
“Because she was protecting the third child.””
Lucas's face changed.
“Where is the child?””
Margaret shook her head.
“Not Sophie.””
Lucas felt cold.
“Then who?””
Margaret whispered:
“The fourth baby.””
Lucas returned to the mansion with Daniel.
He found Lily and Sophie sitting together in the family room.
Lily was showing Sophie how to use her inhaler.
“You press here,” she explained.
“But only when you need it.””
Sophie nodded seriously.
Lucas watched them.
Three children.
But Margaret's words echoed in his head.
The fourth baby.
He found Evelyn in the study.
“Did you know?””
Evelyn looked up.
“Know what?””
“That there were four children.””
Her face drained of color.
Lucas placed the triplets' photograph on the desk.
“Margaret says Isabella escaped to protect a fourth child.””
Evelyn slowly sat down.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because Isabella only gave birth to three.””
Lucas stared at her.
“Then explain this.””
He handed her a second photograph.
It showed Isabella in a hospital bed.
Four bassinets stood beside her.
Four babies.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
Lucas leaned forward.
“Who is the fourth child?””
Evelyn stared at the photograph.
Then she whispered:
“Your father knew.””
Before Lucas could ask another question, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A woman's voice spoke.
“Lucas?””
He stopped breathing.
“Bella?””
“Listen carefully. I don't have much time.””
“Where are you?””
“Forget about me. You need to find the fourth baby.””
“Who is it?””
There was a pause.
Then Isabella said something that made Lucas grip the phone.
May you like
“It's the child who was never supposed to survive.””
The call ended.
