Chapter 14 - THE CHILD WHO WAS ERASED
The baby in the photograph was not Victoria.
It wasn't me.
I stared at the image.
"Who is that?"
Victoria shook her head.
"I don't know."
Marcus examined the photograph.
"There are markings here."
He enlarged the corner.
A hospital bracelet.
A name.
EVELYN VANCE.
Clara whispered:
"Another sibling."
I felt sick.
My father had never mentioned her.
Victoria looked devastated.
"How many children did they hide?"
We searched my father's records.
Nothing.
No birth certificate.
No hospital record.
No death certificate.
It was as if Evelyn had never existed.
Then we found the black box's final compartment.
Inside was a USB drive.
A video.
My father appeared on screen.
Older.
Tired.
Terrified.
"Evelyn is alive."
Victoria covered her mouth.
My father continued.
"She was taken from the family because Eleanor believed the child would destroy everything."
"Why?" I whispered.
The recording continued.
"Because Evelyn is the legal heir to the original Vance estate."
I stared at Victoria.
"Why would that matter?"
"Because Father must have transferred something."
The video continued.
"The controlling shares were placed under Evelyn's name."
My blood went cold.
"All of them?"
"All."
Then my father's expression changed.
"If Eleanor discovers where Evelyn is, she will kill to find her."
The video ended.
Clara grabbed my hand.
"Sebastian."
"What?"
"Nathaniel."
I looked at her.
"Think."
Her eyes filled with fear.
"Why would they take our son if they wanted Evelyn?"
I understood.
They weren't after Nathaniel.
They were using him.
As bait.
My phone rang.
This time, there was no blocked number.
The caller ID displayed:
EVELYN VANCE.
I answered.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice whispered:
"Sebastian."
My heart stopped.
"Where is my son?"
"Safe."
"Who are you?"
A pause.
Then:
"Your sister."
I closed my eyes.
"Evelyn?"
"Yes."
"Where are you?"
"I've been hiding for twenty-nine years."
"Why?"
"Because your mother taught me something."
"What?"
"Never trust family."
Then I heard a child's voice.
"Dad?"
Clara screamed.
"Nathaniel!"
The line went dead.
I turned to Marcus.
"Find them."
He nodded.
Then Evelyn sent another message.
A location.
An abandoned church.
But beneath it was a warning:
COME WITHOUT POLICE.
May you like
I knew it was a trap.
But it was also our only chance.
