Chapter 16 - THE CHILD THEY WERE WAITING FOR
For the first time since Claire had discovered the truth about her family, she felt genuinely afraid.
Not for herself.
For Lily.
The baby was sleeping upstairs.
Unaware.
Innocent.
And apparently the center of a plan that had existed before Claire was even born.
Claire locked the entire estate.
Nobody entered.
Nobody left.
Nicholas doubled security.
Vincent refused to leave Lily's side.
Jonathan barely spoke.
Eleanor sat in the study with the curtains closed.
Eva paced continuously.
Claire finally confronted her mother.
“What does Lily have?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Nothing.”
“Then why do they want her?”
“I don't know.”
“You know something.”
Eleanor's eyes filled.
“I know Eden planned for a child.”
“Whose child?”
“Yours.”
Claire froze.
“Why?”
“Because of the genetic system your father created.”
Claire shook her head.
“You said I was the key.”
“I am.”
“Then why Lily?”
“Because you were never supposed to activate the system.”
Claire stared.
“Who was?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Your daughter.”
Silence.
Claire sat down.
“What happens when Lily turns eighteen?”
“Nothing.”
“What happens before?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why?”
Eleanor looked toward the nursery.
“Because Eden believes the system can be inherited.”
Claire stood.
“Can it?”
“I don't know.”
Nicholas entered.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Vincent's security team found an intruder.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“Where?”
“Nursery.”
They ran.
The room was empty.
Lily was still there.
Sleeping.
But beside the crib sat a small black box.
Nicholas opened it.
Inside was a silver key.
Claire stared.
“That's impossible.”
Eleanor entered behind them.
Her face changed.
“I know that key.”
“What is it?”
“The original Eden key.”
Claire looked at her.
“You said it wasn't an object.”
“It isn't.”
Eleanor pointed to the box.
“That is a decoy.”
A small screen activated.
Daniel Vale appeared.
“You've done well.”
Claire stared at him.
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Vale smiled.
“You still don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
“Lily isn't the key.”
Claire frowned.
Vale continued.
“She's the witness.”
“To what?”
“The truth.”
The screen changed.
A video appeared.
Claire watched.
Her mother.
Twenty-five years earlier.
Standing inside a laboratory.
Beside her was Daniel Vale.
And on a table was a newborn baby.
Eva.
Claire's heart broke.
Then the video changed.
Another newborn.
Claire.
Vale's voice returned.
“Your parents believed they could divide the system.”
“They were wrong.”
“They created two children.”
“One became the key.”
“The other became the failsafe.”
Claire stared.
“Which one?”
Vale smiled.
“That is what we are going to find out.”
The screen went black.
Nicholas immediately began examining the box.
“There's a transmitter.”
“Can you trace it?”
“Maybe.”
Eva stood beside Claire.
“Don't.”
Claire looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because that's what he wants.”
Claire stared.
Eva whispered:
“Vale doesn't attack when he can manipulate.”
Claire nodded.
Then she looked toward Lily.
“He wants us to move.”
Nicholas agreed.
“So we don't.”
Claire looked at Vincent.
He understood.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Take Lily somewhere safe.”
“Where?”
“Not the estate.”
Jonathan stepped forward.
“I know a place.”
Claire looked at him.
“Where?”
“Your grandfather's old farm.”
The farm had been abandoned for thirty years.
No digital records.
No cameras.
No cellular coverage.
Perfect.
They moved Lily before midnight.
But Vale had anticipated that.
On the road, three vehicles appeared.
Nicholas accelerated.
Gunfire erupted behind them.
Vincent shielded Lily.
Claire held her daughter tightly.
“Drive!”
Nicholas turned sharply.
The convoy split.
One vehicle followed Claire.
Another followed Nicholas.
A third disappeared into the darkness.
Twenty minutes later, Nicholas's vehicle arrived at the farm.
Claire ran inside.
Then stopped.
The lights were already on.
Someone was sitting at the kitchen table.
An old man.
Gray hair.
Calm expression.
Claire recognized him from the photograph.
The unknown man.
The third person beside her parents.
He stood.
“Hello, Claire.”
Jonathan raised his weapon.
The man smiled.
“Put it down.”
Jonathan froze.
The man looked at Claire.
“My name is Gabriel Bennett.”
Claire's breath stopped.
“Bennett?”
He smiled.
“Your grandfather's son.”
Jonathan whispered:
“That's impossible.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“You thought I died.”
Claire stared.
“How many people in my family are supposed to be dead?”
Gabriel laughed.
“More than you know.”
He placed a folder on the table.
“Sit.”
Claire didn't move.
“What do you want?”
“The truth.”
“About Eden?”
“No.”
He looked at Lily.
“About your grandfather.”
Claire's face hardened.
“My grandfather?”
Gabriel nodded.
“Because Daniel Vale is not the founder of Eden.”
He paused.
“He is only the man who inherited it.”
Claire's heart dropped.
“Then who founded it?”
May you like
Gabriel looked directly at her.
“Your grandfather.”
