Chapter 9 - THE NIGHT I WAS BORN
The bullet hit my mother in the shoulder.
It missed the artery.
She survived.
Victor escaped through a rear loading dock.
Chad was arrested.
For the first time since my nightmare began, I slept for six straight hours.
When I woke, Christopher was sitting beside the hospital window.
My mother was in surgery.
Chad was being questioned by federal investigators.
And every word he confessed in that warehouse was now evidence.
“You heard everything?” I asked.
Christopher nodded.
“Everything.”
“Victor said something.”
My father looked away.
There.
That tiny movement.
“What happened the night I was born?”
“Genevieve—”
“No.”
I sat upright.
“I'm done being protected by lies.”
Christopher lowered his head.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then:
“Your mother was married when I met her.”
I stared at him.
“To who?”
“Victor.”
My body went cold.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Victor Sloane was my mother’s husband?”
“For three years.”
I couldn't process it.
“You had an affair with her?”
Christopher closed his eyes briefly.
“Yes.”
I stood.
“So Victor’s revenge isn't just about money.”
“No.”
“It’s about me.”
“Partly.”
“Does he think he’s my father?”
Christopher looked at me.
“That was his fear.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Evelyn became pregnant before the divorce was finalized.”
“Whose child am I?”
“You are mine.”
“How do you know?”
“DNA test.”
“When?”
“The night you were born.”
I stared at him.
My mother had hidden not one family secret.
She had built my entire life on them.
“Victor knew?”
“He discovered the result.”
“And then?”
“He disappeared.”
“After stealing twelve million dollars?”
Christopher nodded.
“He believed I stole his wife, his career, and his child.”
“You did steal his wife.”
My father accepted that.
“Yes.”
“And then you destroyed him professionally.”
“He tried to destroy my company.”
“Maybe because you destroyed his family.”
Christopher’s voice sharpened.
“That does not excuse what he has done to you.”
“No.”
I looked through the glass toward the operating room.
“But it explains why Mom was afraid.”
“Yes.”
My phone rang.
My attorney.
I answered.
“Genevieve, we have movement on the criminal case.”
“What kind?”
“The prosecutor’s office has requested an emergency hearing.”
My heart pounded.
“Why?”
“Chad has agreed to cooperate.”
“With what?”
“Everything.”
I closed my eyes.
Finally.
Then my attorney continued.
“There’s a complication.”
Of course there was.
“What?”
“Chad claims Victor has a backup plan involving Toby.”
My blood went cold.
“Where is my son?”
“With Brenda.”
I stared at Christopher.
“No.”
I ran toward the door.
Christopher followed.
My attorney shouted through the phone:
“Genevieve, listen to me. Police are heading there now.”
I didn't care.
I called Brenda.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Third time.
She picked up.
Breathing hard.
“Genevieve?”
“Where’s Toby?”
Silence.
“Brenda!”
“I’m sorry.”
My knees nearly gave out.
“What did you do?”
“I didn't know.”
“Know what?”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“Victor took him.”
