Chapter 13 - THE MEMORY DANIEL NEVER REMEMBERED
The warehouse became completely silent.
Daniel Cross stared at Amelia.
The woman he had accused.
The woman he had doubted.
The woman who had saved his son.
And now she was standing in front of him saying the one thing he never expected to hear.
“You were there that night.”
Daniel shook his head slowly.
“No.”
His voice was almost a whisper.
“No, Amelia.”
But she didn’t look away.
Her eyes were filled with pain.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Pain.
“I remember your voice.”
Daniel felt his chest tighten.
“What are you talking about?”
Amelia stepped closer.
“After the crash.”
A pause.
“When I couldn’t move.”
Daniel’s face changed.
The room seemed to get colder.
“I heard someone calling my name.”
She touched her head.
“I couldn’t see clearly. Everything was blurry.”
Her voice started shaking.
“But I remember someone holding my hand.”
Daniel swallowed.
“And you think it was me?”
“Yes.”
The answer destroyed him.
“No.”
Daniel backed away.
“I was at the hospital that night.”
Evelyn smiled.
A small, cruel smile.
“That’s what you believe.”
Daniel turned toward his mother.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn walked slowly around the room.
“You spent eight years believing a story someone gave you.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Mother…”
She ignored him.
“You were not the hero in Amelia’s memory.”
She stopped.
“You were the reason she lost it.”
Amelia closed her eyes.
Because hearing it again hurt.
Daniel looked at her.
“Is this true?”
She didn’t answer immediately.
That hesitation broke him.
“Amelia.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know.”
Daniel looked shocked.
“You don’t know?”
“My memories are broken.”
Her voice cracked.
“I remember pieces.”
She looked down.
“I remember you.”
Daniel’s heart sank.
“What did I do?”
Amelia’s eyes filled with tears.
“You told me to forget.”
The words echoed through the warehouse.
Daniel went completely still.
“I would never say that.”
Amelia looked at him.
“Then why did I hear it?”
Nobody had an answer.
Then Michael stepped forward.
“Because you did.”
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked at his brother.
“What?”
Michael’s face was full of regret.
“I was there too.”
Daniel stared.
“You were there?”
Michael nodded.
“The night of the accident.”
Daniel felt betrayed.
“You knew?”
“I remembered.”
Michael looked down.
“But I didn’t remember everything.”
Daniel’s voice became angry.
“You let me believe I was innocent?”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Because I thought I was protecting you.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Michael looked at Amelia.
“After the crash, she was barely conscious.”
He swallowed.
“She had the flash drive.”
Daniel looked confused.
“What happened?”
Michael continued.
“I found her car.”
Amelia stared.
“You found me?”
“Yes.”
Michael looked at her sadly.
“You were alive.”
A pause.
“But someone else arrived before the ambulance.”
Daniel already knew.
“Who?”
Michael looked at Evelyn.
“Mother.”
Evelyn didn’t react.
Michael continued.
“She took the flash drive.”
Daniel looked at his mother.
“You?”
Evelyn smiled.
“I did what was necessary.”
Amelia’s hands shook.
“You changed my medical records.”
“Yes.”
“You made everyone think I was dead.”
“Yes.”
“You stole my life.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“You were never supposed to have that life.”
Amelia stared.
“Why?”
Evelyn’s expression became cold.
“Because you knew too much.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“My entire family was destroyed because of you.”
Evelyn looked at him.
“Your family survived because of me.”
Daniel laughed.
“You kidnapped my son.”
“I protected your son.”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice became furious.
“You used him.”
Evelyn smiled.
“You still don’t understand.”
She pointed toward Amelia.
“Your son is not the only child connected to this family.”
Daniel froze.
Everyone went silent.
Amelia looked confused.
“What are you talking about?”
Evelyn looked at Daniel.
“Tell her.”
Daniel frowned.
“Tell her what?”
Evelyn smiled.
“The truth about Lucas.”
Daniel’s expression changed.
“What about him?”
Evelyn walked closer.
“Lucas was never supposed to be your son.”
The room exploded with silence.
Amelia looked at Daniel.
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
“What did you say?”
Evelyn calmly continued.
“Eight years ago, when Amelia survived the accident, there was another secret.”
Daniel’s breathing became heavier.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Evelyn looked at Amelia.
“Your daughter wasn’t the only child born from that night.”
Amelia froze.
“What?”
Evelyn smiled.
“Michael knew.”
Michael immediately looked away.
Daniel noticed.
“Michael?”
His brother looked ashamed.
“Daniel…”
“What do you know?”
Michael didn’t answer.
Daniel stepped closer.
“What do you know?”
Michael finally whispered:
“Lucas was not born three years ago.”
Everyone froze.
Daniel’s face turned pale.
“What?”
Michael looked at Amelia.
“He was born eight years ago.”
The words made no sense.
Daniel shook his head.
“That’s impossible.”
Michael’s voice broke.
“Daniel…”
He looked at him.
“Lucas is your son.”
A pause.
“But he is also Amelia’s son.”
Amelia stopped breathing.
The entire world disappeared.
“No.”
She shook her head.
“No, that’s not possible.”
Michael looked at her with sadness.
“Evelyn erased the records.”
Daniel stared at him.
“My son…”
He looked toward the door.
The child he raised.
The child he loved.
The child he thought was only his.
Michael continued:
“Lucas was taken from Amelia after the accident.”
Amelia covered her mouth.
“No…”
“She was told her baby died.”
Daniel looked at Evelyn.
His voice became dangerous.
“You took my child.”
Evelyn smiled.
“I saved him.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“You stole him.”
Before anyone could react, a loud sound came from outside.
A car door slammed.
Then footsteps.
Everyone turned.
A security guard entered.
“Mr. Cross!”
Daniel looked at him.
“What?”
The guard was shaking.
“We found Lucas.”
Daniel immediately moved.
“Where?”
The guard hesitated.
“He’s outside.”
Daniel rushed toward the entrance.
Then stopped.
Because the guard’s face wasn’t showing relief.
It was showing fear.
“Sir…”
Daniel turned.
“What happened?”
The guard swallowed.
“Lucas is safe.”
A pause.
“But he’s not alone.”
Daniel’s heart sank.
“Who is with him?”
The guard looked toward the darkness outside.
And said:
May you like
“Someone who claims to be his real father.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
