Chapter 5 - THE DEAD WOMAN'S ROOMThey escaped through an old carriage tunnel.
Father Gabriel Mercer hid them beneath St. Michael's Church.
For the first time, Lily saw Victor without his armor.
He sat beside Ethan's bassinet.
The baby slept.
Victor touched his son's tiny hand.
Ethan's fingers closed around his.
Victor looked away quickly.
Lily understood.
The man was terrified of losing the only person who could still call him father without fear.
Then the television turned on.
Serena was giving an interview.
She was crying.
She claimed Lily had become obsessed with Ethan.
She claimed Victor had kidnapped her.
Lucien stood behind her like a grieving father.
Detective Bell appeared next.
He declared Lily dangerous.
Wanted.
Armed.
A fugitive.
Lily watched her own face appear on television.
She looked like a monster.
"That's what they needed," she whispered.
Victor looked at her.
"What?"
"Someone the city could hate."
Before anyone could answer, footsteps sounded upstairs.
Federal agents.
Special Agent Naomi Price entered with weapons drawn.
She knew Elena.
More importantly, Elena had trusted her.
Naomi revealed the brakes on Elena's car had been sabotaged.
She revealed Detective Bell had arrived at the crash scene first.
She revealed the Blackwood Foundation had hidden adoption records.
And then came the worst revelation.
Dr. Hale had signed Ethan's birth certificate.
Naomi demanded a DNA test.
Victor refused.
"He is my son."
"That isn't what I asked."
Victor looked down at Ethan.
"Whatever the test says, he is mine."
The test was performed secretly.
Hours later, Naomi returned.
"Ethan is Elena's biological son."
Victor exhaled.
"But?"
Naomi looked at him.
"The paternal match belongs to your younger brother."
Victor's face went white.
"Adrian died six years ago."
Naomi placed a photograph on the table.
A man entering a bank.
Hat.
Mask.
May you like
But unmistakable eyes.
"Then Adrian Blackwood is not dead."
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