Chapter 20 - THE BOY WITH HER EYESSwitzerland was covered in snow.
Julian arrived at the boarding school under a gray sky.
The director met him privately.
When Julian showed the photograph, the old man's expression changed.
“You know him.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he?”
The director hesitated.
“His name is Noah.”
Julian's heart stopped.
“Noah Mercer?”
“No. Noah Cross.”
“Why Cross?”
“Because that was the name on his original file.”
Julian stared.
“Where is he?”
The director pointed toward the courtyard.
A boy stood alone beneath a tree.
Three years old.
Brown hair.
Gray eyes.
The same birthmark.
Julian couldn't move.
Elena covered her mouth.
“That's him.”
The boy looked up.
Their eyes met.
Julian walked toward him slowly.
“Noah?”
The boy stared.
“Who are you?”
Julian knelt.
“My name is Julian.”
The boy studied him.
“Are you my daddy?”
Julian's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Noah stepped closer.
“Mommy?”
Elena fell to her knees.
“Yes.”
The boy ran into her arms.
Julian watched them embrace.
For a moment, the entire world became silent.
Then Evie appeared from behind Adrian.
She had insisted on coming.
She stared at the boy.
“Is he my brother?”
Julian nodded.
Evie smiled.
Noah looked at her.
“What's your name?”
“Evie.”
He smiled.
“I'm Noah.”
Evie took his hand.
“Come home with us.”
Julian laughed through tears.
“That sounds like a good idea.”
But the director stopped them.
“There is one problem.”
Julian turned.
“What?”
“Noah was not simply hidden.”
The director handed him a file.
“Someone has been paying for his care every month.”
Julian opened it.
The payments came from an account established by Elliot Mercer.
But the account was still active.
Someone was still paying.
Someone who knew Noah was alive.
Julian looked toward the window.
Snow fell silently.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man's voice said:
“You found him.”
Julian froze.
“Who are you?”
The voice laughed softly.
“You'll find out.”
The call ended.
Julian looked at Elena.
The family had been reunited.
But somewhere in the shadows, someone had been waiting for them to find Noah.
May you like
And that meant the nightmare was not over.
It had simply changed shape.
