Chapter 10 — Claire Stops Begging
Chapter 10 — Claire Stops Begging
Claire stopped crying before sunrise.
That was the first thing Austin noticed.
She sat at the kitchen table of the Voss estate with the little silver bracelet clenched in her hand.
Her eyes were swollen.
Her face was pale.
But she wasn't crying anymore.
She was staring at the bracelet as though it were a map.
A map leading to the child everyone had stolen from her.
Austin stood several feet away.
He hadn't slept.
Neither had Isabelle.
Eleanor sat silently near the fireplace.
For the first time in twenty years, the three adults who had controlled Claire's life were in the same room.
And none of them knew what to say to her.
Claire finally looked up.
“Where is my son?”
No one answered.
Her voice became sharper.
“Where is he?”
Isabelle shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“You?”
“No.”
Austin?
“I don't know.”
Claire nodded.
“Fine.”
She stood.
Austin watched her.
“Where are you going?”
“To find him.”
“I'll come with you.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“You've done enough.”
He flinched.
She walked toward the hallway.
Austin followed.
“You can't do this alone.”
Claire stopped.
For years, those words would have frightened her.
You can't.
You can't manage money.
You can't run a company.
You can't raise the children.
You can't leave.
You can't survive without me.
She had heard variations of them from Austin, Eleanor, Thomas, lawyers, bankers, and strangers.
But something had changed.
Claire turned.
“Yes, I can.”
Austin stared at her.
She continued:
“And I'm not asking permission anymore.”
At 6:30 a.m., Claire entered the secure room beneath the Voss estate.
She had been told the room didn't exist.
That was the first lie she discovered.
The second was that it hadn't been used in years.
Inside were rows of computers, paper files, surveillance monitors, and locked cabinets.
Walker stood at the center.
Claire looked at him.
“You knew about this?”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“Then who opened it?”
“Your mother.”
Isabelle stood behind them.
“I did.”
Claire turned.
“Why?”
“Because you need to see what they were hiding.”
Claire walked to the main screen.
“Find my son.”
Walker activated the system.
“Do we have a name?”
Claire hesitated.
She had never been given one.
Isabelle approached.
“He was registered under another identity.”
“What identity?”
Isabelle placed a folder on the desk.
Claire opened it.
The first page contained a name.
Noah Bennett.
Claire's hands began shaking.
“Noah.”
Isabelle nodded.
“He was born seven years ago.”
“Where?”
“St. Vincent's Medical Center.”
Claire stared.
“I remember that hospital.”
Austin looked at her.
“So do I.”
Claire turned toward him.
“You were there.”
“Yes.”
“You held him.”
Austin swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Then tell me what happened.”
Austin looked down.
“Eleanor told me he was stillborn.”
Claire stared.
“And you believed her?”
“I saw a doctor.”
“You saw a body?”
“No.”
“Then you didn't know.”
“No.”
Claire's eyes filled with anger.
“You didn't even check.”
Austin closed his eyes.
“I was told you were unconscious.”
“And you left.”
“Yes.”
“You left my baby.”
His voice broke.
“I thought he was dead.”
Claire stepped closer.
“He wasn't.”
“No.”
“Because Eleanor took him.”
Eleanor finally spoke.
“I didn't take him.”
Claire turned.
“You signed the papers.”
“Yes.”
“You arranged the transfer.”
“Yes.”
“You changed his identity.”
“Yes.”
“You knew he was alive.”
Eleanor's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
Claire stared.
“Why?”
Eleanor's voice shook.
“Because if Thomas found out about him, he would have killed him.”
Claire froze.
“Thomas?”
“Yes.”
“Why would my father kill his grandson?”
Eleanor looked at her.
“Because Noah wasn't just your son.”
Claire waited.
“He was the only person who could legally unlock the final Voss trust.”
The room became silent.
Claire looked at the documents.
“So they didn't take him for revenge.”
“No.”
“They took him for control.”
“Yes.”
“Where is he now?”
Eleanor shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Claire slammed the folder onto the desk.
“You always say that!”
“I truly don't.”
“You expect me to believe you?”
“No.”
Eleanor looked exhausted.
“But I expect you to understand why I did it.”
Claire laughed.
“You kidnapped my son.”
“I hid him.”
“Without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“You stole seven years from me.”
Eleanor lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
Claire's voice became quiet.
“I don't forgive you.”
“I know.”
“And I may never forgive you.”
“I know.”
Claire turned away.
Then Eleanor said:
“But I can help you find him.”
Claire stopped.
“How?”
Eleanor pointed toward the files.
“Look at the transfer records.”
Claire opened them.
There were hundreds of entries.
One caught her attention.
NOAH BENNETT — TRANSFERRED TO GREENFIELD CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION.
Claire looked up.
“What is Greenfield?”
Isabelle answered.
“A private organization.”
“Who owns it?”
Silence.
Claire looked at Eleanor.
“Who?”
Eleanor whispered:
“Jessica.”
Claire's face went cold.
Jessica.
Again.
Claire's phone rang.
Jessica.
Claire answered.
“You have my son.”
Jessica was silent.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.”
Claire's entire body went rigid.
“Where is he?”
“I can't tell you.”
“Why?”
“Because they will kill him.”
“Who?”
“The same people who took your account.”
Claire's voice became controlled.
“Jessica.”
“I never wanted this.”
“You helped them.”
“I was trying to save him.”
“You took him from me.”
“I was told you would destroy him.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about the pregnancy.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about the money.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about your father.”
“Yes.”
“And now you're telling me you have my son.”
Jessica began crying.
“I have him because I'm the only reason he's still alive.”
Claire's anger faltered.
“Where is he?”
Jessica whispered:
“Safe.”
“Give him back.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't have custody.”
“Who does?”
Jessica hesitated.
Then:
“Your father.”
Claire's blood ran cold.
“Thomas.”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Jessica whispered:
“The man who claims to be Alexander Voss.”
Claire's hand tightened around the phone.
“He's alive.”
“I know.”
“You've met him?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
Claire looked at Austin.
Jessica continued:
“He took Noah.”
Claire's voice became cold.
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then find out.”
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“Claire…”
“I don't care what you're afraid of.”
Silence.
“I've been afraid for seven years.”
Jessica's voice broke.
“But I'm done.”
Claire stared.
“Then help me.”
Jessica whispered:
“I will.”
The call ended.
Claire immediately turned toward Walker.
“Trace it.”
Walker nodded.
“We'll find her.”
“No.”
Claire shook her head.
“Find the child.”
Two hours later, the first lead appeared.
A private airfield.
A flight had left the city three hours earlier.
Passenger manifest:
Noah Bennett — minor.
Destination:
Montclair.
Claire stared at the screen.
“Book a flight.”
Austin stepped forward.
“I'll arrange it.”
Claire looked at him.
“No.”
“I can get us there faster.”
“I said no.”
“Claire, please.”
She stared at him.
“You want to help?”
“Yes.”
“Then give me everything you know about your father.”
Austin hesitated.
“Everything.”
He sat down.
And for the next forty minutes, he told her everything.
About Richard.
About Eleanor.
About the Voss network.
About the night Daniel died.
About the hidden accounts.
About the secret meetings.
About the documents Austin had signed without reading.
About the hospital.
About Noah.
And finally, about the man who had controlled his family for years.
Alexander.
When Austin finished, Claire looked at him.
“You were afraid of him.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because my father was afraid of him.”
“That's not enough.”
Austin looked down.
“My father once told me that Alexander Voss could destroy a company without touching it.”
“How?”
“He knew where every weakness was.”
Claire thought about it.
“Like me.”
Austin nodded.
“He studies people.”
“Then he'll know I'm coming.”
“Yes.”
Claire stood.
“Good.”
Austin looked at her.
“What?”
“I want him to know.”
At noon, Claire boarded the private plane.
Isabelle came with her.
Walker came.
Austin followed.
Claire didn't object.
She sat alone by the window.
For the first time in seven years, she wasn't waiting for someone to tell her what was happening.
She was going to find her son.
Halfway through the flight, the pilot announced that they were approaching Montclair.
Then the plane suddenly shook.
Claire grabbed the seat.
“What happened?”
The pilot's voice came over the intercom.
“Minor turbulence.”
Walker looked at the instruments.
“That wasn't turbulence.”
The plane shook again.
The lights flickered.
Then the pilot shouted:
“We've lost navigation.”
Claire stood.
“What?”
“The system has been overridden.”
Everyone froze.
Walker ran toward the cockpit.
Claire followed.
The navigation screen displayed a single message.
TURN BACK.
Below it:
OR THE BOY DIES.
Claire stared.
Her hands trembled.
Austin stepped beside her.
“They're watching us.”
Claire looked at the screen.
“No.”
“What?”
“They're testing us.”
She pointed.
“The message doesn't say where to turn back.”
Austin frowned.
“So?”
“So they want us to panic.”
Claire looked at Walker.
“Can you restore navigation?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Ten minutes.”
Claire nodded.
“Do it.”
Austin stared at her.
“You're not afraid?”
Claire looked at him.
“I am terrified.”
Then she looked at the message again.
“But I'm not turning back.”
Ten minutes later, the system returned.
The plane continued toward Montclair.
When they landed, three black vehicles waited on the runway.
Security surrounded the plane.
Claire stepped outside.
A man approached.
He handed her an envelope.
“From Mr. Voss.”
Claire opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
Noah.
Alive.
Sitting at a table.
Smiling.
Claire's knees nearly gave out.
She pressed the photograph to her chest.
On the back was a message.
You wanted your son.
Come to the old Voss observatory at midnight.
Come alone.
Claire looked at the man.
“Where is he now?”
The man said nothing.
Claire grabbed his sleeve.
“Where is my son?”
The man looked at her.
“He's waiting.”
“Who is with him?”
The man hesitated.
Then answered:
“His grandfather.”
Claire's heart stopped.
“Which one?”
The man looked toward the horizon.
“That's the problem.”
He walked away.
That evening, Claire stood outside the observatory.
The building sat on a mountain overlooking the city.
No security.
No guards.
No cars.
Only darkness.
Austin stood beside her.
“You said you would come alone.”
Claire looked at him.
“I changed my mind.”
He nodded.
“I deserve that.”
She looked at the entrance.
“Stay behind me.”
Austin almost smiled.
“You're giving me orders now?”
“Yes.”
“Feels strange.”
“It should.”
They entered.
The observatory was empty.
At the center stood a single chair.
On it was Noah's silver bracelet.
Claire walked toward it.
Then a light switched on.
A man appeared on the upper balcony.
Alexander Voss.
He looked down at Claire.
“You came.”
Claire looked up.
“Where is my son?”
Alexander smiled.
“Still direct.”
“Where is he?”
“Safe.”
“Bring him here.”
“You don't understand what you are.”
Claire stepped forward.
“I don't care.”
“You should.”
“You took my child.”
“I saved him.”
“You stole him.”
“I protected him from your enemies.”
“Who?”
Alexander smiled.
“Everyone.”
Claire's jaw tightened.
“You're afraid of me.”
Alexander laughed.
“No.”
He leaned against the railing.
“I'm afraid of what you'll become.”
Claire looked around.
“Where is Noah?”
Alexander pointed toward a screen.
It turned on.
Noah appeared.
Alive.
Sitting beside a woman.
Claire's breath caught.
The woman turned toward the camera.
Claire recognized her.
Jessica.
But Jessica wasn't smiling.
She was crying.
And beside her sat Noah.
Claire whispered:
“Bring him to me.”
Alexander shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because there is one thing you must do first.”
“What?”
“Sign.”
A document appeared on the table.
Claire walked toward it.
Austin grabbed her arm.
“Don't.”
Claire looked at the document.
It was a transfer agreement.
All Voss assets.
All trusts.
All accounts.
Everything.
In exchange for Noah.
Claire picked up the pen.
Austin shook his head.
“Claire.”
She looked at him.
For years, everyone had believed Claire's greatest weakness was that she cared too much.
Her child.
Her marriage.
Her family.
Her loyalty.
Her love.
They thought those things made her easy to control.
They were wrong.
Claire placed the pen on the table.
Then pushed the document away.
Alexander's expression changed.
“You won't sign?”
“No.”
“You want your son?”
“Yes.”
“Then sign.”
Claire looked directly at him.
“You made one mistake.”
“What?”
“You assumed I'd trade my future for my child.”
Alexander smiled.
“You would.”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
She stepped closer to the screen.
“I'll take back both.”
Alexander's smile disappeared.
Claire continued:
“You wanted me to beg.”
“I won't.”
“You wanted me frightened.”
“I am.”
“You wanted me to choose between my son and my power.”
She looked at him.
“I choose both.”
Alexander stared.
Then he slowly smiled.
“Good.”
Claire frowned.
“Good?”
“You finally understand.”
He pressed a button.
The screen changed.
Noah disappeared.
A new image appeared.
A security camera.
A warehouse.
Jessica was being dragged through a corridor.
Claire's face went pale.
Alexander looked at her.
“Now the real choice begins.”
Claire stared at the screen.
And for the first time that night, she realized something even worse than losing her son.
Jessica had not been the mastermind.
May you like
She had been a prisoner.
And whoever was holding her had just revealed the next move.
