Chapter 9 — The Woman in the Hospital Bed
Chapter 9 — The Woman in the Hospital Bed
Ethan stared at the birth certificate.
He read the name again.
And again.
The letters refused to make sense.
ETHAN VALE.
Not Blackwood.
Vale.
The same surname Richard had carried for decades.
The same name appearing on the oldest documents connected to the Blackwood Trust.
Ethan looked at Richard.
Richard's face had gone completely pale.
“You knew.”
Richard didn't answer.
“You knew my real name.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Richard swallowed.
“Because if you knew who you were, Arthur would have killed you.”
Ethan turned toward Arthur.
The old man smiled.
“You're finally beginning to understand.”
Ethan held up the certificate.
“Why did you change my name?”
Arthur's expression remained calm.
“Because your father wanted you dead.”
“My father?”
“Not Daniel.”
Ethan froze.
“Then who?”
Arthur looked toward the corridor.
“The man whose blood runs through your veins.”
Ethan's heart pounded.
“Who?”
Arthur smiled.
“You'll find him where all Blackwood secrets eventually end.”
He pointed toward the underground hospital.
“Room seventeen.”
Then he dropped the gun.
It clattered against the floor.
Security officers immediately rushed forward.
But Arthur didn't resist.
He simply smiled.
“You'll understand when you see her.”
Ethan looked at Richard.
“Room seventeen.”
Richard nodded.
“There's only one person in that room.”
“Who?”
Richard's voice became almost inaudible.
“The woman who knows who your real father is.”
The underground hospital stretched beneath the abandoned facility.
Ethan walked through the corridor with Lily in his arms.
Elias followed beside him.
Amelia remained close.
Daniel and Richard walked behind them.
No one spoke.
The walls were covered in faded medical labels.
Some rooms still contained beds.
Some contained rusted surgical equipment.
Others were completely empty.
Room seventeen stood at the end.
A heavy steel door.
No window.
No name.
Only a small black number.
17
Ethan stopped.
“Who is inside?”
Richard didn't answer.
Ethan turned.
“Richard.”
“I've never been inside.”
“Then how do you know someone is there?”
“Because Arthur told me.”
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
Ethan stared.
“What happened seven years ago?”
Richard looked toward Amelia.
“The night of the fire.”
Ethan opened the door.
The room was dark.
A single medical machine blinked in the corner.
An oxygen monitor.
A heart monitor.
And a hospital bed.
Someone lay beneath a white blanket.
A woman.
Her face was turned toward the wall.
Ethan stepped closer.
The monitor beeped steadily.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The woman was alive.
Barely.
Her skin was pale.
Her hair was gray.
An oxygen tube ran beneath her nose.
Ethan looked at Richard.
“Who is she?”
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Daniel did.
He stepped forward.
His face changed.
“No.”
Ethan turned.
“Dad?”
Daniel stared at the woman.
Then whispered:
“Sarah.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Who is Sarah?”
Daniel couldn't answer.
Amelia did.
“She was your father's first wife.”
Ethan stared at the woman.
“First wife?”
Daniel nodded.
“Before your mother.”
“Why have I never heard of her?”
“Because Arthur erased her.”
Ethan looked back at the bed.
“Why?”
“She knew the truth.”
“What truth?”
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
“That Ethan was not the only child.”
Ethan frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel walked toward the bed.
Sarah suddenly opened her eyes.
She looked at him.
Then at Ethan.
Her lips moved.
“Daniel?”
Daniel covered his mouth.
“I'm here.”
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“You came back.”
“Yes.”
“After all these years.”
“I couldn't stay away.”
She looked toward Ethan.
“Is that him?”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Sarah smiled weakly.
“He has your eyes.”
Ethan froze.
“My eyes?”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Daniel.
“His father's eyes.”
Silence.
Ethan stepped closer.
“Who is my father?”
Sarah's expression changed.
Fear.
Pure fear.
She looked toward the ceiling.
Then whispered:
“Don't say his name.”
A nurse entered.
She was young.
Ethan immediately noticed something strange.
She wasn't surprised to see them.
She looked at Sarah.
Then at Ethan.
Then at Richard.
Her expression changed.
“You shouldn't be here.”
Ethan stepped toward her.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Dr. Lena Mercer.”
“You work here?”
“Not anymore.”
“Then why are you here?”
She looked at Sarah.
“Because someone has to keep her alive.”
Ethan pointed toward the bed.
“Tell me who she is.”
“You already know.”
“No.”
Lena looked at Amelia.
“You do.”
Amelia lowered her eyes.
Ethan turned toward her.
“What does she know?”
Amelia whispered:
“Everything.”
Lena locked the door.
Then she pulled the blinds.
“Arthur is still outside?”
“He's in custody.”
Lena shook her head.
“He won't stay there.”
“Why?”
“Because the people protecting him are everywhere.”
Ethan stared.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Lena looked at Sarah.
“She has been alive for nineteen years.”
Ethan's expression hardened.
“Nineteen?”
“Yes.”
“Why was she kept here?”
“Because she was pregnant.”
Ethan froze.
“Pregnant?”
Lena nodded.
“When?”
“Nineteen years ago.”
“Whose child?”
Lena looked at Daniel.
“His.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Ethan stared.
“My father's?”
“Yes.”
“So Sarah had another child.”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
Lena didn't answer.
Ethan's voice became cold.
“Who?”
Sarah suddenly spoke.
“Ethan.”
He turned.
“Don't ask.”
“I need to know.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if you learn who the child is…”
She paused.
“…you'll never trust anyone again.”
Lily began crying.
Ethan immediately turned toward her.
She was staring at Sarah.
“Mommy?”
Everyone froze.
Amelia turned.
“What did you call her?”
Lily pointed toward the bed.
“Mommy.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
Sarah looked at Lily.
Tears streamed down her face.
“No.”
Lily walked closer.
“Mommy.”
Sarah reached out.
Her hand trembled.
Lily took it.
Sarah began crying.
“I thought you were dead.”
Ethan stared.
“Sarah…”
The woman looked at him.
“I gave birth to her.”
Silence.
Amelia's face went white.
Ethan looked at Lily.
Then Sarah.
“You're her mother?”
Sarah nodded.
“Yes.”
Ethan's mind raced.
“Then Amelia…”
Amelia stepped backward.
“I didn't know.”
“You raised her.”
“I thought she was mine.”
Sarah shook her head.
“She was taken from me.”
“By who?”
Sarah looked toward the door.
“Arthur.”
Ethan felt sick.
“Why?”
“Because Lily wasn't supposed to be born.”
“What?”
Sarah closed her eyes.
“She was the first child.”
“The first heir?”
“Yes.”
“But you said there were three.”
“There were.”
“Lily.”
Sarah nodded.
“Elias.”
“Yes.”
“And the third.”
Sarah looked at Ethan.
“You.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“No.”
“You were all born within hours.”
“That's impossible.”
“It happened.”
“Where?”
“Here.”
Sarah pointed toward the floor.
“This hospital.”
Ethan stared at the room.
“You gave birth to all three?”
Sarah shook her head.
“No.”
“I gave birth to one.”
“Which one?”
“Lily.”
Ethan looked at Amelia.
“What happened to Elias?”
“Another woman gave birth to him.”
“And me?”
Sarah's eyes filled with tears.
“You were born to someone else.”
Ethan couldn't breathe.
“Who?”
Sarah whispered:
“The woman who raised you.”
Ethan froze.
His mother.
The woman he had believed was his biological mother.
She wasn't.
Daniel sat down.
“I knew.”
Ethan turned.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“And you let me believe my whole life was a lie.”
Daniel looked at him.
“I thought I was protecting you.”
“From whom?”
“Your grandfather.”
“Why?”
“Because Arthur believed blood determined destiny.”
Ethan stared.
“So he changed our identities.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make sure no one could identify the true heirs.”
Ethan looked at Lily.
“Then how did Arthur know?”
“Because he had the records.”
Ethan frowned.
“What records?”
“The original birth ledger.”
“Where?”
Daniel pointed toward the hospital bed.
“Sarah memorized it.”
Lena brought out a small metal box.
Inside was an old notebook.
The cover was burned.
The pages were yellow.
Ethan opened it.
Names.
Dates.
Times.
Three entries.
01:12 — Female
02:03 — Male
02:51 — Male
Then three names.
Lily
Elias
Ethan
Ethan stared.
His hands shook.
“This says I was born here.”
Sarah nodded.
“You were.”
“Then why does my birth certificate say another hospital?”
“Because Arthur changed it.”
“Who changed my name?”
“Your mother.”
“My adoptive mother?”
Sarah nodded.
“She begged Arthur to spare you.”
“Why?”
“Because you were the only child he couldn't control.”
Ethan frowned.
“Why me?”
Sarah looked at him.
“Because you weren't just an heir.”
“What was I?”
Sarah whispered:
“The key.”
A loud alarm suddenly sounded.
Everyone turned.
The hospital lights switched from white to red.
Lena looked at the monitor.
“Someone has accessed the central system.”
Richard reached for his gun.
“Who?”
Lena checked the screen.
Her face went pale.
“Victor.”
Ethan frowned.
“Victor is in custody.”
“Not this Victor.”
She turned the screen toward him.
A security image appeared.
A man walking through the hospital corridor.
Ethan recognized him.
His grandfather.
Arthur.
Ethan's blood ran cold.
“How did he get out?”
Lena shook her head.
“He didn't.”
“What?”
She pointed at the screen.
“He never left.”
Ethan stared.
“What do you mean?”
“The man you arrested…”
Lena zoomed in.
“Isn't Arthur.”
Silence.
Richard stepped forward.
“No.”
Lena nodded.
“It's a double.”
Ethan's face hardened.
“Then where is the real Arthur?”
The hospital doors slammed shut.
A voice came through the speakers.
“You're looking for me.”
Ethan looked up.
Arthur's voice.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“I told you, Ethan.”
The lights went dark.
“You were never supposed to find Room Seventeen.”
Emergency lights came on.
The room was empty.
Sarah's bed was gone.
Ethan stared.
“No.”
The hospital bed had disappeared.
The machines were still running.
But Sarah was gone.
Lily screamed.
“Mommy!”
Ethan ran toward the corridor.
Doors slammed one after another.
“Sarah!”
No answer.
Richard ran beside him.
“There's another exit.”
“Where?”
“Behind the surgical wing.”
They ran.
Elias followed.
Amelia grabbed Lily.
The corridor stretched endlessly.
Then Ethan saw someone.
A woman.
Standing beneath a red emergency light.
Sarah.
She was walking.
Without oxygen.
Without assistance.
Without weakness.
She stopped.
Looked at Ethan.
Then smiled.
Ethan froze.
“Sarah?”
The woman raised a hand.
“Don't come closer.”
“Where are you going?”
“To finish what I started.”
“What?”
She looked toward Lily.
“Saving my daughter.”
Then she stepped backward through a hidden doorway.
Ethan reached it.
Too late.
The door locked.
He slammed his fist against it.
“Sarah!”
A voice came from behind him.
“She's not Sarah.”
Ethan turned.
Lena stood there.
Her face was pale.
“What?”
“That woman wasn't Sarah.”
Ethan stared.
“Then who was she?”
Lena whispered:
“Sarah died nineteen years ago.”
Silence.
Ethan felt the blood drain from his face.
“But I saw her.”
“I know.”
“Then who was in the bed?”
Lena shook her head.
“The woman in that bed has been impersonating Sarah for years.”
Ethan's voice became cold.
“Who is she?”
Lena looked toward Lily.
Then Elias.
Then Ethan.
“The woman who gave birth to the person you thought was Amelia's daughter.”
Ethan stared.
“What does that mean?”
Lena reached into her pocket.
She removed a photograph.
It showed three women.
Sarah.
Amelia.
And another woman Ethan didn't recognize.
The third woman was holding a newborn.
On the back was written:
THE REAL MOTHER OF LILY BLACKWOOD.
Ethan stared at the photograph.
Then looked at Amelia.
“Who is she?”
Amelia's face crumbled.
“I've never seen her.”
Lena shook her head.
“Yes, you have.”
Ethan frowned.
“When?”
Lena looked at him.
“The night of the fire.”
Ethan's blood ran cold.
“Where?”
“In the hospital.”
“Who was she?”
Lena whispered:
“The woman who walked out carrying your daughter.”
Ethan stared.
“My daughter?”
Lena nodded.
“And she wasn't alone.”
“What do you mean?”
Lena's eyes filled with fear.
“She was carrying two babies.”
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Two?”
“Yes.”
“One was Lily.”
“And the other?”
Lena handed him the photograph.
A second baby was barely visible beneath the blanket.
Ethan zoomed in.
A tiny crescent-shaped birthmark appeared on the baby's wrist.
He recognized it.
It was the same mark Lily had.
Ethan whispered:
“That's impossible.”
Lena shook her head.
“No.”
She pointed to the date.
“That's why the blood test was wrong.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
“The sample labeled Lily…”
Lena paused.
“…was never Lily's.”
The room fell silent.
Ethan slowly turned toward the corridor.
“Then where is my real daughter?”
Lena looked toward the dark hospital entrance.
“Someone took her seven years ago.”
“Who?”
Lena whispered the name.
“Amelia.”
Ethan stopped breathing.
Amelia stood behind him.
Tears streamed down her face.
“I can explain.”
Ethan turned.
“Then explain.”
She couldn't speak.
“Amelia.”
“I was trying to save her.”
“Save who?”
Amelia looked at Lily.
Then at Ethan.
“I was trying to save the real Lily.”
Ethan's face went pale.
“Then who is the girl we've been calling Lily?”
Amelia whispered:
“Her sister.”
A final alarm sounded.
Then every screen in the hospital lit up simultaneously.
A live video appeared.
A little girl sat inside a dark room.
She looked almost exactly like Lily.
She looked directly into the camera.
And whispered:
“Daddy?”
Ethan stopped breathing.
The girl raised her hand.
A hospital bracelet was visible around her wrist.
LILY BLACKWOOD
Underneath, another line appeared:
AGE: 7
Then a message flashed across the screen.
COME ALONE, ETHAN.
OR YOUR REAL DAUGHTER DIES.
Ethan stared at the screen.
Behind him, Amelia began sobbing.
May you like
And somewhere in the darkness beneath the hospital, a door slowly opened.
TO BE CONTINUED…
