Chapter 6 — The Woman Daniel Chose
Chapter 6 — The Woman Daniel Chose
The name on the screen didn't move.
AMELIA REED.
Underneath it:
CHILD LOCATED.
And beneath that:
ORIGINAL BIRTH STATUS: ALIVE.
I stared at the words until they blurred.
My daughter was only hours old.
I had watched her come into the world.
I had heard her first cry.
I had held her against my chest.
There was no possible way she had been born before.
Yet the hospital database insisted otherwise.
I turned toward my mother.
“What does this mean?”
She didn't answer.
“Mom.”
Her lips trembled.
“You're not going to like the answer.”
“I haven't liked a single answer you've given me tonight.”
She closed her eyes.
“You were pregnant before.”
The room went silent.
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my mind refused to accept it.
“No.”
“Hannah—”
“No.”
“I was pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Seven years ago.”
I looked at Daniel.
He had gone completely white.
“You knew.”
He swallowed.
“Yes.”
The word landed like a blow.
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“You knew I had a child before Amelia?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me?”
Daniel couldn't meet my eyes.
“I couldn't.”
“You couldn't?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of what would happen if you remembered.”
I stepped toward him.
“What happened to my first baby?”
He closed his eyes.
“I don't know.”
My heart stopped.
“You don't know?”
“No.”
“Then why does the hospital say she's alive?”
Daniel looked at the screen.
“I don't know.”
My mother whispered:
“She is.”
I turned toward her.
“What?”
My mother's face crumpled.
“She survived.”
My entire body went cold.
“You're telling me…”
She nodded.
“Your first child survived.”
I looked at Amelia.
Then at my mother.
“Where is she?”
My mother didn't answer.
“Where is my daughter?”
She looked at Daniel.
And that was when I understood.
Daniel knew.
I turned toward him.
“You know where she is.”
He shook his head.
“Hannah—”
“You know.”
“I don't.”
“You're lying.”
“I swear.”
“You've lied to me for years.”
“I know.”
“You lied about my father.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about M-17.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about Luka.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about why you left me.”
Daniel's face twisted.
“Yes.”
“And now you're telling me you don't know where my first child is?”
He began crying.
“I don't.”
I stared at him.
“Then tell me about the woman.”
His face changed.
“What woman?”
“The one you chose.”
Silence.
I remembered the hallway.
The day he walked away from me.
The woman beside him.
Her hand on his arm.
Her perfume.
Her smile.
The way she had looked at my hospital room before disappearing with him.
“You said she was your security contact.”
Daniel swallowed.
“She was.”
“My mother says you chose her.”
“She wasn't who you think she was.”
“Then who was she?”
He looked down.
“Her name was Claire.”
I waited.
“Claire Moretti.”
Luka's head snapped toward him.
“Claire?”
Daniel nodded.
Luka stared.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because Claire died.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She didn't.”
Luka stepped forward.
“You saw her?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three days ago.”
Luka's face hardened.
“Where?”
“Outside the hospital.”
I looked between them.
“Who is Claire Moretti?”
Luka's expression became guarded.
“My cousin.”
My stomach tightened.
“Your cousin?”
“Yes.”
“And she was with Daniel.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Because she was trying to protect you.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone says they're protecting me.”
“I know.”
“But somehow everyone still manages to destroy me.”
Daniel nodded.
“You're right.”
My mother stepped toward the computer.
“Claire wasn't supposed to return.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew too much.”
“About M-17?”
“Yes.”
“About my first child?”
My mother froze.
I stared at her.
“Mom.”
She whispered:
“Yes.”
My heart pounded.
“What does Claire know?”
“She was there.”
“When?”
“The night your first baby was born.”
The room disappeared around me.
I couldn't breathe.
“Claire was there?”
“Yes.”
“Where was I?”
“In the hospital.”
“Which hospital?”
My mother looked toward Dr. Rusk.
“Briar Glen.”
I stared.
“The same hospital.”
“Yes.”
“So my daughter…”
“Was born here.”
I looked down at Amelia.
She slept peacefully.
Seven years earlier, another child had been born here.
My child.
And somehow, she had survived.
“Why was I told she died?”
My mother didn't answer.
Daniel did.
“Because they took her.”
“Who?”
“M-17.”
“Why?”
“Because she had the marker.”
I shook my head.
“My daughter had the marker?”
“Yes.”
“The same one Amelia has?”
“Yes.”
I stared at him.
“Then why did they take her?”
“Because they needed a test subject.”
My stomach turned.
“No.”
Daniel stepped closer.
“I tried to stop them.”
“When?”
“After you were sedated.”
“You were there?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see her?”
He nodded.
“Did you hold her?”
His eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you save her?”
His voice broke.
“Because your father stopped me.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he believed it was the only way to keep you alive.”
I stared.
“My father gave away my baby?”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“He made a deal.”
“With whom?”
“The Morettis.”
Luka's face went cold.
“What deal?”
Daniel turned toward him.
“Your uncle promised to protect Hannah.”
“And in exchange?”
“The baby.”
Silence.
Luka's expression became unreadable.
“My family took the child?”
“Yes.”
“Which child?”
Daniel looked at me.
“Your first daughter.”
Luka stepped backward.
“My uncle never told me.”
“He wasn't supposed to.”
“Where is she?”
Daniel shook his head.
“I don't know.”
I screamed.
“Enough!”
Everyone froze.
I held Amelia against me.
“You're all talking about my child like she's a file.”
I looked at Daniel.
“She was alive.”
“Yes.”
“You saw her.”
“Yes.”
“She was taken.”
“Yes.”
“And nobody told me.”
“No.”
My tears fell.
“You let me mourn a child who was alive.”
Daniel whispered:
“I know.”
I turned away.
“I hate you.”
“I know.”
“I hate all of you.”
My mother began crying.
“I know.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Three knocks.
Everyone froze.
Luka moved toward the door.
“Who is it?”
A woman's voice answered.
“Daniel.”
His face changed.
I knew immediately.
“Claire.”
He didn't move.
The voice came again.
“Daniel, open the door.”
Luka looked at him.
“Don't.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She knows something.”
“She knows too much.”
“Exactly.”
I stepped forward.
“Open it.”
Luka looked at me.
“Hannah—”
“If she's the woman who knows where my daughter is, I'm opening the door.”
Luka nodded.
He unlocked it.
The door opened.
A woman stood outside.
She was beautiful.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Black coat.
A small scar above her eyebrow.
She looked directly at me.
Then at Amelia.
And began crying.
“Hannah.”
I stared.
“Claire?”
She nodded.
“I need to tell you something.”
Daniel stepped toward her.
“You shouldn't be here.”
She ignored him.
She looked at me.
“Your first daughter is alive.”
My knees almost gave out.
“Where?”
Claire swallowed.
“I don't know exactly.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know who has her.”
“Who?”
She looked at Luka.
“Your uncle.”
Luka went completely still.
“Marco.”
Claire nodded.
“Yes.”
I felt sick.
“Where is she?”
“Somewhere he can control.”
“Where?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Because I know what he plans to do.”
“What?”
Claire looked at Amelia.
“He wants both children.”
I tightened my arms around my baby.
“Why?”
“Because together, their DNA completes the M-17 sequence.”
I stared.
“What happens if he gets them?”
Claire's voice dropped.
“He can activate the original archive.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means every person connected to M-17 will become traceable.”
“That's good.”
“No.”
Claire shook her head.
“The archive doesn't only contain evidence.”
“What else?”
“Names.”
“Whose names?”
“Everyone who paid.”
“Politicians?”
“Yes.”
“Doctors?”
“Yes.”
“Families?”
“Yes.”
“Children?”
Claire hesitated.
“Some.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why would they want the children?”
“Because some of those children are now adults.”
“And?”
“They inherited the fortunes of the people who bought them.”
I stared.
“So M-17 didn't just replace children.”
“No.”
“It replaced bloodlines.”
“Yes.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
“And that's why your husband was chosen.”
I turned.
“What does Daniel have to do with bloodlines?”
Claire looked at me.
“His family owns one of the largest private adoption networks in the country.”
I stared.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
“You married me under false pretenses.”
“Yes.”
“You were part of M-17.”
“Indirectly.”
I laughed.
“There it is again.”
I stepped toward him.
“Indirectly.”
He didn't defend himself.
“Your family delivered children to M-17.”
“Yes.”
“And my father knew.”
“Yes.”
“And my mother knew.”
“Yes.”
“And Luka's family knew.”
“Yes.”
I looked around the room.
“Was anyone innocent?”
No one answered.
Claire stepped closer.
“Daniel didn't choose me.”
I looked at her.
“What?”
“You think he left you for me.”
“He did.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“He was ordered to leave you.”
“By my mother.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because she knew they were watching you.”
I looked at my mother.
“Then why did you let me believe he abandoned us?”
“Because it was safer.”
“For whom?”
“For you.”
I shook my head.
“You keep saying that.”
My mother cried.
“Because it's true.”
“No.”
I held Amelia tighter.
“You weren't protecting me.”
She stared.
“You were controlling me.”
My mother's face crumpled.
“You're right.”
That answer shocked me.
“I made decisions for you because I was terrified.”
“Terrified of what?”
“Of losing both my daughters.”
I froze.
“Both?”
My mother nodded.
“I loved the first one too.”
“Then where is she?”
“I don't know.”
“But you know who took her.”
“Yes.”
“Marco.”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn't you find her?”
“Because Marco threatened to kill you.”
I stared.
“So you traded my daughter for my life.”
My mother's eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
I couldn't speak.
She whispered:
“I have regretted it every day.”
I turned away.
The woman who gave birth to me had sacrificed my child.
My husband had lied to me.
My father had hidden the truth.
And my brother had watched from the shadows.
I didn't know which betrayal hurt most.
Then Daniel spoke.
“There is something else.”
I turned.
“What?”
He reached into his coat.
He removed a small photograph.
He handed it to me.
I looked down.
A little girl.
Maybe seven years old.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
A small silver bracelet around her wrist.
I stared.
I recognized the bracelet.
It had belonged to my mother.
My hand began shaking.
“Where did you get this?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Claire gave it to me.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“Why?”
“Because I found out the girl existed.”
My heart stopped.
“You saw her?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
He looked at Luka.
“Moretti estate.”
Luka's face went pale.
“That's impossible.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She was there.”
“Why didn't you tell Hannah?”
“I was trying to get her out.”
“And?”
“I failed.”
I looked at the photograph.
The little girl was smiling.
She had a small gap between her front teeth.
Something about her face felt familiar.
Not vaguely.
Deeply.
Like looking into a mirror from another lifetime.
“What's her name?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Emma.”
My heart stopped.
“Emma.”
“Yes.”
I touched the photograph.
“Emma.”
Claire nodded.
“That's what they call her.”
“Is that her real name?”
“No.”
“What is her real name?”
Claire looked at me.
“Amelia.”
The photograph fell from my hand.
I looked at my newborn.
Then at the photograph.
The same name.
The same face.
The same eyes.
Impossible.
“No.”
Claire whispered:
“Your first daughter and your newborn have the same genetic profile.”
I stared.
“Twins?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
Claire shook her head.
“They aren't twins.”
“What are they?”
She looked at me.
“Your first daughter was born seven years ago.”
“Yes.”
“And your newborn…”
“Yes.”
Claire's face became pale.
“She shouldn't exist.”
Silence.
“What does that mean?”
“The second child was created.”
My stomach dropped.
“Created?”
“Using the genetic material from the first.”
I looked at Amelia.
“You mean…”
“Your newborn was genetically engineered from your first daughter's DNA.”
I couldn't breathe.
Dr. Rusk whispered:
“That's what M-17 was designed to do.”
Luka stared at the baby.
“No.”
Claire nodded.
“That's why they want her.”
Daniel stepped toward me.
“Hannah…”
I backed away.
“No.”
He stopped.
“My baby is real.”
“Yes.”
“She isn't a copy.”
“No.”
“She isn't a replacement.”
“No.”
“Then what is she?”
Claire looked at me.
“She is the second generation.”
My blood ran cold.
“The first child was the experiment.”
She pointed toward Amelia.
“The second child is the weapon.”
I stared at my daughter.
She opened her eyes.
Blue.
Calm.
Perfect.
And for the first time, I wondered whether the people who had been hunting her were afraid of what she could become—
or terrified of what she could reveal.
The hospital alarm suddenly sounded.
A voice came through the speakers.
SECURITY BREACH.
MATERNITY WING COMPROMISED.
Luka grabbed his weapon.
“Everyone move.”
Claire stepped back.
“It's Marco.”
Daniel looked toward the door.
“No.”
“What?”
“He's not coming for the baby.”
Luka stared.
“Then who?”
Daniel looked at me.
“They're coming for Hannah.”
My mother grabbed my arm.
“We need to leave.”
“Where?”
“There's another exit.”
Luka shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
The corridor outside filled with footsteps.
Heavy.
Fast.
Armed men.
Luka looked at me.
“Whatever happens, don't give them Amelia.”
I nodded.
Daniel stepped beside me.
“I'll help.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I failed you once.”
He swallowed.
“I won't fail again.”
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the door exploded inward.
Men in black entered.
Luka fired.
Daniel pulled me behind a counter.
Claire grabbed Dr. Rusk.
My mother screamed.
And through the chaos, a single man walked calmly into the room.
Marco.
He looked at me.
Then at Amelia.
And smiled.
“Finally.”
Luka raised his weapon.
“Take another step and you're dead.”
Marco laughed.
“You still don't understand, nephew.”
He pointed toward me.
“We don't need the baby.”
Then he pointed at Daniel.
“We don't even need her husband.”
His eyes settled on me.
“We only need the woman who remembers.”
I froze.
“What do I remember?”
Marco smiled.
“Everything.”
He raised a remote control.
The hospital screens all switched on.
A video began playing.
It showed me.
Sixteen years old.
Standing inside Room 17.
Holding a newborn baby.
My first daughter.
And beside me stood my father.
He was alive.
He looked directly into the camera.
Then he said:
“Hannah, if you're watching this, then the first child has been found.”
I stopped breathing.
My father's voice continued.
“And if you have another daughter…”
He paused.
“…do not let Daniel choose between them.”
The screen went black.
I looked at Daniel.
His face had collapsed.
I looked at Luka.
He was staring at the screen.
And then Marco whispered:
“Now you know why your husband chose me.”
I turned toward Daniel.
“Daniel?”
He couldn't speak.
“What did he choose?”
Daniel finally looked at me.
And whispered:
“Your first daughter.”
My heart shattered.
Again.
May you like
And this time—
I wasn't sure I could forgive him.
