Chapter 9: The Woman Who Survived
Nobody breathed.
Simone's face filled the phone screen.
Older than the photograph.
Tired.
Bruised.
But alive.
Jordan stepped forward.
“Mom?””
Simone's eyes widened.
“Jordan?””
He pressed both hands against his mouth.
“Mom…”
Vanessa sank into a pew.
Raymond stood perfectly still.
Marcus looked at him.
“You said she disappeared.””
“I thought she was dead.””
“You knew she was alive.””
“No.””
Simone's voice came through the phone.
“Raymond.””
He looked at the screen.
“Simone.””
“You knew.””
Raymond's face crumpled.
“I searched for you.””
“For six years?””
“I couldn't find you.””
“You stopped looking.””
“I never stopped.””
Simone shook her head.
“You stopped after they threatened Caleb.””
Caleb froze.
“What?””
Simone looked toward the camera.
“Caleb, listen to me.””
He stepped closer.
“I'm listening.””
“You were never supposed to be taken.””
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
“Then why did it happen?””
Simone looked at Vanessa.
“Because your aunt was trying to save you.””
Marcus stared at Vanessa.
“From whom?””
Simone answered.
“Dr. Warren.””
The man in the black suit stepped closer to the phone.
“You're wasting time.””
Simone glared at him.
“You're afraid.””
He smiled.
“Of you?””
“Of what I know.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who are you?””
The man finally answered.
“Derrick Cole.””
Raymond's face hardened.
“Cole.””
Derrick smiled.
“Now you remember.””
Marcus frowned.
“Remember what?””
Derrick looked at him.
“Your father.””
Marcus froze.
“My father?””
Derrick nodded.
“He knew Raymond.””
Raymond shook his head.
“Don't.””
Derrick ignored him.
“Your father was the accountant who discovered the payments.””
Marcus's voice became quiet.
“What payments?””
“To Dr. Warren.””
Marcus looked at Raymond.
“You knew my father?””
Raymond didn't answer.
Derrick continued.
“Your father found out that babies were being moved between hospitals, records altered, identities changed.””
Marcus felt dizzy.
“And Lily?””
Derrick nodded.
“She was one of them.””
Jordan stared at him.
“Why?””
“Money.””
Caleb shook his head.
“That doesn't explain why they wanted us.””
Derrick looked at him.
“Some babies were sold.””
Marcus's jaw clenched.
“And others?””
“Used.””
The word chilled the room.
Simone spoke from the screen.
“Don't listen to him.””
Derrick laughed.
“You've been listening to lies for six years.””
Simone looked directly at Marcus.
“Your father discovered the truth.””
Marcus's breathing slowed.
“What happened to him?””
Simone's eyes filled with tears.
“He was killed.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
The room seemed to disappear.
His father had died when Marcus was young.
He had always been told it was an accident.
A car crash.
A wet road.
Bad brakes.
Nothing suspicious.
But now every childhood memory seemed to rearrange itself.
Marcus opened his eyes.
“Who killed him?””
Simone stared at Raymond.
Raymond whispered, “Simone…”
Marcus followed her gaze.
His face changed.
“No.””
Raymond shook his head.
“I didn't.””
Derrick smiled.
“Ask him where he was that night.””
Marcus stepped toward Raymond.
“Where were you?””
Raymond's voice broke.
“At the hospital.””
“Why?””
“Because your father asked me to meet him.””
“What happened?””
“He gave me the records.””
Marcus's fists clenched.
“And then?””
Raymond looked at the floor.
“Then he left.””
“And died?””
“Yes.””
“Who followed him?””
Raymond said nothing.
Marcus grabbed his jacket.
“Who followed him?””
Raymond finally whispered:
“Dr. Warren.””
The church erupted in whispers.
Vanessa stood.
“That's not the whole truth.””
Marcus turned.
“What else?””
Vanessa looked at Simone's face on the phone.
Then at Jordan.
Then at Lily.
“I switched the babies.””
Marcus stared.
“What?””
Vanessa's tears fell.
“I did it.””
Caleb shook his head.
“You said you didn't.””
“I lied.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
“Because Dr. Warren told me if I didn't, both babies would disappear.””
Marcus looked at Lily.
“And you gave her to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why me?””
Vanessa's voice broke.
“Because your father had already died protecting those records.””
Marcus froze.
“You knew who I was.””
“Yes.””
“You chose me.””
“Yes.””
“For Lily.””
“Yes.””
“Then why did you marry me?””
Vanessa looked down.
“Because I needed to stay close to her.””
Marcus stepped backward as though she'd struck him.
“You used me.””
“I did.””
“You never loved me.””
Vanessa cried.
“I did.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“I loved you before I knew who you were.””
“Then why?””
“Because every time I tried to leave, they threatened Lily.””
Marcus looked toward Derrick.
Derrick's smile faded.
Simone suddenly shouted from the phone:
“Marcus, listen to me!””
He looked at the screen.
Simone was crying now.
“The person behind all of this isn't Derrick.””
Marcus stared.
Derrick turned toward the church doors.
A shadow appeared beneath them.
Simone whispered:
“It's the man who raised you.””
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“My father?””
“No.””
Simone shook her head.
“Your stepfather.””
Marcus's face went white.
Behind the locked church doors, a key turned.
And an elderly Black man stepped into the sanctuary.
Marcus recognized him immediately.
The man who had comforted him at his father's funeral.
The man who had raised him.
The man Marcus had called Dad for twenty-two years.
He smiled.
“Son.””
Marcus couldn't move.
The old man's eyes shifted toward Lily.
Then toward Jordan.
May you like
Finally, he said:
“I've come to take back what belongs to me.””
