Chapter 8: The Woman Who Chose Me
“Claire?””
My voice barely came out.
She entered the building slowly.
The alarm continued screaming around us.
Evelyn stared at her.
“You.””
Claire held the file tightly against her chest.
“Yes.””
I stepped toward her.
“What are you doing here?””
Claire looked at Lily.
Then at me.
“Finishing what I should have finished years ago.””
My anger returned instantly.
“You followed us?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I knew where this place was.””
Everyone went silent.
Thomas looked furious.
“You knew?””
Claire nodded.
“I found it when I discovered the study.””
Evelyn smiled faintly.
“Still protecting secrets.””
Claire looked at her.
“I protected Ryan.””
“No.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“You protected the version of him you wanted.””
That hit harder than I expected.
Claire opened the file.
“I found these in your old records.””
She threw a stack of documents onto the table.
Michael picked one up.
His face changed.
“What are these?””
“Transfer records.””
Sarah moved beside him.
“From the study?””
Claire nodded.
“Not just the study.””
I looked at her.
“What else?””
Claire looked at Lily.
Then answered.
“Adoptions.””
The room became silent.
My stomach tightened.
“No.””
Evelyn didn't react.
Which frightened me.
Claire continued.
“After children were born, Evelyn arranged where they would go.””
Michael stared at the papers.
“My life was planned.””
“Yes.””
Sarah covered her mouth.
“And Emma?””
Claire looked at her.
“Emma was never supposed to know Ryan.””
I felt sick.
“What does that mean?””
“It means someone changed the plan.””
I looked at Evelyn.
“Why?””
The older woman remained calm.
“Because Ryan was always the important part.””
I hated how calmly she said it.
“I'm not a project.””
“No.””
She looked at me.
“You are my son.””
The words sounded almost loving.
Almost.
“That doesn't mean you own me.””
Evelyn sighed.
“That is where your father failed.””
Thomas stepped forward.
“Don't blame me.””
“You chose weakness.””
“I chose my children.””
“You chose one.””
The accusation hung between them.
I looked at Thomas.
He looked away.
Something about that moment bothered me.
“What is she talking about?””
Nobody answered.
“Thomas.””
My father finally spoke.
“When you were born, Evelyn made a decision.””
“What decision?””
He looked at Michael.
“She chose which child would stay.””
The room went quiet.
I stared.
“No.””
Michael laughed softly.
“There it is.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I tried to stop her.””
“But you didn't.””
“No.””
Michael's voice became colder.
“You didn't.””
I looked at my father.
“You let her take him?””
“I thought he died.””
“And when you found out?””
Thomas had no answer.
That was answer enough.
Lily started crying.
I turned immediately.
She was staring at all of us.
“Why do grown-ups keep hurting each other?””
That question destroyed every argument in the room.
I walked to her.
“Because sometimes adults make terrible choices.””
“Are you going to leave me?””
“No.””
I held her face gently.
“Never.””
Evelyn watched us.
Then quietly said:
“That is exactly why I brought you here.””
I looked up.
“What?””
She pointed toward the underground hallway.
“Because tonight, Ryan, you finally have to choose.””
“Choose what?””
“Your family.””
I almost laughed.
“My family is standing right here.””
“No.””
Her expression hardened.
“You still don't understand.””
She pressed a button.
A hidden screen appeared on the wall.
On it was a live video.
A room.
A hospital room.
Inside was a woman lying unconscious.
Sarah gasped.
“No.””
I looked closer.
The woman had dark hair.
A familiar face.
“Who is that?””
Sarah stepped backward.
“That’s…”
She couldn't finish.
Evelyn answered.
“Your mother.””
I stared at her.
“You said she was dead.””
Sarah shook her head.
“Not your mother.””
She looked terrified.
“Her mother.””
My confusion grew.
“What?””
Sarah pointed at the screen.
“That woman is my mother.””
Everyone froze.
Evelyn smiled.
“Now you understand.””
My head spun.
Sarah had spent eleven years running.
But she had never told me the person she was running from.
Her own family.
The screen changed.
A document appeared.
At the top was a name.
SARAH MITCHELL.
Underneath:
ORIGINAL SUBJECT.
Michael whispered:
“She was part of it too.””
I looked at Sarah.
She was crying.
“Ryan, I can explain.””
Before she could continue, the hospital feed changed.
A doctor entered the room.
Behind him walked another person.
Someone carrying a familiar old photograph.
My mother.
Alive.
Standing beside Sarah's unconscious mother.
May you like
And Evelyn whispered:
“She was never working alone.””
