Chapter 10: The Man Who Chose Lily
I didn’t move.
The message remained on my phone screen.
*Bring Lily outside, or you’ll never learn why she was chosen.*
Every instinct inside me screamed the same thing.
Protect her.
I stepped away from the window and pulled Lily into my arms.
“No one is taking you anywhere.””
She wrapped her small arms around my neck.
“Daddy, who is that?””
I looked at the driveway again.
The figure was still there.
Waiting.
“Someone who made a mistake.””
The truth was, I had no idea who was making mistakes anymore.
Victor Hale.
Vanessa.
Daniel.
Rachel.
Everyone had a story.
Everyone had a reason.
But Lily was the one who paid the price.
I carried her downstairs.
The others were gathered in the living room.
When Vanessa saw my face, she knew.
“He’s here.””
Rachel stood immediately.
“Victor?””
I nodded.
Daniel moved toward the window.
“Where?””
“Driveway.””
His expression changed.
For the first time, I saw fear in him.
Not for himself.
For Lily.
“He knows.””
I looked at him.
“Knows what?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
She looked away.
I was tired of that.
Every answer came with another secret.
“What haven’t you told me?””
Vanessa’s hands shook.
“Victor didn’t just want Lily.””
I waited.
“He wanted proof.””
“Proof of what?””
Rachel answered quietly.
“That Lily belonged to him.””
I frowned.
“That makes no sense.””
Rachel looked toward the window.
“Victor believed genetics were everything.””
My stomach tightened.
“He thought she was his?””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“He knew she wasn’t.””
“Then why?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Because he believed he could create the perfect child.””
The words made the room feel colder.
I stared at her.
“You’re saying he chose a baby?””
Vanessa nodded.
“He studied families. Relationships. History.””
Rachel’s voice trembled.
“He watched us before Lily was even born.””
I looked at Daniel.
“You knew?””
He looked ashamed.
“I suspected.””
“You suspected someone was watching your family and you did nothing?””
“I tried.””
His voice cracked.
“You don’t know what Victor was capable of.””
A loud knock interrupted him.
Everyone froze.
Not a normal knock.
Slow.
Confident.
Like whoever was outside already knew they owned the place.
Lily grabbed my hand.
“Daddy?””
“I’m here.””
I moved toward the door.
Rachel grabbed my arm.
“Don’t open it.””
I looked at her.
“Then what?””
Nobody answered.
The knock came again.
Then a voice.
“Ethan.””
I froze.
The voice was calm.
Almost polite.
“I know you’re inside.””
Vanessa went pale.
“Victor.””
He continued.
“I think we should finally talk.””
I stepped closer to the door.
“How do you know my name?””
A small laugh came from outside.
“Because I know everything about you.””
My jaw tightened.
“You’ve been watching us?””
“Watching?””
A pause.
“No, Ethan. I’ve been protecting what I invested in.””
I looked at Lily.
The word made me sick.
Invested.
Like she was an object.
“She’s not yours.””
Victor’s voice became colder.
“You misunderstand.””
The silence outside lasted a few seconds.
“Lily was never supposed to belong to anyone.””
My hand tightened.
“She is my daughter.””
Another pause.
Then:
“Is she?””
The room went silent.
Victor continued.
“Ask Vanessa what she signed.””
I looked at my wife.
She looked down.
“Ask Rachel why she ran.””
Rachel closed her eyes.
“Ask Daniel why he failed.””
Daniel stepped toward the door.
“Show yourself.””
Victor laughed.
“You still think this is about courage.””
The lights flickered.
Then the security alarm on my phone activated.
A notification appeared.
*Front door unlocked remotely.*
My blood ran cold.
Victor had access.
The door handle moved.
Everyone backed away.
Then the door opened.
A man stood there.
Late fifties.
Perfect suit.
Calm expression.
No panic.
No fear.
Victor Hale.
He looked exactly like someone who had never been told no.
His eyes moved through the room.
Then stopped on Lily.
For a moment, his expression softened.
“There she is.””
I stepped in front of her.
“Stay away from my daughter.””
Victor looked at me.
“Your daughter?””
He smiled slightly.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?””
Vanessa whispered:
“Victor, please.””
He looked at her.
“You failed.””
Her face fell.
“I tried to fix it.””
“No.””
His voice remained calm.
“You tried to keep what you stole.””
Rachel moved forward.
“You destroyed our lives.””
Victor looked at her.
“And yet you survived.””
Daniel clenched his fists.
“You lied about me.””
Victor shrugged.
“I corrected a problem.””
I couldn’t believe how casually he said it.
A person.
A life.
A family.
A problem.
Victor looked at Lily again.
“She doesn’t remember.””
I stepped forward.
“She remembers enough.””
His expression changed slightly.
“What did she tell you?””
I didn’t answer.
Victor smiled.
“Interesting.””
Then he reached into his coat.
He pulled out a small envelope.
He placed it on the table.
“I came here because Lily deserves to know the truth.””
I stared at him.
“What truth?””
Victor looked directly at Vanessa.
“The truth about who she really is.””
Then he walked away from the door.
And whispered:
“Because she isn’t just Rachel and Daniel’s daughter.””
Nobody spoke.
May you like
Victor smiled.
“She is also mine.””
