Chapter 6 · I Survived Their Cruelty To Take Back My Legacy

Chapter 6

At two in the afternoon, Ryan and I split up.

Ryan left first to scout out the library. I followed half an hour later, taking a cab.

The Kingston Bay Library was an old building, with an old-school, stately vibe.

Sticking to the plan, I went straight to the Rare Books Room.

There weren't many people around, just a few folks who looked like scholars, poring over documents.

I picked a table tucked away inside and took a seat.

At 2:58, a woman in a navy suit walked in. She looked to be in her early fifties, carrying herself with grace.

I recognized her in an instant.

That was Victoria Carter, my birth mother.

Victoria saw me instantly, her gaze sharpening in shock. Then she hurried over.

"Ellie..." Victoria murmured, her voice choked as she stopped in front of me.

I motioned for her to sit down.

Victoria's eyes lingered on the scar across my neck.

Her voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. "Who did this to you?"

I shook my head, scribbling quickly on a piece of paper: [This isn't a safe place. Let's keep it brief. Do you know I'm your real daughter?]

Victoria's eyes grew teary. "I always had my doubts. I was unconscious when you were born. When I came to, Helen told me the baby was gone."

Her hands trembled. "It wasn't until three years ago that I came across some hospital records..."

[What records?]

"On June 15, 1999, at Kingston Bay Central Hospital, two baby girls were born at the same time. One died, and the other survived."

She took a deep breath. "The one who died was Helen's child. The one who lived... was you."

My blood ran cold.

So Helen had known from the start. She switched us on purpose.

I wrote: [I need evidence.]

"I have copies," Victoria said, pulling an envelope from her bag. "But the originals are with Helen."

Just as I reached for the envelope, Ryan's voice crackled through my earpiece. "We've got a situation. A black sedan just pulled up to the library's back entrance. Three suspicious guys got out. Get ready to move."

I jumped up, quickly scribbled a note and slid it to Victoria. [Someone's tailing you. Leave through the front door right now. I'll reach out later.]

Victoria's expression changed, but she quickly pulled herself together.

"Be careful," she whispered, tucking the envelope away.

Victoria and I went our separate ways. I made for the back door, hoping to distract those guys.

Stepping out of the library, I immediately spotted the black sedan Ryan had warned about. Three men dressed in black were looking around suspiciously.

I pulled my hat down low and hurried off in the opposite direction.

"Ellie, don't look back. Walk straight for two blocks." Ryan's voice was calm. "I'm in the gray van."

I had just reached the first intersection when the black sedan suddenly accelerated and barreled right toward me.

"Run!" Ryan yelled.

On pure instinct, I threw myself forward.

The screech of brakes cut through the air. Suddenly, a car door swung open right beside me, and a pair of strong arms pulled me inside.

The door slammed shut, and the sedan smashed into the spot where we'd just been.

"You okay?" Ryan asked, quickly checking me for injuries.

I nodded, my heart thundering in my chest.

Ryan floored it, and the car shot forward.

In the rearview mirror, the black sedan was making a U-turn.

"Hold on tight," Ryan said, swinging the car into a sharp turn and darting down a narrow alley.

We zigzagged through the streets, finally shaking off our tail.

*****

I collapsed into a chair as soon as we got back to the safehouse, feeling completely drained.

Ryan's face was grim. "They've spotted you. We can't risk meeting Victoria again for a while."

I pulled out the envelope Victoria had given me. Inside were copies of the hospital records.

It read: [On June 15, 1999, Victoria Carter gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

[Helen Lynn's baby girl died at birth.]

There was also a handwritten note: [Per Ms. Helen Lynn's instructions, Victoria Carter's baby girl was given to her to raise. —Head Nurse Mary Watson]

My fingers trembled.

The proof was rock solid. Helen had stolen my life.

"We'll find the originals," Ryan said, gripping my shoulder. "And then we'll make them pay."

I looked up at him. Ryan's eyes burned with a fury I'd never seen before.

My phone screen lit up with an encrypted message: [Victoria has been kidnapped. Abandoned factory. Come ASAP.]

Lucas sent it.

My whole body froze.

Ryan saw the message over my shoulder and started gearing up without hesitation.

"It's a trap," he said briefly, checking his gun.

I nodded, already slipping into my coat.

Even if it was hell, I was going.

Victoria was my real mother whom I'd just reunited with, and the key to bringing Helen down.

Chapter 6

At two in the afternoon, Ryan and I split up.

Ryan left first to scout out the library. I followed half an hour later, taking a cab.

The Kingston Bay Library was an old building, with an old-school, stately vibe.

Sticking to the plan, I went straight to the Rare Books Room.

There weren't many people around, just a few folks who looked like scholars, poring over documents.

I picked a table tucked away inside and took a seat.

At 2:58, a woman in a navy suit walked in. She looked to be in her early fifties, carrying herself with grace.

I recognized her in an instant.

That was Victoria Carter, my birth mother.

Victoria saw me instantly, her gaze sharpening in shock. Then she hurried over.

"Ellie..." Victoria murmured, her voice choked as she stopped in front of me.

I motioned for her to sit down.

Victoria's eyes lingered on the scar across my neck.

Her voice cut through the air, sharp and demanding. "Who did this to you?"

I shook my head, scribbling quickly on a piece of paper: [This isn't a safe place. Let's keep it brief. Do you know I'm your real daughter?]

Victoria's eyes grew teary. "I always had my doubts. I was unconscious when you were born. When I came to, Helen told me the baby was gone."

Her hands trembled. "It wasn't until three years ago that I came across some hospital records..."

[What records?]

"On June 15, 1999, at Kingston Bay Central Hospital, two baby girls were born at the same time. One died, and the other survived."

She took a deep breath. "The one who died was Helen's child. The one who lived... was you."

My blood ran cold.

So Helen had known from the start. She switched us on purpose.

I wrote: [I need evidence.]

"I have copies," Victoria said, pulling an envelope from her bag. "But the originals are with Helen."

I jumped up, quickly scribbled a note and slid it to Victoria. [Someone's tailing you. Leave through the front door right now. I'll reach out later.]

Victoria's expression changed, but she quickly pulled herself together.

"Be careful," she whispered, tucking the envelope away.

Victoria and I went our separate ways. I made for the back door, hoping to distract those guys.

Stepping out of the library, I immediately spotted the black sedan Ryan had warned about. Three men dressed in black were looking around suspiciously.

I pulled my hat down low and hurried off in the opposite direction.

"Ellie, don't look back. Walk straight for two blocks." Ryan's voice was calm. "I'm in the gray van."

I had just reached the first intersection when the black sedan suddenly accelerated and barreled right toward me.

"Run!" Ryan yelled.

On pure instinct, I threw myself forward.

The screech of brakes cut through the air. Suddenly, a car door swung open right beside me, and a pair of strong arms pulled me inside.

The door slammed shut, and the sedan smashed into the spot where we'd just been.

"You okay?" Ryan asked, quickly checking me for injuries.

I nodded, my heart thundering in my chest.

Ryan floored it, and the car shot forward.

In the rearview mirror, the black sedan was making a U-turn.

"Hold on tight," Ryan said, swinging the car into a sharp turn and darting down a narrow alley.

We zigzagged through the streets, finally shaking off our tail.

*****

I collapsed into a chair as soon as we got back to the safehouse, feeling completely drained.

Ryan's face was grim. "They've spotted you. We can't risk meeting Victoria again for a while."

I pulled out the envelope Victoria had given me. Inside were copies of the hospital records.

It read: [On June 15, 1999, Victoria Carter gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

[Helen Lynn's baby girl died at birth.]

There was also a handwritten note: [Per Ms. Helen Lynn's instructions, Victoria Carter's baby girl was given to her to raise. —Head Nurse Mary Watson]

My fingers trembled.

The proof was rock solid. Helen had stolen my life.

"We'll find the originals," Ryan said, gripping my shoulder. "And then we'll make them pay."

I looked up at him. Ryan's eyes burned with a fury I'd never seen before.

My phone screen lit up with an encrypted message: [Victoria has been kidnapped. Abandoned factory. Come ASAP.]

Lucas sent it.

My whole body froze.

Ryan saw the message over my shoulder and started gearing up without hesitation.

"It's a trap," he said briefly, checking his gun.

I nodded, already slipping into my coat.

Even if it was hell, I was going.

Victoria was my real mother whom I'd just reunited with, and the key to bringing Helen down.