CHAPTER 15: A DEAD MAN’S BLOOD

Adrian stared at the report.

“You said Daniel was alive.”

Victoria nodded.

“He is.”

“Then why does this say he died?”

“Because the man you are chasing is no longer legally or medically Daniel Vale.”

Emma entered the mausoleum with Eli beside her.

Victoria’s eyes narrowed.

“You brought him here.”

“He refused to stay behind,” Emma said.

Eli looked at the report.

“Is my father alive or dead?”

Victoria crouched to his level.

“The person your mother remembers is alive. But Sebastian changed him.”

“How?”

“Organ replacement. Nerve reconstruction. Memory conditioning.”

Adrian felt sick.

Victoria continued.

“Daniel was the first successful subject. Every few years, Sebastian replaced part of his damaged body using tissue grown from compatible children.”

Emma pulled Eli backward.

“No.”

“He has used six children already,” Victoria said. “Eli was created to become the seventh.”

Adrian seized her arm.

“Created?”

Victoria looked at Emma.

“Tell him.”

Emma’s face collapsed.

“I gave birth to Eli.”

“That isn’t what she asked,” Victoria said.

Adrian turned toward Emma.

“What did they do?”

Emma began to cry.

“They used Daniel’s cells. They chose me because I was compatible. I escaped before they could complete the transfer.”

Eli stared at his mother.

“So I was never wanted?”

Emma dropped to her knees.

“You were the only thing I ever wanted.”

A gunshot cracked through the mausoleum.

Victoria jerked backward.

Blood spread across her white suit.

Mason fired toward the entrance, but the shooter disappeared between the graves.

Adrian caught Victoria before she hit the floor.

She pressed the silver key into his hand.

“The key doesn’t open a door,” she gasped.

“What does it open?”

“Your father’s memory.”

Her eyes rolled back.

Eli moved forward instinctively.

Emma grabbed him.

“No more healing.”

“But she’ll die.”

“You could die too.”

Victoria’s breathing weakened.

Eli looked at Adrian.

For the first time, the billionaire did not order anyone to act.

The decision belonged to the boy.

Eli pulled away from his mother and placed his hand over Victoria’s wound.

His body began to shake.

Victoria’s eyes opened.

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At the same moment, Eli’s legs collapsed beneath him.

He could no longer stand.