CHAPTER 25 THE CHILD MARKED SEVEN
Nathan found the document inside Margaret’s emergency file.
The signature was his.
So was the date.
Two days before his wedding to Claire.
The clause stated that any firstborn Whitmore child could be placed under temporary family guardianship if the child’s mother demonstrated signs of instability, criminal conduct or medical incapacity.
Margaret had been given authority to decide whether those conditions existed.
Claire read the page twice.
“You gave her control over our child.”
“I thought it was a corporate succession form.”
“You did not read it.”
“No.”
“You trusted them more than you protected me.”
Nathan lowered his head.
“Yes.”
Claire folded the document.
“I don’t know whether I can forgive you.”
“I know.”
“But you are going to help me find her.”
“Yes.”
“And after that, you will never make another decision for me.”
“I won’t.”
They returned to the chapel.
The child marked Seven had stopped crying.
Evelyn held her carefully while Vanessa tried to identify the clinic named on the bracelet.
Gabriel emerged from the sea tunnel alone.
Blood covered the side of his face.
Evelyn rushed toward him.
“Where is Gideon?”
“Gone.”
“And the baby?”
“Vera took her through the north tunnel.”
Claire grabbed his jacket.
“Why didn’t you stop them?”
“The tunnel collapsed.”
“You crossed the bridge.”
“I tried.”
“Did Gideon let you leave?”
Gabriel looked at her.
“He gave me this.”
He placed a folded map on the altar.
A location had been circled near the Blackwood estate.
Beneath it, Gideon had written:
THE FIRST CHILD IS BURIED WHERE THE LAST CHILD WILL BE CROWNED.
Nathan recognized the location.
“The family cemetery.”
Sirens sounded above the cliffs.
A coast guard rescue team had reached the property after the tide began to retreat.
Everyone was taken out through the upper lighthouse.
Claire refused medical treatment until every room had been searched.
No sign of her daughter was found.
Near dawn, police discovered another ambulance parked beside an abandoned boathouse.
A newborn lay inside.
She was wrapped in Claire’s white hospital blanket.
Nathan ran toward the vehicle.
Claire followed, ignoring the pain tearing through her body.
The baby had dark hair.
She had Claire’s mouth.
She began to cry when Claire lifted her.
Nathan covered his face.
“We found her.”
Claire said nothing.
She moved the blanket aside.
Behind the child’s left ear was a small crescent-shaped mark.
Claire touched it.
The mark smeared beneath her finger.
Ink.
Nathan’s relief disappeared.
Claire looked carefully at the baby’s face.
“This is not our daughter.”
The child carried a second bracelet beneath the blanket.
SUBJECT SEVEN.
Vanessa examined the stitching.
Something had been hidden inside the fabric.
She cut open the seam and removed a narrow strip of transparent film.
Six names had been printed on it.
All were female.
All belonged to living Shaw descendants.
The final name was Claire.
One name had been crossed out in red.
VERONICA SHAW.
Evelyn stared at it.
Nathan noticed her expression.
“Why does Veronica have your surname?”
May you like
Evelyn whispered:
“Because Veronica was part of my family before she ever became part of yours.”
