CHAPTER 4 – THE LITTLE GIRL WHO CALLED HER "MOM" HAD THE TRUTH NO ONE WAS READY TO HEAR
The entire house fell silent.
Emma stared at the little girl standing behind the police officers.
She looked no older than eight.
The same age as Lily.
The child clutched a worn-out teddy bear with one missing eye, her tiny fingers trembling.
When their eyes met, she whispered again.
"Mom..."
Emma's heart pounded so hard she thought she might collapse.
"There must be some mistake," she said.
The officer stepped forward.
"Ma'am, this child insisted we bring her here. She ran away from home and kept repeating your address."
Daniel's face drained of color.
"No..." he muttered.
"She wasn't supposed to come."
Emma slowly turned toward him.
"What do you mean she wasn't supposed to come?"
Before Daniel could answer, the little girl broke free from the officer and ran straight into Emma's arms.
She hugged her tightly.
"I finally found you."
Emma stood frozen.
She had never seen this child before.
Yet something felt strangely familiar.
The little girl's eyes...
Her smile...
Even the tiny birthmark behind her left ear...
It was identical to the one Emma had.
Daniel closed his eyes.
"It's over..."
The officer handed Emma a small envelope the girl had been carrying.
"She said this belongs to you."
Inside was an old DNA report.
Emma unfolded the paper with shaking hands.
The result was impossible.
Emma Carter — Biological Mother: 99.9998% Match.
Her knees nearly gave out.
She looked at the child.
Then at Daniel.
Then back at the report.
"This... this can't be real."
Tears streamed down the little girl's face.
"My name is Sophie," she whispered.
"I've been waiting for you my whole life."
Emma wrapped her arms around the frightened child, unable to stop crying.
Daniel finally spoke.
"I never wanted you to find out like this."
Emma exploded.
"You stole my daughter!"
"No!"
Daniel shouted.
"I saved her!"
"From what?"
Daniel looked toward the window, his entire body shaking.
"You don't understand."
"They're coming."
At that exact moment...
A black SUV screeched to a stop outside the house.
Three men in dark suits stepped out.
One of them held up a photograph.
It was Sophie's picture.
The tallest man spoke into a radio.
"We've located Subject Seven."
Emma's blood turned to ice.
Subject Seven?
Not Sophie.
Not a child.
A subject.
Daniel grabbed Emma's arm.
His voice was filled with panic.
"Listen to me."
"If they take Sophie..."
"They'll kill every single one of us."
Before Emma could ask another question...
May you like
The front door exploded inward.
And the men rushed inside.
