CHAPTER 7 — “The Hospital's Darkest Secret”
The boardroom fell into stunned silence.
Three other missing newborns.
Not one.
Not two.
Three.
Grace felt her stomach tighten.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
The federal investigator placed dozens of old files across the conference table.
Dust-covered medical records.
Bank transfers.
Birth certificates.
Death certificates.
Every document pointed to the same hospital.
The same maternity ward.
The same administrator.
And one familiar signature...
Eleanor Blackwood.
Richard stared at the evidence in disbelief.
"My mother... funded this?"
The investigator nodded grimly.
"For over twenty years."
"It wasn't an isolated crime."
"It was a business."
Gasps filled the room.
The investigator continued.
"We believe wealthy families secretly paid to adopt healthy newborns while poor mothers were told their babies had died during childbirth."
Grace covered her mouth.
Tears streamed down her face.
"How many?"
The investigator looked down.
"So far..."
"...twenty-seven confirmed victims."
The room erupted.
Several board members immediately resigned from the company.
Reporters rushed outside to break the news.
Blackwood Group's stock began collapsing by the minute.
Vanessa looked at her grandmother with horror.
"You stole children..."
Eleanor finally spoke.
"I gave those babies better lives."
Grace stepped forward.
"You stole their mothers."
Security officers moved in.
As they placed handcuffs on Eleanor, she suddenly laughed.
A slow...
Cold...
Terrifying laugh.
"You think you've won?"
Richard frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Eleanor smiled.
"The evidence you've seen..."
"...is only the first chapter."
She looked directly at Grace.
"Your son is still alive."
The room froze.
Grace stopped breathing.
"My..."
"...my son?"
Eleanor nodded.
"You didn't give birth to one baby."
"You gave birth to twins."
Grace's legs gave out beneath her.
Richard caught her before she hit the floor.
The investigator looked shocked.
"We never found any record of a second child."
Eleanor's smile widened.
"Because I made sure you never would."
She leaned close to Grace and whispered,
"Find him..."
"...before the people who bought him discover who he really is."
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Then she walked away in handcuffs...
Leaving everyone trapped in a brand-new nightmare.
