CHAPTER 4 — The Daughter Victor Tried to Erase
Detective Ava Monroe did not move.
For five years, she had chased the Langston hospital case like it was just another cold file.
Missing records.
Dead nurses.
Forged birth certificates.
Bribed doctors.
She thought she was hunting justice.
She never imagined...
She was hunting her own life.
Victor Langston stared at her from across the room.
For the first time, the powerful man looked small.
Ava whispered, "No."
The investigator placed the DNA report on the table.
"You were the baby declared dead."
Emily covered her mouth.
Sophia began crying.
Lily looked at Ava with wide, terrified eyes.
Ava stepped back.
"My parents died in a car accident when I was six."
The investigator shook his head.
"They were not your parents."
Ava's voice cracked.
"Then who were they?"
Silence.
Then Victor spoke.
"They were paid to disappear with you."
Ava turned toward him slowly.
The room went cold.
"You knew?"
Victor did not answer.
Ava walked closer.
"You knew I was alive?"
Victor's hands trembled around his silver cane.
"I had to protect my family name."
Ava laughed once, bitterly.
"Your family name?"
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You stole babies."
"You destroyed mothers."
"You buried the truth."
"And you call that protection?"
Victor looked away.
That was the moment Ava understood.
He was not sorry.
He was only afraid.
And fear, in men like Victor Langston...
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Was never harmless.
It was dangerous.
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