Chapter 13 - THE OTHER CHILD
Charles explained that Dane Capital had funded a private fertility clinic through a shell company. Years earlier, samples had been taken during Nathan’s routine medical screening and stored without his informed consent.
Victoria’s marriage would have given her legal and financial cover to claim any resulting child as part of the Cole bloodline.
Claire whispered, “That’s insane.”
Rebecca shook her head. “It’s criminal.”
Nathan watched his dead father on the screen.
“Malcolm believed bloodline control was more stable than contracts,” Charles said. “I helped create the conditions that allowed him to try.”
The video ended.
Rebecca immediately contacted federal investigators.
By midnight, agents raided the fertility clinic.
They found frozen samples linked to Nathan’s identity.
They also found a file marked V.D. PRIORITY.
Victoria Dane.
But the file showed no pregnancy.
Instead, there was a canceled embryo transfer scheduled for three weeks after the wedding.
Nathan stared at the report.
“She was going to use my DNA without telling me.”
Grace’s face hardened. “She wanted a replacement for Lily.”
“A controllable heir,” Rebecca said.
Victoria released a statement calling Nathan unstable and accusing Grace of extortion.
Then she appeared on television.
“I have been threatened by a woman who fabricated a child to steal from the Cole family,” she said, tears perfectly placed beneath her eyes.
Nathan watched from the living room.
Lily was upstairs.
Grace turned off the television.
“Don’t give her the room.”
Nathan nodded.
Then Owen entered carrying a courier envelope.
“No return address.”
Inside was a single photograph.
Lily asleep in her bedroom.
Taken that morning.
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On the back, written in black marker:
YOU CAN’T GUARD EVERY WINDOW.
