CHAPTER 67 — LILY’S BIRTH FILE
They escaped through the elevator seconds before the laboratory collapsed.
Jonah lay unconscious inside the chapel.
He was alive, but badly wounded.
Mason carried him toward the surface.
Claire blocked the chapel exit.
“What did Miriam mean?”
“We need to leave.”
“Who gave birth to Lily?”
Mason looked at Lily.
She was listening.
Claire sent her with Rose and Margaret.
Then she faced Mason again.
“Tell me.”
Mason lowered Jonah to the floor.
“Six years ago, I was assigned to investigate a maternity clinic connected to Gray Tide.”
“You knew me then?”
“I knew your file.”
“And Lily?”
“There was a fire. Three infants disappeared.”
Claire remembered the hospital telling her Lily had been moved after a ventilation failure.
“I gave birth to her.”
“You gave birth to a child.”
The words struck harder than any weapon.
Mason continued.
“The babies were switched during the evacuation.”
“Which baby did I take home?”
“I never confirmed it.”
“You let me believe she was mine.”
“She was your daughter by every measure that mattered.”
“That was not your decision.”
Mason removed a sealed envelope from inside his jacket.
He had carried it for years.
LILY BENNETT — MATERNAL ORIGIN.
Claire tore it open.
The file listed a different biological mother.
SARAH VANE.
Claire looked toward Sarah across the chapel.
Sarah had heard.
Her face showed no surprise.
“You knew,” Claire whispered.
Sarah nodded.
Mason stepped between them.
“The file may be false.”
Sarah spoke quietly.
“It isn’t.”
Claire held the wall for support.
Sarah approached.
“I gave birth under sedation. Miriam told me the baby died.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because Lily calls you Mommy.”
Lily returned before anyone could stop her.
She looked at Sarah.
“Are you my other mother?”
Sarah knelt.
“I don’t know what I am.”
Lily placed Mr. Buttons in her hands.
“You can be Sarah.”
Outside, the orphanage bells began ringing.
Deputy Director Ward called Claire.
“We found Miriam.”
“Where?”
Ward turned the camera.
May you like
Miriam was standing among the rescued Blackwater children.
She was holding a knife against Four-B’s throat.
