Chapter 9 - THE CONFESSION AT THE OLD ESTATE
Mallerie refused to go alone.
Gideon refused to let her.
Rebecca insisted on involving law enforcement.
After tense discussions, investigators arranged a controlled meeting.
Vivian would speak through a recorded video call from the estate while officers secured the perimeter.
Mallerie sat beside Gideon in a nearby command vehicle.
Vivian appeared on the screen.
She looked exhausted.
Her perfect hair was tangled.
Her makeup had smudged.
For the first time, she looked like a woman who understood that money could not solve everything.
“Gideon.”
He stared.
“Why?”
Vivian laughed bitterly.
“That's your first question?”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“I was losing everything.”
Gideon's jaw tightened.
“The trust money?”
She nodded.
“I thought if you had a child, you'd stop investigating the accounts.”
Gideon closed his eyes.
Vivian continued.
“Elena was asking questions. Julian Mercer was helping her.”
Mallerie's heart pounded.
“What happened to Julian?” she demanded.
Vivian looked at her.
Her expression changed.
“I'm sorry.”
Mallerie went cold.
“Tell me.”
Vivian swallowed.
“Julian found evidence that the clinic was selling embryos and falsifying records.”
Mallerie stared.
“He was going to report it.”
Vivian nodded.
“He contacted Elena. They planned to go to the authorities.”
Gideon's voice was low.
“And then they died.”
Vivian began crying.
“I didn't order their deaths.”
Gideon stared.
“Then who did?”
Vivian shook her head.
“I don't know.”
Mallerie leaned forward.
“Who took my baby?”
Vivian closed her eyes.
“Dr. Kessler arranged it.”
“Why me?”
Vivian looked at her.
“Because you were alone.”
The words struck harder than any insult.
Vivian continued.
“Kessler knew Julian was dead. He knew you didn't have money. He knew you trusted the hospital.”
Mallerie's hands trembled.
“He told me the baby would be placed with Gideon. He said it was better than letting him grow up poor.”
Mallerie stood.
“Better?”
Her voice cracked.
“You told yourself stealing my child was kindness?”
Vivian began sobbing.
“I know.”
“No,” Mallerie whispered. “You don't.”
Gideon reached for her hand.
She let him.
Vivian looked toward the camera.
“There's something else.”
Gideon stared.
“What?”
“The child wasn't the only thing Kessler stole.”
She swallowed.
“He kept records of other babies.”
Silence.
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Owen wasn't the first.”
