“IF GABRIEL ISN'T ISABELLA'S SON, THEN WHO IS HIS MOTHER?” Victoria Sterling stood between Richard Sterling and the frightened teenager.
Gabriel's face had gone white.
For seventeen years, he had been told his mother was Isabella Santos.
He had seen photographs.
He had heard stories.
He had spent nights imagining the day he would finally meet her.
And now Richard Sterling was standing in front of him, claiming everything was a lie.
“Don't listen to him,” Victoria said.
Richard laughed bitterly.
“You've been telling him stories you don't understand.”
Gabriel stepped forward.
“Then tell me the truth.”
Richard looked at him.
“You were born under an arrangement designed to protect several families.”
Gabriel's expression hardened.
“That's not an answer.”
Richard stared.
“You want the truth?”
“Yes.”
Richard slowly removed a folded document from his coat.
“Then look at this.”
He placed it on the table.
A laboratory report.
A DNA analysis.
Gabriel stared at the heading.
PARENTAGE COMPARISON — CONFIDENTIAL.
Victoria went pale.
“Richard, don't.”
He ignored her.
Gabriel picked up the report.
His hands trembled as he read.
The document appeared to compare his DNA with a reference sample attributed to Isabella Santos.
The conclusion stated that the tested profiles were inconsistent with a biological mother-son relationship.
Gabriel felt sick.
“No…”
Richard watched him.
“Isabella wasn't your mother.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“The photographs…”
“Photographs can be arranged.”
“The letters…”
“Letters can be written for someone else.”
Gabriel stared at him.
“Then why did she hold me?”
Richard's expression darkened.
“Because she was protecting you.”
Gabriel's voice broke.
“From whom?”
Richard looked toward Victoria.
“From people who wanted to use your identity.”
Victoria laughed bitterly.
“You mean people like you?”
Richard turned sharply.
“Be quiet.”
She stepped closer.
“No.”
For the first time, Victoria didn't retreat from her father.
“You kept him hidden. You controlled his education. You told him he was dangerous to the family.”
Richard's jaw tightened.
“I protected him.”
Gabriel stared.
“That's what everyone keeps saying.”
His voice rose.
“YOU ALL PROTECTED ME SO WELL THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW MY OWN NAME!”
Richard fell silent.
Victoria looked at Gabriel with tears in her eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
He stepped away from her.
“Don't.”
Richard's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen.
His expression changed.
Then he looked toward the window.
“We're leaving.”
Gabriel shook his head.
“I'm not going anywhere with you.”
Richard stared.
“You don't understand the danger.”
“Then explain it.”
Richard hesitated.
“Not here.”
Gabriel laughed bitterly.
“That's what you always say.”
He turned to face the door.
Richard stepped into his path.
“Gabriel.”
The boy stopped.
Richard's voice softened.
“If you leave with Maria, you'll put her in danger.”
Gabriel stared.
“Why?”
Richard looked at the DNA report.
“Because there are people who will kill to prevent the truth about your birth from becoming public.”
Gabriel swallowed.
“Then who am I?”
Richard closed his eyes.
For a brief moment, he looked older than his years.
Then he said softly:
“You're the reason Thomas Vance disappeared.”
Meanwhile, at the police staging room near Ravenwood, Maria sat beside Alexander, listening to the disconnected call.
Her hands were trembling.
Gabriel had been within reach.
She had heard his voice.
She had learned he remembered Isabella.
And now he was gone again.
Alexander placed a hand on her shoulder.
“We're going to find him.”
Maria shook her head.
“Everyone keeps promising that.”
Alexander looked at her.
“I know.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I don't want another promise. I want my family.”
Alexander lowered his head.
For once, he had no answer.
Detective Bennett entered carrying a folder.
“We have an update.”
Maria stood immediately.
“Gabriel?”
“Not yet. But we obtained a copy of the DNA report Richard showed him.”
Alexander frowned.
“How?”
“Victoria transmitted it before the call ended.”
Thomas stepped forward.
“Is it authentic?”
Bennett looked at him.
“The laboratory exists. But the report doesn't include enough identifying information for us to verify the sample chain of custody.”
Maria stared.
“So it could be false?”
“Yes. Or it could be based on samples that weren't what they were claimed to be.”
Alexander nodded.
“Then we need independent testing.”
Bennett agreed.
“If Gabriel consents, we can arrange it.”
Thomas looked relieved.
Maria noticed.
“Why are you smiling?”
Thomas froze.
“I'm not.”
“You look relieved.”
He lowered his eyes.
Maria stepped closer.
“Did you know the report existed?”
Thomas hesitated.
“Yes.”
Alexander stared.
“Dad?”
Thomas swallowed.
“Richard showed me a similar report years ago.”
Maria felt anger rise.
“And you never told anyone?”
“I didn't trust it.”
“Then why didn't you challenge it?”
Thomas looked toward Alexander.
“Because I was afraid of what the results would reveal.”
Silence fell over the room.
Alexander stepped closer.
“What results?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I never knew whether Gabriel was Isabella's biological child.”
Maria stared.
“But you told us he was.”
“I believed he was.”
Maria shook her head.
“You've been giving us answers based on what you believe instead of what you know.”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“You're right.”
Alexander's voice became cold.
“Then tell us what you know for certain.”
Thomas looked toward the window.
“Gabriel was born seventeen years ago. Richard arranged for him to be registered under Alexander's name. Isabella protected him. Evelyn financed his care.”
He paused.
“And someone made sure the child's biological parents were never publicly identified.”
Detective Bennett nodded.
“Those are leads we can investigate. But they still need verification.”
Maria looked down at Isabella's letter.
Her mother had called Gabriel her son.
Had written about him with love.
Had described trying to find him.
Even if the DNA report proved they weren't biologically related, Maria knew something Richard Sterling would never understand.
Love didn't disappear because of a laboratory result.
She looked toward Alexander.
“I still want to find him.”
Alexander nodded.
“We will.”
Then Marcus entered the room.
His face was pale.
“Mr. Vance, we located a second set of hospital records.”
Alexander turned.
“From Ravenwood?”
“No. From the hospital where Gabriel was originally born.”
Maria stepped forward.
“What did you find?”
Marcus placed a sealed file on the table.
“The original delivery record was stored under a different patient number.”
Detective Bennett immediately examined the document.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“Through a court-authorized records request.”
Bennett looked toward Thomas.
“Mr. Vance, you need to sit down.”
Thomas frowned.
“Why?”
Bennett turned the page.
“The record identifies the woman who gave birth to Gabriel.”
Maria stopped breathing.
“Who?”
Bennett looked at her.
“It wasn't Isabella Santos.”
Alexander stared.
“Then who was it?”
Bennett slowly placed the document on the table.
Maria read the name.
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
EVELYN VANCE.
Alexander went perfectly still.
Thomas staggered backward.
Maria stared at the paper.
“That can't be right.”
Alexander's voice trembled.
“My mother was nearly sixty when Gabriel was born.”
Bennett nodded.
“Which is why we need to investigate whether the record was deliberately falsified.”
Thomas stared at the document.
Then whispered:
“Richard didn't just hide Gabriel.”
Alexander turned.
“What?”
Thomas looked devastated.
“HE USED YOUR MOTHER'S IDENTITY TO ERASE THE NAME OF THE WOMAN WHO REALLY GAVE BIRTH TO HIM.”
Maria felt cold.
“Who was she?”
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO GABRIEL IS THE ONE PERSON RICHARD STERLING HAS BEEN HIDING FROM ALL OF US.”
At that exact moment, Alexander's phone rang.
A video call.
Unknown number.
He answered.
The screen illuminated.
A woman sat in a dimly lit room.
Her dark hair was streaked with gray.
A familiar scar marked her left eyebrow.
Maria covered her mouth.
“Mom?”
The woman looked directly into the camera.
Tears filled her eyes.
“Maria…”
Maria began sobbing.
“ISABELLA?”
The woman nodded.
“My beautiful girl.”
Maria reached toward the screen.
“Where are you?”
Isabella looked over her shoulder.
Then whispered:
“LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY. GABRIEL IS IN DANGER, AND THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO HIM IS STILL ALIVE.”
Maria froze.
“Who is she?”
Isabella began crying.
Then said:
“BEFORE I TELL YOU, YOU NEED TO KNOW WHY ALEXANDER'S NAME WAS PUT ON HIS HOSPITAL BRACELET.”
Alexander leaned closer.
“Why?”
Isabella looked directly at him.
“BECAUSE GABRIEL WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE RAISED AS YOUR BROTHER.”
She paused.
“HE WAS MEANT TO REPLACE YOU.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
