Chapter 5 - THE CHILD UNDER THE STAGE
Military police opened a service hatch behind the podium.
Below it was a small observation room.
A seven-year-old girl sat beside monitors showing my ceremony.
Blond hair.
Blue dress.
A Walker family crest pinned to her collar.
She knew my name.
Called Richard “Grandfather.”
I had no child.
The girl's file identified her as Sophie Walker.
Biological mother: Emma Walker.
An embryo had been created using eggs collected during an Army medical procedure without my consent.
The father was listed as Jason Walker.
My brother.
The genetic pairing had been designed to preserve Walker corporate control through a “pure family heir.”
The horror emptied the room of sound.
Jason vomited beside his chair.
He said he never knew.
Records showed his stored genetic material was taken during a fertility exam.
Neither of us consented to that specific use.
Sophie had been raised beneath HONOR LINE facilities as a future biometric key and corporate heir.
The ceremony intended to activate her legal trust through my award authentication.
Richard knew a granddaughter existed.
He claimed he did not know the genetic source.
Documents proved he approved the heir project.
My father had not come merely to insult me.
His outburst was scripted to elevate my stress before the medal touched me.
Then Sophie looked at me through the glass.
“Are you the hero Mom?”
I answered, “My name is Emma.”
No title.
No claim.
Choice before relationship.
Then the building alarms activated.
Sophie whispered, “Uncle Nathan said if you don't take the medal, Dad dies.”
“Which dad?”
She pointed toward General Hale.
May you like
The child had been trained to believe the general was her father.
Another identity manufactured.
