Chapter 16 - The Man Who Called Himself Family
The third party was not a stranger.
It was Chloe’s former fiancé, Adam Voss.
Adam had left her after her second miscarriage.
At least, that was the story she told everyone.
In reality, Evelyn paid him to disappear.
She knew Chloe’s grief and loneliness made her easier to manipulate.
Years later, Evelyn brought Adam back as an enforcer and intermediary.
He delivered forged documents.
He pressured Dr. Price.
He transported my mother’s phone to Evelyn’s safe.
And after Martin’s arrest, he became the only person outside custody who knew the entire plan.
Chloe had contacted Adam because Julian said he could persuade Dr. Price to “tell the truth.”
Instead, Price died.
Police searched Adam’s apartment.
It was empty.
Inside, they found photographs of Lily’s hospital, my apartment, Rachel’s office, and Chloe’s recovery room.
He had been watching all of us.
The most recent photo showed me holding Lily through the NICU glass.
On the back, someone had written:
The child still completes the trust.
Evelyn’s plan was not over.
If I died, Lily inherited.
If Julian later gained custody, the Mercer family could still influence the trust.
Rachel arranged private security at the hospital and my apartment.
Chloe blamed herself.
“You told me Adam left because I was broken,” she said. “Evelyn made me believe nobody else would want me.”
“She found your wound and used it.”
“I let her.”
“Yes. But now we stop her.”
For the first time, Chloe and I were not standing on opposite sides.
We were two sisters protecting the same child from people who viewed her as an asset.
That night, Adam called Chloe.
“I want the trust documents,” he said. “Bring them to the old Bennett house, or Clara never takes Lily home.”
Before hanging up, he played an audio clip.
A baby crying.
The hospital confirmed Lily was still safe in the NICU.
The recording was a threat, not a kidnapping.
Yet Adam knew something no outsider should know.
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Lily was scheduled for discharge in forty-eight hours.
👉 Adam was preparing to strike the moment Clara brought Lily home, and he wanted them to believe the hospital was the only danger.
