Part 5: The Secret Hidden in Lucas’s Blood
For a moment, nobody understood what Nathan meant.
The warehouse fell silent.
The only sound was the quiet breathing of Lucas sleeping in Maria's arms.
A child.
A two-year-old boy.
How could his birth possibly be connected to a criminal empire?
Detective Harris stared at Nathan.
"Explain."
Nathan looked exhausted.
Like he had carried this secret alone for too long.
"Lucas isn't valuable because he's my son."
"He is valuable because of who his mother was before Maria."
Maria frowned.
"Before me?"
Nathan nodded.
"No."
"Not you."
He looked at Lucas.
"His mother before he was born."
Maria felt confused.
"Lucas only has one mother."
Nathan's eyes softened.
"I know."
"That's what makes this harder."
Nathan reached into an old bag and pulled out a folder.
Inside were documents.
Old medical records.
Photos.
Letters.
He handed them to Detective Harris.
The detective opened the first page.
His expression changed.
"What is this?"
Nathan answered quietly.
"Lucas was part of a genetic research project."
Everyone froze.
Maria shook her head.
"No."
Nathan looked at her.
"I know how it sounds."
"But listen."
"Before Lucas was born, Victor was involved with a company researching inherited diseases."
"They were developing medical treatments."
"At least that's what they claimed."
The truth was darker.
Victor wasn't interested in medicine.
He was interested in control.
The research collected genetic data from thousands of people.
Information that could be used to manipulate insurance systems, medical records, and identities.
"And Lucas?"
Detective Harris asked.
Nathan looked at the documents.
"His DNA contained something Victor wanted."
"What?"
"A genetic marker."
"A rare mutation."
"Something that could help unlock the research."
Maria looked down at her son.
Her heart tightened.
"My baby..."
"He was never a person to them."
Nathan nodded.
"To Victor, he was an asset."
The reason Victor wanted Lucas hidden wasn't adoption.
It wasn't money.
It was because if Lucas was found...
The research would be exposed.
And thousands of people would discover they had been used.
Detective Harris looked through the files.
"Where did these come from?"
Nathan hesitated.
"From Victor himself."
Maria stared.
"Why would he give you evidence against himself?"
Nathan gave a bitter smile.
"Because he trusted me."
"At first."
Years earlier, Nathan had been one of Victor's closest employees.
He handled the financial side.
He knew everything.
Then he discovered the real purpose of the operation.
He tried to leave.
Victor threatened him.
Then Lucas was born.
And everything changed.
"Victor realized Lucas had the marker."
Nathan continued.
"He believed Lucas could expose him."
"So he created a plan."
"Remove Lucas."
"Remove me."
"And erase every connection."
Maria remembered something.
The park.
Alexander's words.
"We adopted him."
The fake papers.
The lies.
Everything suddenly looked different.
They weren't just stealing a child.
They were hiding evidence.
Detective Harris looked at the video again.
Victoria talking to Victor.
"Then why was Victoria involved?"
Nathan answered:
"Because Victoria knew the truth."
"How?"
"She worked for Victor."
Everyone turned.
"She was his accountant."
Nathan explained.
"She helped move money."
"She knew about the research."
"She knew about Lucas."
Maria felt sick.
The woman who acted like a wealthy mother.
The woman who pushed her away.
The woman who said Maria was crazy.
Had known exactly who Lucas was.
Then Detective Harris received another message.
He read it.
His face changed.
"What?"
Rebecca asked.
He looked up.
"We found Victor Kane."
Everyone froze.
"Where?"
The detective hesitated.
"At the airport."
"He's trying to leave the country."
The team moved immediately.
But before they left, Nathan stopped Maria.
"There's something else."
She looked at him.
"What?"
Nathan swallowed.
"Victor didn't act alone."
"I know."
She answered bitterly.
"Everyone has a partner."
Nathan shook his head.
"No."
"This person is different."
"They were never after money."
Maria frowned.
"Then what did they want?"
Nathan looked at Lucas.
"They wanted him gone."
The police reached the airport.
But Victor was already prepared.
His private security team blocked the terminal.
Chaos erupted.
People ran.
Alarms sounded.
Detectives searched through crowds.
Then Harris spotted him.
Victor Kane.
Walking calmly.
Holding a passport.
"Police!"
Victor stopped.
Slowly turned.
And smiled.
Like he had expected this.
"You finally figured it out."
Detective Harris raised his weapon.
"You're under arrest."
Victor laughed softly.
"For stealing a child?"
"No."
"For saving the world from what that child represents."
Maria arrived moments later.
Lucas in her arms.
Victor looked at him.
For the first time...
His confidence disappeared.
Because Lucas looked exactly like the person Victor feared most.
Nathan stepped forward.
"You lost."
Victor looked at him.
"No."
He smiled.
"Because you still don't know the final secret."
Everyone froze.
Victor turned toward Maria.
"The boy's DNA isn't the only thing special."
Maria tightened her arms around Lucas.
"What are you talking about?"
Victor smiled.
Then said:
"Ask Nathan why he never told you the truth about Lucas's real father."
The entire airport went silent.
Maria slowly turned toward Nathan.
Nathan's face went pale.
Because there was one secret he had hidden.
May you like
A secret even Victor shouldn't have known.
And it involved Lucas's bloodline.
