Chapter 580 - 176 Blood Truth Emerges

Chapter 580: Chapter 176 Blood Truth Emerges

Lila’s POV

The private medical facility finally cleared me for discharge after their specialists confirmed that Claire’s cocktail of sedatives and hallucinogens had been purged from my system. The family doctor warned that residual effects might linger for days, prescribing rest as the only remedy. Daniel personally escorted me from the discreet clinic back to Beckett’s heavily fortified estate in the hills.

My allies from Port Harbor had returned once word spread through our network that I was conscious and stable. Caleb’s encrypted message assured me that Ivy would oversee my responsibilities in Thorne’s legal department indefinitely. Max called from a secure line, his voice thick with guilt over how Connor had exploited our business relationship to orchestrate the kidnapping. I spent most of the conversation reassuring him, though I knew when we met face-to-face, the weight of responsibility would crush him again.

Arriving at Beckett’s compound, I was moved to see colorful banners and balloons adorning the main entrance. My father, brother, and sister-in-law had prepared a heartfelt homecoming celebration despite the circumstances. Katarina had prepared a magnificent feast that warmed both body and soul. After eating, I declined their suggestions to rest in the master suite, preferring to remain in the security of their presence in the main parlor.

"I think it’s time someone told me exactly what happened," I said, settling into the leather sofa with my father’s protective arm around me. Until now, I had avoided pressing for details, but I could wait no longer. They exchanged loaded glances before Daniel spoke.

"Tiny one, the doctor emphasized rest above all. This isn’t a simple tale of street justice," he said, clearly trying to shield me from additional trauma.

"I need to understand everything. Please," I insisted, my voice brooking no further deflection.

With a resigned sigh, Daniel recounted the entire operation—from Max’s panicked call about my disappearance through tracking me to Connor’s private casino and the tactical assault that freed me from that nightmare.

"Claire and Connor are now locked away in maximum security federal holding," he concluded with grim satisfaction.

"Will they remain there?" I asked, unable to mask the lingering dread in my voice.

"Without question, little one. Their networks have been dismantled completely. They will never threaten you again," Daniel assured me with the confidence of someone who controlled both sides of the law. "Now, tell us what you remember from your captivity."

I shared my ordeal—from the moment that college girl delivered Connor’s message through my abduction and Claire’s vicious interrogation techniques. I described the agony of her chemical cocktails, the terror of believing I would never see my family again, and how death seemed preferable to being forced into a marriage contract with Connor that would have surrendered my inheritance.

"Strangely, Connor never laid a hand on me directly. But Claire..." I shuddered involuntarily. "She seemed to derive genuine pleasure from inflicting pain."

"She will never touch you again," Daniel promised, his dark eyes flashing with lethal intent.

"Claire told me she wasn’t my biological mother," I added, my voice catching slightly. "I felt relieved, honestly. But I still have no idea who my real mother is." Tears welled in my eyes as I voiced my deepest longing. "I want to meet Madeline and Rafael."

"They are eager to meet you as well," Daniel said gently. "Perhaps tomorrow. Today is for healing."

"Sweetheart," my father interjected, stroking my hair with infinite tenderness, "the DNA analysis is still processing, but there’s something you need to know immediately."

"What is it, Dad?" I asked, noting the gravity in his expression.

"We already know who your mother is, even without laboratory confirmation."

I glanced around the room, realizing everyone else was privy to information I lacked. "What do you mean?"

"While you were missing, Daniel mobilized every resource at our disposal," my father began. "When conventional methods failed, I remembered Claire’s godmother—the woman Claire claimed to live with during her supposed pregnancy with my child."

"Did you locate her?" I asked, leaning forward intently.

"No. When we arrived at the address, we encountered a younger woman who informed us her aunt—Claire’s godmother—had passed away long ago. The property now belonged to her mother, who agreed to meet with us. This woman knew everything and finally revealed the truth behind decades of deception."

"What did she tell you?" My pulse quickened with anticipation and dread.

"Claire was never pregnant with my child. She wore elaborate prosthetics whenever I visited during that period. This woman also revealed that Claire received regular visits from Connor, with whom she was conducting an affair. Tiffany would visit as well—she worked at our estate then—and together they conspired against our entire family. Claire also maintained contact with Aria, a corrupt nurse later arrested for performing illegal procedures. Together, they orchestrated an elaborate scheme to deceive me and seize control of the Sullivan fortune." My father’s voice cracked under the weight of these revelations.

"What exactly did Claire and this Aria accomplish?" I pressed.

"Aria had access to confidential medical records through her position at the private clinic that served our community. She knew of another woman pregnant at the same time as my wife—when Claire was pretending to expect. This woman was Madeline. Claire and Aria arranged for both deliveries to occur on the same night, deliberately choosing a date when I would be away from the estate on urgent business." Tears streamed down my father’s weathered face as he struggled to continue. "Daniel, please..."

Daniel nodded solemnly and took over the narrative. "The evening before your father’s departure with Beckett on family business, Aria visited Madeline under the guise of a routine check-up and secretly administered labor-inducing medication—the same substance Tiffany later gave to your father’s wife."

I listened in mounting horror as Daniel continued his account.

"Madeline went into premature labor and delivered twins—a son and a daughter. Aria deliberately caused complications during the delivery, leaving Madeline hemorrhaging critically. She would have died if her husband hadn’t discovered the situation and rushed her to emergency care. Aria placed the baby girl in her medical bag, covered with sterile blankets, and fled claiming another patient required immediate attention. She instructed Madeline’s husband not to disturb his ’recovering’ wife."

My stomach clenched as I began to comprehend the full scope of this atrocity.

"Aria proceeded directly to your family’s estate where your father’s wife was already in active labor. She assisted with that delivery—also a girl. The original plan was to exchange the infants because Claire needed your father’s DNA test to match if questions arose later. Madeline’s daughter would remain with your father’s wife, while your father’s biological daughter would go to Claire for her charade."

Daniel paused, his expression pained by what came next. "During transport from Madeline’s residence to the estate, the infant in Aria’s bag—completely covered for concealment—suffocated to death."

I broke into uncontrollable sobs, overwhelmed by such calculated cruelty.

"It’s alright, my sister," Beckett knelt before me, taking my trembling hands in his steady grip.

"Please continue," I managed between broken breaths.

"Aria delivered your father’s wife’s baby successfully," Daniel said softly. "She ensured the mother, already weakened by complications, would not survive the hemorrhaging that followed. After your father’s wife died, Aria placed the deceased infant in her arms and took the living child—this time ensuring adequate air circulation. She delivered this baby to Claire, who later contacted your father with news of your birth. She deliberately timed this announcement to exploit his devastating grief over losing his wife." Daniel rubbed my back gently as he concluded.

"So..." I struggled to form words through my tears. "My mother... my mother was Alice, wasn’t she?"

"Yes, my precious sister," Beckett affirmed, his own tears falling freely. "You are that treasured baby Alice anticipated with such joy and love. You were cherished by your mother, your brother, and your father before you drew your first breath. We continue to love you with that same intensity, and I know Alice watches over you from beyond."

Words abandoned me completely. I collapsed into my brother’s embrace, sobbing with a release that seemed to purge a lifetime of confusion and pain. For the first time in my existence, I felt an unshakeable sense of belonging—absolute certainty about my place in this family and this dangerous world we inhabited. The mother I had secretly yearned for throughout my childhood had indeed been my mother all along. In this moment of devastating truth came profound peace: I finally understood who I was and where I truly belonged in the Sullivan dynasty.