The Womb They Stole Chapter 07
Julian’s POV
“Julian Thorne! OPEN THIS DOOR!”
6 AM. Outside the estate gates, fists pounded on iron and Margaret Vance shrieked like a woman possessed.
I stood at the second–floor window, watching the black Mercedes parked crookedly outside. Richard
Vance was trying the intercom while his wife had started attacking the gate with her stiletto heel.
“Let them in,” I told the butler.
Three minutes later, the Vances stormed into the main hall.
Margaret wore a rumpled bathrobe, her hair wild, eyes bloodshot. The moment she saw me coming down the stairs, she charged and raised her hand to slap me-
I caught her wrist.
“Let GO of me!” Margaret screamed. “You LUNATIC! What have you done with my daughter?!”
“Your daughter is in the basement.” I released her, my voice deadly calm. “She’s alive. For now,”
“Julian!” Richard’s face had gone gray. “Have you lost your MIND?! Chloe just gave birth! She’s still weak!
How could you DO this to her?!”
“Weak?” I laughed coldly. “Interesting choice of words. You know what shape Elsie was in when she was down there? Two broken ribs, whip marks all over her back, three days without food or water-”
“She BROUGHT IT ON HERSELF!” Margaret cut me off. “She pushed Chloe! Nearly killed the baby! You had EVERY right to punish her!”
I stared at her. Then smiled.
“Like mother, like daughter.” I walked to the bar and poured myself whiskey. “No wonder Chloe’s such a good actress. She learned from the best.”
“What’s THAT supposed to mean?!” Margaret charged at me.
“What I mean is,” I turned and tossed my phone onto the coffee table, “your precious daughter was in bed
with another man, planning to run off with my money. Oh, and she said the baby might not even be mine.”
The phone screen showed the recording I’d made.
Chloe’s voice purred through the speaker: “That idiot Julian is still crying over that bitch… Once things cool
down, we’ll take the kid and the money and disappear.
Margaret’s face went white.
“No… that’s not possible…” She stumbled backward.” Chloe wouldn’t…”
“Wouldn’t she?” I said with disgust. “Your precious daughter has been screwing around since she was eighteen. Abortion records–over a dozen. She doesn‘ t have some congenital condition. She RUINED herself.
Richard listened to the recording, shaking, his face getting darker.
“Julian,” Richard’s voice trembled. “We didn’t know… We honestly thought Chloe couldn’t have children naturally…”
“Really?” I laughed coldly. “What about the rescue ten years ago? Didn’t know about that either?”
They both froze.
“Thought so.” I pulled the necklace from my pocket. This is what I gave my savior ten years ago. Pathetic, isn’t it? I thought that person was Chloe all along. Until Elsie died and I found it in her things.
“Julian, let us explain-” Margaret said frantically.
“Explain what?” I cut her off. “How you threatened Elsie into keeping quiet? Or how you forced her to hand over the engagement to Chloe?”
“We… we made a mistake…” Richard dropped to his knees. “Julian, we’ve known each other for years- please, let Chloe go. She’s our daughter…”
“Daughter?” I laughed. “What about Elsie? Wasn’t SHE your daughter?”
Margaret knelt too, tears streaming. “Julian, Chloe’s always been fragile. We’re her parents–we had a favorite. That’s normal… Please, she just had a baby… let her out…”
“Fragile?” I walked back to the bar and threw another stack of documents at them. “Take a look at how‘
fragile‘ your daughter really is!”
Papers scattered across the floor.
Chloe’s complete medical records from the past decade–monthly purchases of illegal substances that made her look weak and pale. Her physical exam reports showing she was perfectly healthy.
“She’s been faking since she was a teenager.” My voice was ice. “To make you love her more. To make you ignore Elsie.”
Margaret collapsed on the floor, picking up the documents with shaking hands. “No… this can’t be…
Chloe wouldn’t…”
“Enough.” I cut off her denial. “Bring her up.”
Guards opened the basement door.
Seconds later, two men dragged Chloe out.
Her hair hung in her face. She was filthy, clothes torn.
When she saw her parents, she lunged forward.
Mom! Dad! Save me! Julian’s going to KILL me-
“CRACK!”
Margaret slapped her across the face.
Chloe froze, staring at her mother in shock.