Chapter 12: The Bullet That Couldn't Silence the Truth
Chapter 12: The Bullet That Couldn't Silence the Truth
Dr. Harold Simmons' trembling hands remained on the table.
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The tiny glass vial containing Edward Sterling's original blood sample rested only inches away.
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Twenty-five years of guilt.
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Twenty-five years of silence.
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All reduced to one fragile piece of evidence.
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Alexander stared at it without speaking.
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He knew his father's voice would never be heard again.
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But perhaps...
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Justice finally would.
.
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Nearly a mile away.
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A sniper lay hidden among the trees overlooking the federal safe house.
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His breathing was slow.
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Steady.
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Professional.
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The crosshairs settled on Dr. Simmons' chest.
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A calm voice crackled through his earpiece.
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"Take the shot."
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The sniper tightened his finger on the trigger.
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Then...
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He paused.
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A little girl suddenly stepped into his line of sight.
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Sophia.
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She had wandered toward the interview room carrying a drawing in her hands.
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The sniper hesitated.
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For the first time in years...
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His hands were no longer steady.
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Inside the room.
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Sophia smiled brightly.
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"Excuse me."
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Everyone turned toward her.
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She held up a colorful drawing.
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"I made this for Grandpa."
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Alexander knelt beside her.
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"But Grandpa isn't here, sweetheart."
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Sophia nodded.
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"I know."
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"So maybe someone can give it to him in Heaven."
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Dr. Simmons covered his face.
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He began crying silently.
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The innocence of one child accomplished what decades of guilt never had.
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It broke him completely.
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Outside.
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The sniper slowly lowered his rifle.
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He spoke quietly into the radio.
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"I can't."
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Silence answered.
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Then the same cold voice returned.
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"You weren't asked to think."
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"You were asked to shoot."
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The sniper closed his eyes.
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"No."
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The transmission ended immediately.
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A few seconds later...
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Another voice spoke behind him.
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"Then I'll do it myself."
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The sniper spun around.
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Standing only a few feet away was another assassin.
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Without warning...
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A suppressed gunshot echoed through the trees.
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The sniper collapsed instantly.
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Dead before he touched the ground.
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The second assassin calmly picked up the rifle.
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He repositioned himself.
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Now...
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There was nothing standing between the bullet and its target.
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Back inside.
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Dr. Simmons wiped away his tears.
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"I've hidden something else."
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Catherine looked up.
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"What?"
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"A medical journal."
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"My personal notes."
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"I recorded every symptom Edward experienced before he died."
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Alexander leaned forward.
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"Where is it?"
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The doctor reached into his briefcase again.
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He removed a worn black notebook.
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"I never trusted anyone."
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"So I kept it with me."
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He slid it across the table.
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Alexander carefully opened the first page.
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Every examination had been documented.
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Every medication.
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Every unusual reaction.
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Every unexplained illness.
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Then...
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One sentence caught his attention.
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Patient reports bitter taste in evening tea.
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Alexander frowned.
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"My father always drank tea before bed."
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Dr. Simmons nodded.
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"Every night."
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Emily quietly asked,
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"Who prepared it?"
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The old doctor answered without hesitation.
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"Victoria."
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At that exact moment...
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The assassin squeezed the trigger.
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The rifle cracked.
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The bullet shattered the interview room window.
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Alexander reacted instinctively.
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He lunged toward Dr. Simmons.
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The old physician fell sideways.
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The bullet missed his heart by less than an inch.
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Instead...
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It tore through his left shoulder.
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Glass exploded across the room.
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Sophia screamed.
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Emily immediately covered her daughter.
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Federal agents rushed toward the windows.
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"Sniper!"
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"Everybody down!"
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Daniel drew his weapon.
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"Stay here!"
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He sprinted outside with several agents.
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Across the hillside...
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The assassin was already retreating through the forest.
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He moved with remarkable speed.
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Professional.
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Disciplined.
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A waiting motorcycle roared to life.
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Within seconds...
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He disappeared into the mountains.
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Back inside.
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Emergency medics surrounded Dr. Simmons.
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Blood stained his shirt.
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Despite the pain...
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He smiled weakly.
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"I suppose..."
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"...someone still wants me quiet."
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Catherine nodded grimly.
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"Which means your testimony is true."
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Alexander held the doctor's hand.
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"You saved the evidence."
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"You saved my father's case."
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Dr. Simmons looked directly into Alexander's eyes.
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"No."
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"I finally did my job."
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Several hours later.
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The safe house had become a fortress.
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FBI agents.
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U.S. Marshals.
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State police.
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Sterling Global Security.
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Every entrance was guarded.
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No one entered without authorization.
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Inside a secured laboratory.
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Forensic scientists began examining Edward Sterling's preserved blood sample.
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Alexander watched through reinforced glass.
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The lead toxicologist approached Catherine.
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"We'll have preliminary results within two hours."
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Catherine nodded.
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"Chain of custody?"
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"Completely documented."
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"No contamination detected."
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Alexander quietly asked,
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"If the poison is confirmed..."
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"...what happens?"
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Catherine looked at him steadily.
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"Then we reopen your father's homicide investigation."
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"And we issue arrest warrants."
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"For everyone involved."
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Meanwhile...
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Victoria sat alone in her federal holding suite.
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She had heard nothing all day.
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No phone calls.
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No visitors.
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No updates.
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She disliked silence.
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Silence meant she wasn't controlling the situation.
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The door suddenly opened.
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Richard Hale stepped inside.
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His face looked unusually tense.
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"They survived."
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Victoria slowly looked up.
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"Who?"
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"Dr. Simmons."
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"The sniper failed."
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For the first time in decades...
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Victoria's composure slipped.
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"Impossible."
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Richard nodded.
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"There's more."
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"The blood sample still exists."
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Victoria's face turned pale.
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"And..."
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"...the laboratory has already started testing it."
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She slowly closed her eyes.
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Twenty-five years.
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Twenty-five carefully constructed years.
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Everything she had built...
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Everything she had stolen...
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Everything she had protected...
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Now depended on a single laboratory result.
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When she finally opened her eyes again...
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They were colder than ice.
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She whispered only four words.
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"Prepare the final plan."
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Richard hesitated.
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"Are you sure?"
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Victoria nodded once.
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"If Alexander learns the entire truth..."
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"...he'll discover he isn't my greatest mistake."
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Richard frowned.
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"Then what is?"
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Victoria looked out the small reinforced window.
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A faint smile crossed her lips.
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"My greatest mistake..."
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May you like
"...was letting his real family live."
End of Chapter 12
