Chapter 2 - The Photograph That Should Not Exist.

.The photograph trembled between Nathan’s fingers while everyone else on the driveway seemed frozen in place.

Luke moved first.

He walked toward Sophie with the cautious expression of a child approaching something he desperately wanted to believe.

“Did my mom give you that?”

Sophie nodded.

“She said you have a scar under your chin because you fell off a red bicycle.”

Luke’s hand flew beneath his chin.

Nathan felt the world tilt.

Only Claire, Nathan, and Luke’s pediatrician had known the story because the accident happened behind their old house when Luke was three.

Vanessa stepped forward sharply.

“Children can be coached.”

Nathan looked at her.

“How would anyone know about the scar?”

Vanessa’s jaw tightened.

“I don’t know, but wealthy families attract people who learn private things.”

Sophie stared at Vanessa.

“My mom said you would say that.”

Vanessa went pale.

Nathan stood and lifted Sophie with him because her knees had started shaking.

He could feel how little she weighed.

“Where is Claire?”

Sophie’s lower lip trembled.

“I don’t know.”

Nathan crouched again so they were eye level.

“When did you see her last?”

“Three nights ago.”

Vanessa made a small choking sound.

Sophie continued.

“We stayed at a place with blue doors.”

“Mom was sick.”

“She told me to wait in the laundry room if the blonde lady came back.”

Nathan slowly turned toward Vanessa.

Vanessa’s expression snapped into anger.

“This is insane.”

She reached for her phone.

“I’m calling security and the police.”

“No,” Nathan said.

The word came out colder than he intended.

Vanessa stared at him.

“Nathan, you have two children standing here.”

“And maybe three.”

The words struck everyone silent again.

Emma moved closer to Luke.

Sophie looked at Nathan as if she was afraid even hope might be dangerous.

Nathan carried her into the mansion.

Vanessa followed, insisting that Sophie remain in the foyer until authorities arrived.

Nathan ignored her and took Sophie to the family room.

He ordered his housekeeper to bring food, water, and clean clothes.

Sophie devoured half a sandwich before she seemed to remember she was supposed to be careful.

Then Nathan noticed the purple wristband again.

He gently turned it over.

Printed beneath a scratched hospital logo were Sophie’s first name, a patient number, and the words St. Arden Recovery Center.

Nathan knew that name.

His father’s private foundation had funded St. Arden for years.

His father had also handled every legal and financial matter after Claire’s disappearance.

Nathan’s father had died nine months earlier.

Vanessa had worked for him before she and Nathan became close.

Nathan felt sick.

He called the recovery center.

The receptionist searched Sophie’s patient number.

Then she went silent.

“That file is restricted, Mr. Mercer.”

“Restricted by whom?”

A pause followed.

The receptionist lowered her voice.

“By your family office.”

Nathan looked across the room.

Vanessa was standing in the doorway.

She was no longer pretending to be shocked.

Sophie finished the sandwich and quietly folded the napkin into a square, as if she had learned never to waste anything.

Nathan noticed a faint bruise near her elbow.

When he asked about it, Sophie said she had slept behind a grocery store after Claire failed to return.

A woman from a church had given her bus fare.

Sophie had traveled across the city alone because Claire had made her memorize the mansion's street name.

The thought of his daughter wandering city blocks with a photograph as her only protection made Nathan's hands shake.

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Vanessa watched him understand exactly what Sophie had endured.

She looked cornered.