His Dead Father Returned With the Suitcase That Held Every Lie

Chapter 10 - The Daughter Without a Name

The Italian clinic occupied a stone villa above Lake Orta.

Federal and European authorities raided it under a medical trafficking warrant. Most patient rooms were empty. Staff had received evacuation orders six hours earlier.

Evelyn was gone.

Anna Ward remained.

She had locked herself inside the chapel after refusing transport. When Owen entered with an interpreter, she held a brass candlestick like a weapon.

She had dark hair, Gabriel’s gray eyes, and the same habit as Evelyn of tapping four times before speaking when nervous.

Owen lowered his hands.

“My name is Owen.”

“I know.”

She had seen his photograph in magazines. Clinic staff told her the Vale family financed her treatment because her mother had once worked for them.

“You are my sister,” Owen said.

Anna laughed in disbelief.

He showed her the recording.

She watched Evelyn speak about the pregnancy. Her anger replaced fear.

“Elaine told me she had a son,” Anna whispered. “She said someone stole his name from her.”

“Her name is Evelyn.”

Anna shook her head.

“Names here change whenever paperwork arrives.”

Medical files showed both women had been given sedatives for years. Evelyn’s dosage increased whenever she insisted she was married to Gabriel Vale. Doctors described it as a fixed delusion.

Anna had been told she inherited the same illness.

DNA testing later confirmed she was Gabriel and Evelyn’s daughter.

Owen did not know whether to hug her.

Anna made the decision by stepping back.

“Find her first.”

Security footage showed Dean taking Evelyn through a rear gate. Victor’s jet had not carried them. It was a decoy.

A road camera captured Dean’s vehicle heading toward Milan.

Nora discovered a Vale-owned medical aircraft departing for London under a humanitarian clearance.

Owen called Victor.

His uncle answered after one ring.

“Sign the merger.”

“Let her go.”