Chapter 17 - GRACELiam moved before anyone finished speaking.
He called Leo.
“Get Grace.”
Leo didn’t ask why.
Clara was already calling the pediatric clinic.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
She called Marisol.
“Where is Grace?”
“At preschool.”
Clara almost collapsed with relief.
Then Marisol added:
“Her school called twenty minutes ago. Said Dr. Harrington’s office requested her vaccination records.”
Liam’s expression became murderous.
Clara grabbed his face with both hands.
“Look at me.”
He did.
“You are not your father.”
“I know.”
“You are not going to kill Harrington.”
Silence.
“Liam.”
“I heard you.”
“That wasn’t an answer.”
“It’s the best answer I have right now.”
They reached Grace’s preschool twelve minutes later.
Grace came running out carrying a paper crown.
“Daddy!”
Liam dropped to his knees.
His bad leg protested.
He ignored it.
Grace crashed into him.
He held her too tightly.
“Daddy, squish.”
“Sorry.”
He loosened his arms.
Clara knelt beside them.
Grace frowned.
“Mommy crying?”
“No, baby.”
“You are.”
Clara laughed through tears.
“Okay. A little.”
Grace kissed her cheek.
Liam looked away.
Leo arrived carrying Grace’s medical file.
“Harrington ordered blood panels six months ago.”
Clara frowned.
“Routine?”
“No.”
She read the test codes.
Her nursing training returned instantly.
Genetic markers.
Immune compatibility.
Rare metabolic screening.
Tests far beyond normal pediatric care.
Clara’s face changed.
“He was studying her.”
Liam stood.
“Why?”
Miriam answered from behind them.
“Because of Adrian.”
Everyone turned.
Adrian stood beside her.
He looked furious.
Liam had called him during the drive.
Miriam showed Adrian Elizabeth Vale’s file.
He read silently.
Then looked at Liam.
“Our father knew?”
“Yes.”
“About my mother?”
“Yes.”
Adrian stared at the ground.
He laughed.
It sounded broken.
“All those years he told me she was weak.”
Liam’s jaw tightened.
Adrian looked toward Grace.
“What does this have to do with her?”
Miriam hesitated.
“Elizabeth had a rare hereditary blood disorder.”
Adrian went still.
“You may carry it.”
“And Grace?”
“You and Liam share a father.”
Clara understood.
“Harrington was tracing the gene through the Mercer family.”
“For what?”
Miriam looked sick.
“He wasn’t just hiding what happened thirty years ago.”
“He was continuing the research.”
Clara’s stomach turned.
Leo’s phone beeped.
He looked down.
Then up.
“Harrington just boarded a private flight.”
“Destination?”
Leo stared at Liam.
“Chicago.”
Liam’s old city.
His old life.
His father’s original private clinic had been in Chicago.
Closed for decades.
Or so they had believed.
Adrian folded Elizabeth’s photograph and placed it inside his pocket.
“I’m going.”
Liam looked at Clara.
She already knew.
So did he.
“No,” Liam said.
Clara blinked.
“What?”
“You stay with Grace.”
“You don’t decide that.”
“I know.”
He swallowed.
“I’m asking.”
That changed everything.
Clara looked at their daughter.
Then at Liam.
“Bring the truth back.”
He kissed her.
“I will.”
Grace grabbed his sleeve.
“Daddy?”
He crouched.
“What?”
“Don’t be late for pancakes.”
Liam smiled despite everything.
“I’ll try.”
Grace narrowed her eyes.
“Promise.”
Liam had learned not to promise things he could not control.
So he kissed her forehead.
May you like
“I promise I’ll do everything I can to come home.”
For once, that was enough.
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