Chapter 5 - The Glass House
"Julian," I said, my blood running cold. "You're in on this too?"
"In on it?" Julian sneered, stepping closer. "Ethan, my dear boy, I designed it. Your mother is a desperate old woman obsessed with a surname. I am a businessman obsessed with results. When Evelyn came to me begging for a male genetic line to satisfy the archaic language of your father's trust, I saw an opportunity."
"You violated my wife," I said, my fists clenching so hard my nails cut into my palms.
"I offered a genetic contribution to preserve an empire," Julian corrected smoothly. "And in exchange, Evelyn signed over thirty percent of the voting shares to my holding company. Once we land at the private facility, we will conduct the official DNA test. If the boy carries my DNA or your father's, I assume full legal guardianship as the designated trustee representative. The girl... well, the girl is an inconvenient surplus. She'll be quietly placed with a discreet family in South America."
"You monster," I whispered.
"It's just business, Ethan," Julian said, raising the gun higher. "Now, sit down and buckle up. The pilot is clearing for takeoff."
Suddenly, the plane shuddered violently. A loud bang echoed from the cockpit, followed by the high-pitched whine of an engine shutting down.
The pilot threw open the cockpit door, his face pale. "Mr. Vance! We've got a ground obstruction! Someone drove a heavy truck right in front of our nose gear, and the police have blocked the taxiway!"
Julian cursed, turning his head toward the cockpit for a fraction of a second.
It was the only window I needed.
I lunged across the aisle, grabbing Julian's wrist and slamming it against the armrest. The gun went off with a deafening pop, the bullet tearing through the carpet near my foot. Julian snarled, punching me in the side of the face, but I ignored the pain. I tackled him to the floor, driving my knee into his ribs until he dropped the pistol.
I kicked the gun toward the front of the plane and pinned Julian down, placing my forearm against his throat.
"Evelyn! Stop him!" Julian gasped, choking for air.
My mother stood up, her composure finally shattering. "Ethan! Release him! You are destroying everything!"
"Shut up!" I roared, turning my gaze to her with such lethal intensity that she flinched backward. "Touch those incubators, and I swear to God I will make sure you spend the rest of your life in a federal prison."
Sirens wailed outside. Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the rain-slicked windows of the aircraft. Within seconds, state police officers and federal agents, led by Marcus, swarmed up the airstairs with guns drawn.
"Police! Nobody move! Get on the ground!"
Julian was yanked up and handcuffed by two state troopers. My mother stood frozen as an agent approached her, reading her rights.
"Ethan Bennett?" an FBI agent asked, stepping into the cabin.
"Yes," I breathed, collapsing into a seat, trembling violently. "Those are my children in those incubators. Please... they need to go back to the hospital. My wife is waiting for them."
The agent nodded, signaling to a team of paramedics who had followed them up the stairs. "We've got medical transport ready, Mr. Bennett. Your wife is stable, and she's already under federal protection at the university medical center."
I stood up and walked over to the two incubators. Inside the first, tiny Lily opened her dark eyes, letting out a soft, tiny squeak. Inside the second, little Noah stirred, his tiny fingers curling into a fist.
I looked at my mother as the police led her toward the door.
"Why, Evelyn?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. "Why couldn't you just love us?"
May you like
Evelyn stopped at the door, her hair disheveled, looking smaller and older than she ever had before. "Love doesn't build empires, Ethan. Legacy does."
"No," I said, looking back at my babies. "Love builds families. And you don't have either anymore."
