Chapter 3 - Echoes in Denver
Marcus whisked Megan away in an unmarked vehicle, driving deep into the countryside before stopping at a secure cabin equipped with scramblers and privacy barriers. For the first time in hours, Megan allowed herself to cry. Marcus made her hot tea and laid out a map on the rustic table.
"Your husband played a long game, Megan," Marcus explained gently. "When your father passed, his estate was structured so that full control of the family trust would vest in you—unless you failed to produce an heir within six years, or if you were deemed mentally incapacitated. Daniel couldn't risk waiting."
"So he targeted Rachel..." Megan whispered, her voice cracking. "Rachel was vulnerable after Dad died. She trusted Daniel like a brother."
"Daniel convinced Rachel that you couldn't carry a child safely to term," Marcus revealed, pulling up encrypted messages on a laptop. "He fabricated fake medical reports to make Rachel believe she was doing a heroic act of sacrifice as a surrogate for you. He told her it had to be kept secret to 'protect your emotional stability.'"
Megan felt a wave of nausea. Her sister hadn't betrayed her—she had been tricked into an agonizing trap, believing she was saving Megan’s life.
"Where is she, Marcus?" Megan demanded, her eyes blazing with newfound resolve.
"She’s at the Pine Ridge Estate, two hours north of Denver," Marcus replied. "It’s a heavily guarded facility owned by Daniel’s father. Rachel is being kept in near isolation under medical surveillance."
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Megan wiped away her tears and stood tall. The paralyzing fear that had gripped her in the hospital was gone, replaced by a fierce, maternal protectiveness—for her unborn baby, and for her sister.
"We're going to Colorado," Megan declared. "And we are bringing my sister home."
