Chapter 40 - ARTHUR OFFERED TO REVEAL THE MISSING BABY'S LOCATION—BUT SOFIA BROUGHT SOMEONE HE NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE
Arthur Bell expected Sofia Ramirez to arrive alone.
Instead, she entered the federal interview room accompanied by an attorney, a federal investigator, and an independent child-protection specialist.
Arthur smiled when he saw her.
"You've become cautious."
Sofia sat down.
"I've become tired of people treating children like bargaining chips."
Arthur leaned backward.
"You want the second baby."
"I want evidence that a child is missing and information that can help protect that child."
"Always so precise."
"Try it sometime."
Arthur laughed softly.
Through the reinforced glass, Daniel watched with Marcus.
David stood beside them.
Arthur's smile faded when he noticed David.
"You brought him."
Sofia followed his gaze.
"He's here because he chose to be."
Arthur looked away.
"You don't understand what Genesis was."
"Then explain."
Arthur folded his hands.
"Genesis wasn't created to produce heirs."
"Then what?"
"Continuity."
Sofia stared.
"Meaning?"
"Researchers wanted to preserve genetic material from subjects who had survived experimental treatments."
"Without consent."
Arthur did not answer.
Sofia continued.
"And someone later decided to use those samples to create children."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Arthur smiled.
"That is the question."
Sofia remained silent.
He seemed disappointed.
"You aren't going to threaten me?"
"No."
"Demand answers?"
"I've already asked."
Arthur leaned forward.
"The second baby was moved to a private clinic."
"Which clinic?"
"I don't know its current name."
"Location?"
"Pennsylvania."
Sofia looked toward the investigator, who wrote the information down.
Arthur continued.
"The clinic used to belong to Matthew Cole's medical network."
Sofia's expression tightened.
"Matthew testified against Eden."
"Yes."
"Then why would his network be involved?"
Arthur shrugged.
"Institutions survive their founders."
Sofia recognized the truth inside that sentence.
The problem had never been one villain.
It was the systems that allowed power to continue without accountability.
Arthur leaned closer.
"The second child was created using material from G-0."
"Who was G-0?"
Arthur hesitated.
Then he looked toward David.
"Ask the twin who grew up with Evelyn."
Sofia frowned.
"David?"
Arthur nodded.
"He remembers."
David entered the room at the investigator's invitation.
Arthur's expression changed immediately.
"You shouldn't be here."
David sat beside Sofia.
"Why?"
"Because Evelyn never told you everything."
David's jaw tightened.
"She told me enough to destroy most of my childhood."
Arthur lowered his voice.
"Do you remember the boy in the white room?"
David froze.
Sofia turned toward him.
"What boy?"
David stared at Arthur.
"No."
Arthur nodded.
"The one who never spoke."
David's hands began trembling.
Sofia waited.
Finally, David whispered, "There was another child."
Daniel, watching behind the glass, went completely still.
David continued.
"He lived behind the medical wing. We weren't allowed to visit him."
"Why?" Sofia asked.
David swallowed.
"Because Evelyn said he was dangerous."
Arthur smiled faintly.
"Not dangerous."
He looked toward the observation window.
"Valuable."
Sofia's voice sharpened.
"Was he G-0?"
Arthur nodded.
"Yes."
"Where is he now?"
Arthur's smile disappeared.
"That is what I've been trying to tell you."
Sofia stared.
Arthur continued.
"G-0 escaped years ago."
"Then why didn't anyone find him?"
"Because he learned how to disappear."
David whispered, "His name was Noah."
Arthur shook his head.
"Noah was the name Evelyn gave him."
Sofia leaned forward.
"What was his real name?"
Arthur stared at her.
"He never had one."
The room fell silent.
Then Arthur said something that changed everything.
"The missing baby isn't the first child created from G-0."
Sofia felt cold.
"How many?"
Arthur looked toward David.
"Ask him what happened to the other children."
David stood abruptly.
"I don't know."
Arthur's voice softened.
"You remember the white room."
David shook his head.
"You remember the empty beds."
"Stop."
"And you remember the little girl who called you her brother."
David's face collapsed.
Sofia stared.
"What little girl?"
Arthur leaned forward.
"The one Evelyn took away."
David whispered one name.
"Claire."
Sofia stopped breathing.
Arthur smiled sadly.
May you like
"Now you understand why Claire's genetic records never made sense."
TO BE CONTINUED…
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