Chapter 8 - The Third BabyDr. Lucien Moreau had spent twenty-nine years avoiding the Beaumont family.
He had retired early.
Changed addresses.
Stopped attending medical conferences.
And disappeared from the social circles where his name had once carried influence.
Now Genevieve was calling him.
And the past he had spent decades burying was finally catching up.
“Three babies?” Genevieve whispered.
Lucien remained silent.
“Lucien, what are you talking about?”
He exhaled slowly.
“You need to come see me.”
“Where?”
“I live outside Annecy.”
“Why can't you tell me now?”
“Because someone may be listening.”
Genevieve felt a chill.
“Who?”
Lucien hesitated.
“Victor Delacroix.”
The call ended.
Genevieve stared at the phone.
For several minutes, she remained motionless.
Then she called Alexandre.
He answered immediately.
“Mom?”
“I need your help.”
Alexandre heard the fear in her voice.
“What happened?”
“I spoke to Lucien.”
Silence.
Then Alexandre said, “The doctor?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Genevieve swallowed.
“He said there were three babies.”
Alexandre did not respond.
“He wants me to meet him.”
“Don't go alone.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
The following morning, Genevieve, Alexandre, Sofia, and Thomas drove toward Annecy.
Sofia had agreed to come only after Alexandre explained the phone call.
She still could not look at Genevieve without feeling a complicated mixture of anger, grief, and curiosity.
But she wanted answers.
Not only for herself.
For Camille.
For Claire.
For every person whose life had been shaped by decisions made behind closed doors.
Lucien lived in a modest stone house overlooking a narrow valley.
When he opened the door, Genevieve barely recognized him.
His hair was white.
His shoulders were stooped.
But his eyes were the same.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lucien whispered, “You look well.”
Genevieve stared at him.
“Don't.”
He lowered his eyes.
“Of course.”
Thomas introduced himself.
Lucien invited them inside.
The house smelled of coffee and old books.
A grandfather clock ticked in the hallway.
Lucien led them into a sitting room.
Then he closed the curtains.
Alexandre frowned.
“Are you afraid of someone?”
Lucien nodded.
“Yes.”
“Victor?”
“Yes.”
Sofia stepped forward.
“Then tell us what happened.”
Lucien looked at her.
His expression changed.
For a moment, he seemed unable to breathe.
“You look like Genevieve did at your age.”
Sofia crossed her arms.
“Please don't.”
Lucien lowered his eyes.
“I'm sorry.”
He sat down.
Then he began.
“In September 1997, the Beaumont Foundation hospital was experiencing severe financial difficulties.”
Alexandre frowned.
“My grandfather controlled the foundation.”
“Yes.”
“Was he stealing money?”
Lucien hesitated.
“He was diverting charitable funds into private investments.”
Thomas began taking notes.
Lucien continued.
“Victor helped him. They used false invoices and shell companies.”
Genevieve stared.
“Henri knew?”
“Not at first.”
Lucien rubbed his hands together.
“Then three babies were born within twenty-four hours.”
Sofia leaned forward.
“Who were they?”
Lucien looked at her.
“You. Elise. And another little girl.”
Alexandre frowned.
“Whose daughter?”
Lucien closed his eyes.
“Victor's.”
Silence.
Genevieve stared.
“Isabelle was pregnant?”
Lucien shook his head.
“No.”
Alexandre felt cold.
“Then who was the mother?”
Lucien looked away.
“A nurse named Madeleine Fournier.”
Thomas wrote the name down.
Lucien continued.
“Victor had an affair with her. She became pregnant. He promised to support the child, but when the baby was born, he refused to acknowledge her.”
Sofia whispered, “What happened to the baby?”
Lucien's voice trembled.
“Madeleine wanted to expose Victor. She had discovered evidence of the financial fraud.”
Alexandre leaned forward.
“And Victor threatened her?”
Lucien nodded.
“He arranged for the baby to be transferred to another hospital under a false identity.”
Genevieve covered her mouth.
“What about Elise?”
Lucien looked at her.
“Your daughter was born with a heart condition. She needed specialized care. The foundation hospital did not have the resources to provide it safely.”
“Then why didn't you transfer her?”
“I tried.”
His voice broke.
“Your father-in-law refused to authorize the expense.”
Alexandre stared.
“My grandfather let a baby suffer to protect his finances?”
Lucien nodded.
Genevieve began crying.
Lucien continued.
“Henri discovered the situation. He threatened to expose the foundation unless Elise received treatment.”
Sofia leaned closer.
“So what happened?”
“Victor arranged a transfer. But he used the opportunity to alter the babies' identities.”
Thomas frowned.
“Why?”
Lucien looked at Genevieve.
“Because Victor knew about your affair.”
Genevieve froze.
“He threatened to reveal it?”
“Yes. He wanted Henri distracted and vulnerable while he moved money out of the foundation.”
Alexandre shook his head.
“That still doesn't explain the switch.”
Lucien swallowed.
“Victor told Henri that the child born to Genevieve was not his. Henri agreed to protect the child, but Victor convinced him that the scandal would destroy the family.”
Sofia felt sick.
“So Henri let them take me?”
Lucien shook his head.
“No. Henri believed the child had died.”
Genevieve stared.
“What?”
Lucien looked at her.
“The baby declared dead was not Elise.”
The room fell silent.
Lucien continued.
“It was Madeleine's daughter.”
Alexandre leaned forward.
“Victor's daughter?”
Lucien nodded.
“She developed a severe infection and died two days after birth.”
Sofia pressed a hand against her chest.
Lucien wiped his eyes.
“Victor used her death certificate to conceal the transfer of the other two babies.”
Thomas looked up.
“So Sofia was given to Camille?”
“Yes.”
“And Elise?”
Lucien hesitated.
“She was transferred to a private medical facility.”
“Under what name?”
Lucien closed his eyes.
“Claire Martin.”
Genevieve began sobbing.
For twenty-nine years, her daughter had been alive.
But Sofia asked the question nobody else had considered.
“If Elise was transferred to another facility, who raised her?”
Lucien stared at the floor.
“A family selected by Victor.”
“Why?”
Lucien's voice became barely audible.
“Because they agreed never to ask questions.”
Alexandre leaned forward.
“Who were they?”
Lucien looked toward the window.
Then he whispered, “Isabelle Delacroix's sister and her husband.”
Sofia felt her stomach twist.
Claire had grown up connected to the very people who had stolen her identity.
Thomas asked, “Does Isabelle know?”
Lucien nodded.
“She has always known.”
Alexandre stood.
“Then she knows where Claire is.”
Lucien's expression darkened.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Lucien hesitated.
Then he reached into his pocket and removed a folded piece of paper.
“I received this yesterday.”
He handed it to Alexandre.
May you like
It contained a single sentence.
“Stop looking for Claire, or the Beaumont family will bury another daughter.”
Related Stories
