Chapter 10 - THE DAUGHTER HE COULDN'T SAVEAntoine Bellamy had spent thirty years building an empire around a single tragedy.
His daughter Elise had been seven when she died.
She had been a bright child who loved astronomy, strawberry ice cream, and the small yellow bicycle her father bought her for her birthday.
According to Inspector Laurent, Elise had suffered from a serious inherited medical condition.
Bellamy funded research in the hope of finding a treatment.
At first, his intentions were genuine.
He wanted to save his daughter.
But grief slowly transformed his determination into obsession.
When Elise died, Bellamy refused to accept the limits of medicine.
He blamed the doctors.
The researchers.
The families who withdrew from the program.
And eventually, the children whose biological information he believed might have helped his daughter.
Julien and Lucie were among those children.
Lucie listened to Laurent's explanation with growing horror.
"Julien was a child."
"I know."
"He couldn't have saved anyone."
"Bellamy doesn't think rationally about Elise."
Lucie looked toward the monitor.
Bellamy stood beside Julien, speaking quietly.
His expression had changed.
For the first time, he looked less like a criminal mastermind and more like an exhausted father who had spent decades refusing to mourn.
Lucie activated the microphone.
"Antoine."
Bellamy turned.
"You've decided to cooperate?"
"I know about Elise."
His face went still.
"Don't."
"She was seven."
"Don't say her name."
"She loved astronomy."
Bellamy's jaw tightened.
"Be quiet."
Lucie continued gently.
"She didn't deserve what happened to her."
Bellamy stared at the camera.
For a moment, something human appeared in his eyes.
Then it vanished.
"Your mother took away the research that might have saved her."
Lucie shook her head.
"My mother withdrew two children from a program she didn't trust."
"Those children carried the biological marker we needed."
"And you think that made us responsible?"
Bellamy said nothing.
"Julien was nine years old."
"He was part of the research."
"He was a child."
Bellamy's face twisted.
"You don't understand what it's like to lose someone."
Lucie felt tears rise.
"I spent three years believing my brother was dead."
Bellamy looked away.
"I know."
"Then you know what you've done to other families."
Silence.
Lucie stepped closer to the microphone.
"How many mothers have you made grieve children who were still alive?"
Bellamy's expression changed.
"That's different."
"How?"
He couldn't answer.
"How many fathers have buried empty coffins because of you?"
"Stop."
"How many children have waited for parents who never came home?"
Bellamy slammed his hand against the console.
"Enough!"
Lucie fell silent.
Bellamy was breathing heavily.
For a moment, she thought he might order Julien killed.
Instead, he looked toward the medical ward.
The patients were still trapped.
Madeleine sat beside Samuel.
The boy had placed his jacket around her shoulders.
Bellamy stared at them.
Lucie spoke softly.
"Elise deserved better than what happened to her."
His eyes filled.
"But so do they."
For several seconds, Bellamy said nothing.
Then he turned toward the guard holding Julien.
"Lower your weapon."
The guard hesitated.
"Sir?"
"Do it."
The weapon lowered.
Lucie exhaled.
Bellamy approached the console.
His fingers hovered over the controls.
Then another voice filled the room.
"Step away from the terminal, Antoine."
A woman entered the checkpoint.
Dr. Evelyn Voss.
She held a pistol.
Bellamy turned.
"Evelyn?"
Voss smiled coldly.
"You've become sentimental."
Bellamy looked confused.
"This is my facility."
"Not anymore."
She raised the gun.
Lucie watched in horror as Voss shot Bellamy in the chest.
He collapsed.
Julien lunged toward him.
Voss pointed the weapon at Julien.
"Don't move."
Then she looked directly into the camera.
"Lieutenant Serrano, your emotional appeal was impressive."
Lucie gripped the microphone.
"What do you want?"
Voss smiled.
May you like
"I WANT THE RESEARCH YOUR MOTHER STOLE. AND THIS TIME, THERE WILL BE NO NEGOTIATION."
End of Chapter 10 — Cliffhanger: Dr. Voss seizes control of Building D and reveals that Bellamy was no longer the greatest threat.
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