Chapter 5 - The Blood Tie
I stood frozen in the doorway as the wealthy stranger surveyed my messy workshop with absolute disgust.
"There must be some mistake," I said, stepping in front of the sleeping children.
"The court records clearly stated these children had no living relatives willing to take them."
Sarah offered a cold, calculated smile.
"I was out of the country on a business trip when my sister passed away," she explained smoothly.
"I only just found out about this tragic situation yesterday."
She pulled a thick folder from her expensive leather handbag and tossed it onto the table.
"These are my birth certificates, DNA test results, and a petition for immediate full custody," she declared.
I opened the folder, my heart sinking as I saw the official court stamps.
If she was truly their blood relative, the court would undoubtedly favor her over a single, unemployed stranger.
"If you really care about them, why didn't you step forward three weeks ago?" I challenged her.
She ignored my question and walked toward the air mattresses.
Leo woke up, rubbing his eyes, and stared at the strange woman.
"Which ones are the youngest three?" Sarah asked coldly, pointing at the kids.
My blood boiled instantly.
"What do you mean, the youngest three?" I demanded.
She turned to me with an expression of pure annoyance.
"I live in a luxury condo downtown, Mr. Carter," she sighed.
"I simply do not have the space or the patience for five children, especially the older ones with behavioral issues."
She was planning to split them up anyway.
"You are not taking any of them," I growled, pointing toward the door.
"The court will decide that on Friday," she sneered, walking back out into the cold morning.
I watched her climb into the back of a sleek, black SUV parked across the street.
As the window rolled up, I noticed something deeply unsettling.
The driver of the SUV was a heavily tattooed man with a deep scar across his face, and he was glaring menacingly at my building.
And just before the door closed, I saw a massive, purple bruise wrapping entirely around Sarah's left wrist, like someone had grabbed her violently.
May you like
She wasn't rescuing these kids.
She was delivering them to someone else.
