They Stole My Daughter’s Future—So I Took Them All Down

Chapter 2

The side-door access system beeped. While the guards looked away, a young student swiped her card and let the paramedics in.

Olivia knew she had only seconds left. She snatched Lily's passport from the scattered documents and sliced through its cover with a paper knife.

"Let's see how you get to Bellmont without a passport!"

The dark blue pages fluttered to the floor in front of Lily. She stared at them, a whimper catching in her throat.

The night before her final interview, she had deleted every mention of Northstar from her personal statement.

She said that if a last name mattered more than her answers, she did not want the placement anyway.

After that, she practiced French every morning and worked at the legal aid clinic every evening. Not even a fever had kept her from attending a mock hearing.

Lily tried to bend down and pick up the photo page, but the movement tore open the wound on her neck. Blood ran down her collarbone and into her shirt.

"Mom, I ranked first..." She stared at the passport on the floor. "I still have the email. They can't just give my place to someone else."

I picked up the torn pages and wiped away the shoe print.

"Go to the hospital first. I'll take care of the rest."

Lily refused to let go of the photo page.

Even as the paramedics lifted her onto the stretcher, she clung to one corner, staining the edge dark red with blood.

I could not pry her hand open, so I tucked the page under the emergency blanket with her.

"Hold on to it," I said. "We'll keep it safe at the hospital."

The paramedics rushed into the office, cut through the zip ties, and fitted an oxygen mask over Lily's face.

Lily nodded once behind the oxygen mask.

Pierce still tried to make them treat Olivia's nose first, but the team leader shoved him aside.

"She needs immediate medical attention. Get out of the way!"

I followed the stretcher toward the elevator. The doors slid open.

A woman in a white cashmere coat stepped out with her arm linked through Daniel's.

Victoria Lane.

She was the public relations consultant for Daniel's foundation. Over the past two years, she had accompanied him to several charity galas.

Every time she saw me, she would nod politely from across the long table and call me "Dr. Ashford."

Now Olivia threw herself into Victoria's arms and called her Mom.

Victoria saw Lily on the stretcher, and panic flashed across her face. She quickly pulled a black metal card from her handbag and held it up for every camera to see.

A silver-white sun was engraved on its face.

It was an access card for Project Helios Shield. I had locked it in my home safe. Any unauthorized use would trigger an alert at the security center.

"This is my special clearance." Victoria lifted her chin. "Now do you understand who really runs Northstar?"

Daniel stared at the card, his face slowly draining of color.

"Why did you bring that out?" he blurted.

Victoria's smile froze.