Chapter 15 - THE MEMORY ANNA LOST
Anna undergoes a carefully supervised memory-reconstruction session—not hypnosis presented as perfect truth, but guided recall using photographs, locations, and sensory cues.
She remembers the gas station.
Jennifer’s blood.
The red folder.
The ring.
And finally:
Jennifer slid something into the lining of Anna’s red coat.
Not a key.
A microSD card.
Anna later gave the red coat to June because she could not bear to wear it.
June stored it.
Lily remembers the coat.
They retrieve it from June’s old storage unit.
Inside the seam is the card.
It contains Jennifer’s original recordings.
Victor confessing that Voss instructed him to “make Anna unreliable.”
Voss discussing forged records.
Rebecca objecting to violence but agreeing to suppress the medical archive.
And most importantly:
Voss telling Victor:
“If Daniel learns Anna is pregnant, he will choose her over the company.”
That is the motive.
Not Lily’s genetics.
Not inheritance money.
Not a secret superpower.
Control.
Voss feared Daniel would leave Mercer leadership, expose the program with Anna, and destroy decades of institutional protection.
The baby made Daniel’s loyalty predictable.
So Voss removed Anna before Daniel knew.
Anna listens.
Then quietly says:
“They stole seven years because they thought they knew what you would choose.”
Daniel looks at her.
“They did know.”
“What?”
May you like
“I would have chosen you.”
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