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بيت / The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever / Chapter 5

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Chapter 5

مؤلف: Jasmine Flower
Ethan POV

It took our family the entire afternoon to calm Emily down.

After she cried herself out and finally went upstairs to rest, mom sank onto the couch and rubbed her temples.

“She really was wronged today.”

“Considering what happened to Emily in our previous life, it's understandable that we're being protective.”

Dad nodded.

“And we did promise Claire that Emily would move out eventually.”

“She is our daughter too. She wouldn't really walk away from us.”

Mom finally relaxed.

“Good.”

But I remained silent.

I kept thinking about Claire's cold expression these past few days.

And the way she had walked out of the house in the afternoon without looking back.

A growing unease settled in my chest.

What if she really didn't want to come back?

I suddenly stood up and grabbed my jacket.

“I’m going to the institute.”

The car sped through the night.

Streetlights flashed past one after another.

But as I rounded the final corner,

a deafening explosion suddenly shook the night.

A moment later,

flames shot into the sky.

The entire research institute was swallowed by smoke and fire.

My mind went completely blank.

The research institute was on fire...

Claire was still inside!

I stumbled out of the car and ran toward the flames like a madman.

“Sir! You can't go in!”

Two firefighters rushed over and grabbed me by the arms.

“The fire isn't under control yet. It's too dangerous!”

“Let me go!”

I fought against them, my voice hoarse and almost unrecognizable.

“My sister is still in there! Let me go!”

They held me firmly behind the safety line.

As I stared at the flames,

regret came crashing over me like a tidal wave.

If I'd known this would happen, I never should have let Claire return to the institute.

I should have driven her back myself.

I should have stayed with her a little longer.

Maybe then I could have protected her.

But I listened to Emily.

I actually let Claire go away alone.

When she left,

did she look back?

Did she hope someone would come after her?

I closed my eyes.

A broken sob escaped my throat.

When the fire was finally brought under control, the smoke gradually began to clear.

The firefighters took down the safety line.

I practically crawled into the building.

But to my surprise, there were people everywhere.

Researchers stood scattered along the hallway.

Some were wrapped in fire blankets. Others had soot covering their faces.

But they were all alive.

A firefighter nearby explained,

“The explosion happened in a lab where chemicals were being stored. Luckily, it was spotted quickly, and the fire didn't spread.”

“Everyone was evacuated in time.”

I finally let out the breath I'd been holding.

The weight crushing my chest lifted.

Thank God.

Claire was safe.

I hurried forward, pushing through the crowd and checking every face.

Not her.

Not her.

Not her either.

I ran to her office and threw open the door.

Empty.

Her files were still on the desk.

Her computer was still there.

Even her chair was slightly askew,

as if she'd only stepped away for a moment.

I froze for a second before turning and rushing back outside.

“Claire—no, Dr. Morgan!”

“Where is she? Has anyone seen her?”

I stopped a passing researcher, my voice tight with panic.

He looked confused and shook his head.

“I haven't seen her.”

“I think I saw her leave with Professor Hayes earlier, but I didn't pay attention after that.”

I pulled out my phone and called Claire.

Two rings.

Then the call ended.

I immediately sent her a message.

A red exclamation mark appeared.

My grip tightened around the phone,

my knuckles turning white.

She had blocked me?

A burst of anger surged through me.

What the hell was Claire doing?

Was this still about what happened at home that afternoon?

We'd already said we'd reconsider having Emily move out.

Did she really have to block me over something so trivial?

She was just as petty as she'd been in my previous life.

Once I found her, I was going to have a serious talk with her.

Otherwise, if she really came home, how was she ever going to get along with Emily?

I was already frustratedly asking someone for Professor Hayes's contact information when I heard a voice behind me.

It was trembling, almost impossible to hear through the sobs.

“Mr. Bennett…”

I turned around.

Claire's young assistant stood there, her face streaked with tears.

“What did you say?”

I hadn't heard her clearly.

I stepped closer.

Her eyes were swollen and red.

“Claire and Professor Hayes…”

“They were both in that lab just now.”

Her voice broke.

“They… they died in the explosion.”
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  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 10

    I clung tightly to Dr. Hayes' arm and shouted toward the hallway,“Someone! Help! Hurry!”The base medical team arrived within minutes.They lifted him onto a stretcher and rushed him to the infirmary.I stood in the hallway, leaning against the cold wall.Then my legs gave out, and I sank to the floor, burying my face against my knees.My head was buzzing.All the details I'd ignored came rushing back.He'd been coughing more often lately.He'd been eating less and less.In my last life, he'd died from a serious illness.He'd died during the classified project in Alaska, and I hadn't even gotten to see him one last time.And somehow, I hadn't noticed any of it this time.I was such an idiot.The infirmary door opened.The doctor stepped out, removed his mask, and looked grim.I forced myself to stand, my legs still trembling.“How is he?”The doctor was silent for a few seconds.“Initial tests suggest acute organ damage caused by radiation exposure. His condition isn't good.”“We've c

  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 9

    I never imagined they could actually find me here.Everyone stationed at the Alaska Base had to sign strict confidentiality agreements before arriving. Their identities were erased from public records, and as far as the outside world was concerned, they were officially dead.Even the Bennett family shouldn't have been able to track me down in the middle of this desert.Yet now, they were standing outside the base's reception room.Mrs. Bennett had lost a tremendous amount of weight.Her hair had turned noticeably grayer, and dark circles shadowed her eyes.Mr. Bennett stood beside her, looking exhausted and years older.My brother, Ethan Bennett, stood at the front.The moment his eyes landed on me, his whole body trembled.“Claire.”Mrs. Bennett 's tears immediately spilled over.“Claire, sweetheart. Mom came to find you. I know I was wrong.”She took two steps toward me, reaching for my hand.I stepped back.Her sob caught in her throat, and she froze.Mr. Bennett opened his mouth, h

  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 8

    Professor Hayes and I were never actually killed.That night, we secretly staged our deaths, deactivated our identities, and officially joined the Alaska Space Program.We did it to keep our research and identities from being exploited by the wrong people.When Professor Hayes and I boarded the westbound flight that night,we were the only two people in the plane.The lights outside gradually faded into the distance,until they were completely swallowed by the darkness.Once we arrived at the Alaska base,we were quickly assigned to the core laboratory deep inside the underground facility.Professor Hayes stood at the doorway and smiled at me.“Nervous?”I shook my head, walked over, and placed my hand on the control panel.Then I smiled.“You're kidding, Professor. Why would I be?”“This is exactly where I'm supposed to be.”The days that followed seemed to fly by.The entire project team practically lived in the lab.We started preparing the first phase from scratch.Every parameter

  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 7

    I watched my family repeat everything they had done to Claire in her previous life.Only this time,they were even more ruthless.They didn't just treat Emily like she was invisible.They allowed the staff to mistreat her, too.Her clothes were “accidentally” thrown into the trash.Breakfast was constantly forgotten.Her room was cleaned only once every three days.When she confronted the housekeepers, they looked at her with open contempt.“You're just an impostor who stole someone else's place.”“What makes you think you deserve to complain?”“You killed the real daughter, and you still have the nerve to stay here?”One day, one of Dad's longtime business associates came over.After a few drinks, he sighed.“I heard your biological daughter who was lost for all those years was an incredible young researcher.”“MIT graduate, so many awards.”“Such a pity.”Dad's hand froze around his glass.He said nothing.But the regret in his eyes was almost unbearable to look at.After the guest l

  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 6

    “What?”I jerked my head up, my eyes burning red.“You're lying. How could that be?”“You said everyone made it out safely.”“How could Claire…”I couldn't finish.I stared at the young assistant, who was sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.My legs suddenly gave out.I stumbled backward and slammed into the cold wall.Then I slowly slid down until I was crouched on the floor, burying my face in my hands.I thought about that afternoon.Emily had told me not to drive Claire back.And I'd actually listened.What if I'd gone after her?What if I'd insisted on taking her home?While I sat there trembling, two police officers approached.One of them, a middle-aged officer, removed his cap.“Mr. Bennett?”“We've completed the scene investigation and identity verification. One of the two researchers who died in the explosion has been confirmed as Dr. Claire Morgan.”“I'm very sorry for your loss.”It felt as though someone had drained every ounce of strength from my body.I sat there, s

  • The Daughter They Erased Was Gone Forever   Chapter 5

    Ethan POV It took our family the entire afternoon to calm Emily down.After she cried herself out and finally went upstairs to rest, mom sank onto the couch and rubbed her temples.“She really was wronged today.”“Considering what happened to Emily in our previous life, it's understandable that we're being protective.”Dad nodded.“And we did promise Claire that Emily would move out eventually.”“She is our daughter too. She wouldn't really walk away from us.”Mom finally relaxed.“Good.”But I remained silent.I kept thinking about Claire's cold expression these past few days.And the way she had walked out of the house in the afternoon without looking back.A growing unease settled in my chest.What if she really didn't want to come back?I suddenly stood up and grabbed my jacket.“I’m going to the institute.”The car sped through the night.Streetlights flashed past one after another.But as I rounded the final corner,a deafening explosion suddenly shook the night.A moment later,

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