All Chapters of He Lost Me Before He Knew About Our Triplets: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Ava didn't step back because Elias Vale looked dangerous.She stepped back because he looked familiar.Not to her.To Ethan.The resemblance between the two men was close enough to make the room feel suddenly too small.Same dark eyes.Same strong jaw.Same straight nose.Even the slight tilt of the head when they studied a room.Ethan stared at him.“You're Elias Vale.”The man nodded.“Yes.”“The name on my original records.”“Yes.”“The man who was supposed to be me.”Elias smiled faintly.“Now you're getting somewhere.”Ethan's weapon remained raised.“Then explain the part where you were supposed to be Ava's husband.”Ava turned sharply.“What?”Elias looked at her.“That part is true.”Ethan's expression hardened.“Start talking.”Elias took another step.Richard immediately raised his weapon.“Don't.”Elias glanced at him.“Still pretending you saved everyone?”Richard's voice was cold.“Still pretending you were innocent?”The tension between them was immediate.Ethan stepped

Ava knew her father's voice.That was what terrified her.Not the hidden room.Not the impossible records.Not the man who looked like Ethan standing beside a photograph that should never have existed.Her father's voice.The same deep, steady voice she remembered from childhood.The same voice that had once called her little star when thunderstorms frightened her.The same voice she had heard the night before his funeral.“Open the door, sweetheart.”Ava couldn't breathe.Ethan moved in front of her immediately.“No one opens that door.”The footsteps stopped.For several seconds, there was only silence.Then the voice came again.“You always were stubborn, Ava.”Ava's fingers tightened around Ethan's.“That isn't him.”Richard stared at the door.He looked older than he had moments ago.“Richard,” Ava whispered. “Who is that?”He didn't answer.“Richard.”His silence frightened her more than the voice.Ethan stepped toward him.“If you know who's outside, speak.”Richard looked at t

The voice of a dead man had just called Ava by her childhood name.For one terrible second, nobody moved.Then Ethan drew his weapon.“Seal every exit.”Marcus was already moving.“On it.”Metal locks slammed into place throughout the underground level.Ava remained frozen beside the little girl.Her lips barely moved.“Dad…”The child looked up at her.“He isn't your daddy.”Ava's eyes snapped toward her.“What?”The girl shook her head.“The man upstairs isn't Daddy.”Ava stared at her.“But you said—”“He made me call him that.”The distinction struck harder than the voice itself.Ava crouched in front of the child.“Who made you?”The little girl looked toward the ceiling.“The man who comes when the lights go out.”Ava's stomach tightened.“What's his name?”The child hesitated.“He doesn't use one.”Ethan crouched beside Ava.“Then how do you know him?”“He told me names were dangerous.”Ethan exchanged a glance with Marcus.The child continued.“He said if anyone asked, I shoul

The photograph on the screen changed one more time.Ethan Blackwood.DECEASED.Subject E-01.IDENTITY TRANSFERRED.Original Subject.ALIVE.Then the location appeared beneath it.SAINT CATHERINE'S HOSPITAL — ROOM 13.Ava stared at the screen.“No.”Ethan didn't blink.For thirty-two years, he'd believed his name was Ethan Blackwood.Now a machine was telling him that Ethan Blackwood had died before he was old enough to remember his own face.Marcus stepped toward the control panel.“The system is locked.”“Unlock it,” Ethan said.“I can't.”“Then break it.”Marcus pulled out his equipment.Ava turned toward Richard.“Who is in Room 13?”Richard looked at her.“The person who knows the truth.”“That isn't an answer.”“No.”Richard's voice was barely audible.“It isn't.”Ethan walked toward him.“Who?”Richard swallowed.“The original.”Ethan stopped.“My original.”“Yes.”“Alive?”“Yes.”“After thirty-two years?”Richard nodded.Ethan's eyes hardened.“Then why have you spent all these

The voice from the hospital speaker had barely finished speaking when Ava realized the room had gone completely silent.Not quiet.Silent.The kind of silence that came when everyone was afraid that the next word might destroy whatever remained of their lives.“ONE OF THEM IS YOUR HUSBAND. THE OTHER IS THE FATHER OF YOUR CHILDREN.”Ava stared at the identical men standing across from her.For one terrifying second, she couldn't tell them apart.Same height.Same black hair.Same dark eyes.Same sharp features.Even the faint scar near the left eyebrow appeared on both faces.Her stomach turned.Then one of them spoke.“That's a lie.”Ethan.Ava knew his voice before she even looked at him.She turned.His eyes were fixed on her, and for the first time since the nightmare had begun, there was something in his expression that frightened her more than anger.Fear.Not fear for himself.Fear that she would believe the voice.Ava crossed the room.She stopped directly in front of him.“Loo