“Maria Santos didn’t die,” I whispered. “She gave birth to Sophie and Grace, and she walked out of that hospital alive.”

“Vanessa paid her off,” Benjamin said, his voice hollow. “She gave her a new identity and sent her out of the country.”

“Exactly,” I said. “Then Vanessa had Dr. Vance issue a new set of birth records listing Vanessa as the natural gestational mother.”

“She stole my children’s birthright,” Benjamin said.

“She wanted to ensure that if you ever discovered her abuse, she would still have absolute legal custody,” I said. “And she wanted the trust funds that Claire set up for her biological children.”

“That is why she kept them isolated,” Benjamin said. “She was terrified they would get a DNA test as they grew older.”

Marcus kept his eyes on his tactical tablet, which was glowing green in the dark.

“We have a bigger problem,” Marcus said quietly.

He pointed toward the hallway door.

The floorboards downstairs creaked again.

It was the slow, deliberate step of someone who knew the layout of the house.

“Is there anyone else in the main house?” I asked.