Chapter 358

"Howe, since you've started confessing, I want the entire truth-every detail," Verena said,her stare cold and unflinching.

Howe's hand shook as he wiped sweat from his brow."Sherwood called me into his office one afternoon.Once the door shut, he speled everything out. He slid a photograph of you across the desk and told me if l made you disappear, the rewards he promised would be mine."

He faltered, searching for the nerve to continue.

Isaac's voice cut through the silence. "Don't stall. Tell us exactly how you pulled it off." His eyes narrowed,glintingwith suspicion.

After a long gulp, Howe added, looking at Verena,"Back then, I'd studied the hospital's layout and memorized the nurses' rotation schedule. On the third night after you were born, I dressed as a member of the staff and used forged identification to slip into the maternity ward without raising suspicion. Your mother was resting alone in the room when I arrived. I walked up to the crib, lifted you into my arms, and wrapped you carefully in a blanket I'd brought with me.Without hesitation, I carried you out and left the room behind."

Verena's voice cracked through the room, raw with anger. "Did you really think you could get away with that? What about the cameras? The security?"

The accusation sent a shiver through Howe. He struggled to steady his voice. "Sherwood thought of everything. He paid off the chief of security to cut the cameras near the ward right before I went in. He even set up a getaway car waiting at the back exit. The second I left the building, I got into that car."

Verena's tone was razor-sharp. "What happened after that? What exactly did Sherwood intend for me?"

Howe's eyes dropped to the floor, his voice barely more than a whisper. "After I took you, I followed Sherwood's orders and drove out to a remote village I thought my part would end once I handed you off.But things started falling apart. The contact who was supposed to take you vanished, wouldn't answer any calls. I panicked and phoned Sherwood. He lost his temper and told me to clean up the mess myself. He even said... if there was no way out, I could get rid of you for good."

As the words left his lips, his hands shook. Fear and shame flickered across his face. "I couldn't bring myself to do it. No matter how desperate I got,you were just a baby."

Fora split second, regret flashed in his eyes, but the darkness of old choices swallowed it quickly.

"I scrambled for another way out. I remembered an old friend who had ties with several maternity hospitals, so I got the contacts from my friend, and then ordered my men to reach out and see if anyone could help."

Howe's gaze flickered to lsaac and Verena, catching the storm brewing in their expressions. He quickly looked away,voice even softer.

"It just so happened there was a hospital where a woman collapsed during childbirth, and her newborn didn't make it. I grabbed the chance and told Sherwood right away. He said to bring you over immediately. He would line up the surgeon to smooth things over. I hurried you to the hospital, and everything went off just as Sherwood wanted."

His throat felt like sandpaper as he swallowed hard.

When Howe finally glanced up again, his voice came out rough and small. "That couple... they never found out their own baby was gone before you took her place."