CHAPTER 3 — THE DNA TEST
CHAPTER 3 — THE DNA TEST
Nathan watched the screen without blinking.
His father's voice came through the speakers, older and weaker than Nathan remembered.
“Nathan, if you're hearing this, Grace never abandoned you.”
The video flickered.
For a moment, the screen went black.
Then his father appeared.
He was sitting behind the same desk Nathan was sitting behind now.
Five years younger.
Exhausted.
Frightened.
Nathan had never seen fear in his father's face.
Not when the stock market crashed.
Not when competitors attacked the company.
Not even when doctors told him he was dying.
But in this recording, his father looked terrified.
“I don't know how much time I have,” he said. “And I don't know who will find this recording first.”
Nathan leaned closer.
His father's eyes moved toward the camera.
“If Grace has been accused of anything, don't believe the documents.”
Nathan's heart began pounding.
“They were created to make you hate her.”
The screen suddenly froze.
Nathan slammed his hand against the desk.
“Come on…”
The video resumed.
His father continued.
“Five years ago, I discovered that Richard had been stealing from the company. Millions. He wasn't working alone.”
Nathan's jaw tightened.
“Who?”
His father's expression darkened.
“Victoria's family.”
Nathan stopped breathing.
The recording continued.
“They wanted control of the company. But they couldn't take it while you remained the sole successor.”
His father paused.
“Then Grace became pregnant.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
Everything suddenly made sense.
His father whispered:
“The child changed the inheritance.”
Nathan looked toward the hallway.
Lily was sleeping upstairs.
His daughter.
His little girl.
His father's voice continued.
“If the child was yours, she would inherit controlling rights to the family trust.”
Nathan stared at the screen.
“That's why they wanted Grace gone.”
The video ended.
Nathan sat motionless.
For several minutes, he didn't move.
Then his phone rang.
His attorney.
Nathan answered.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Send someone to the house.”
“Why?”
“I need a DNA test.”
There was a pause.
“Of Lily?”
“Yes.”
“You already believe she's your daughter.”
Nathan looked at the blank screen.
“I need proof.”
“Why?”
“Because if I'm going to destroy everything my family built, I need to know exactly what I'm fighting for.”
Lily woke up at seven.
She wandered into the kitchen wearing pink pajamas and carrying her stuffed rabbit.
Nathan was already there.
He had been awake all night.
Lily stopped when she saw him.
“Daddy?”
Nathan smiled.
“Good morning.”
She rubbed her eyes.
“Mommy?”
Nathan's smile disappeared.
“She'll come home.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
Lily looked down.
“Promise?”
Nathan crouched.
“I promise I'll do everything I can.”
She considered him carefully.
Then held out her rabbit.
“His name is Coco.”
Nathan took it.
“Hello, Coco.”
Lily giggled.
Nathan smiled.
For a few seconds, the weight of the world disappeared.
Then his attorney entered.
“Mr. Cole.”
Nathan stood.
Daniel Mercer was carrying a medical case.
Lily immediately hid behind Nathan.
“Who's that?”
“Someone who wants to help us.”
Lily frowned.
“I don't like doctors.”
Daniel smiled.
“He isn't a doctor.”
Nathan looked at Lily.
“Can you trust me?”
She nodded.
“Then trust me.”
The test was simple.
A cheek swab.
Nothing more.
But Nathan's hands trembled as he watched.
The attorney took the samples.
“We'll have results within forty-eight hours.”
Nathan nodded.
Lily looked at him.
“Why did you do that?”
Nathan hesitated.
“Because I wanted to know something important.”
“What?”
He smiled.
“Whether you're really my little girl.”
She stared at him.
“I told you.”
Nathan's eyes softened.
“What?”
“You're Daddy.”
He looked away quickly.
He didn't want her to see him cry.
Across town, Grace sat behind a glass partition.
She had been awake all night too.
The door opened.
A lawyer entered.
“Ms. Bennett?”
Grace stood.
“Where is Lily?”
“She is with Nathan.”
Grace exhaled.
“Is she safe?”
“Yes.”
“Is Victoria near her?”
“No.”
Grace closed her eyes.
Thank God.
The lawyer placed a folder on the table.
“There are developments.”
“What kind?”
“The prosecution has expanded the charges.”
Grace stared at him.
“What?”
“They're claiming you intended to flee the country.”
“I didn't.”
“They have travel records.”
“Fake.”
“They have a passport application.”
“I never applied.”
“They have bank transfers.”
“I never made them.”
The lawyer leaned forward.
“Someone has built a very convincing case against you.”
Grace's hands trembled.
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
Grace stared at him.
But she already suspected.
“Richard.”
The lawyer nodded.
“Possibly.”
Grace lowered her voice.
“You need to tell Nathan something.”
“What?”
“Don't trust Victoria.”
The lawyer looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because she knew about Lily before Nathan did.”
He opened his notebook.
“What else?”
Grace hesitated.
Then whispered:
“Victoria wasn't the one who threatened me five years ago.”
The lawyer looked up.
“Who was?”
Grace stared through the glass.
“Nathan's father.”
The DNA results arrived the next afternoon.
Nathan was sitting in his office when Daniel entered.
He carried a sealed envelope.
Nathan immediately stood.
“Tell me.”
Daniel didn't speak.
He placed the envelope on the desk.
Nathan stared at it.
“Is she mine?”
“Yes.”
The word hit him harder than he expected.
Nathan opened the report.
The conclusion was clear.
Probability of paternity: 99.9998%.
Nathan sat down.
He read it twice.
Then a third time.
His eyes filled with tears.
There was no longer any doubt.
Lily was his.
His daughter.
The child he had never known.
The child he had never protected.
Daniel watched him quietly.
“What are you going to do?”
Nathan looked up.
“Everything.”
“About Grace?”
“Get her out.”
“About Victoria?”
Nathan's expression hardened.
“Find out everything.”
“And your company?”
Nathan looked at the DNA report.
“My company can wait.”
Daniel hesitated.
“There is something else.”
Nathan frowned.
“What?”
“The DNA test doesn't explain one thing.”
“What?”
Daniel opened another folder.
“The inheritance trust.”
Nathan looked at him.
“What about it?”
“Your father amended it five years ago.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“On what date?”
Daniel turned the document around.
The date was the same day Grace disappeared.
Nathan stared.
“That can't be coincidence.”
“No.”
“What did he change?”
Daniel pointed to a paragraph.
Nathan read it.
His face slowly changed.
The trust didn't simply name Nathan's biological child as heir.
It included another condition.
If Nathan's first biological child was born outside a legally recognized marriage, control of the trust would be transferred to a designated family trustee until the child reached adulthood.
Nathan looked up.
“Who is the trustee?”
Daniel didn't answer.
Nathan already knew.
“Victoria?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“Richard?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Daniel placed another page on the desk.
Nathan read the name.
His face went pale.
Edward Cole.
His father.
Nathan whispered:
“He's dead.”
Daniel nodded.
“He was.”
“Then who controls it now?”
Daniel looked at him.
“That's the problem.”
That night, Nathan returned to the mansion.
Victoria was waiting in the living room.
She looked exhausted.
Her makeup couldn't hide it.
“Nathan.”
He walked past her.
She followed.
“Please talk to me.”
“Did you know Lily was mine?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
Victoria hesitated.
“Four years.”
Nathan stopped.
“Four years?”
“I found out when she was born.”
“You knew for four years.”
“Yes.”
“And you still married me?”
“I loved you.”
Nathan turned.
“No.”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“I did.”
“Then why did you hide my daughter?”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
“You.”
Nathan stared.
“Me?”
“You would have chosen her.”
“She was my daughter.”
“And I would have lost you.”
Nathan laughed bitterly.
“You already lost me.”
Victoria wiped her tears.
“I didn't know what else to do.”
Nathan walked closer.
“You attacked Grace.”
“I lost control.”
“You tried to have her arrested.”
“I was protecting myself.”
“You knew about Lily.”
“I was trying to protect our future.”
Nathan's voice became cold.
“There was never an 'our future.'”
Victoria flinched.
He continued.
“There was your plan.”
“What plan?”
“You wanted my company.”
Victoria stared at him.
“That isn't true.”
Nathan pulled out the DNA report.
“You knew she was my daughter.”
Victoria looked at the paper.
Then at him.
“You actually tested her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you made me doubt everything.”
Victoria's face hardened.
“You think a DNA test changes anything?”
“It changes everything.”
She stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you're doing.”
Nathan's eyes narrowed.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria didn't answer.
Instead, she whispered:
“You should ask why your father never told you about Lily.”
“I know why.”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“You don't.”
Nathan froze.
Victoria looked toward the staircase.
“Your father didn't hide Lily because of the inheritance.”
Nathan's heart began pounding.
“Then why?”
Victoria's expression changed.
Fear.
Real fear.
“Because Lily's birth wasn't the only secret.”
Nathan stared at her.
“What other secret?”
Victoria stepped backward.
“I shouldn't have said that.”
“Victoria.”
She turned.
“Nathan…”
“What happened five years ago?”
Victoria looked at him.
Then whispered:
“Ask Grace who Lily's biological mother really is.”
Nathan's face went blank.
“Grace is Lily's mother.”
Victoria shook her head.
“That's what she told you.”
Nathan stepped toward her.
“What are you saying?”
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm saying the DNA test you just ordered may not be the test you think it is.”
Nathan stared at her.
“You're lying.”
“I hope I am.”
She walked away.
Nathan remained frozen.
His phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel.
We need to talk immediately.
Nathan called.
“What happened?”
Daniel's voice was tense.
“The laboratory contacted me.”
“About what?”
“There was a problem with Lily's sample.”
Nathan's stomach dropped.
“What problem?”
“The sample contained two different genetic profiles.”
Silence.
Nathan couldn't breathe.
“That isn't possible.”
“I know.”
“Then explain it.”
“We're rerunning the test.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
Nathan looked toward the staircase.
Lily was asleep upstairs.
His daughter.
Or so he believed.
Daniel's voice lowered.
“Nathan, there's something else.”
“What?”
“The first sample doesn't match only you.”
Nathan froze.
“Whose DNA does it match?”
Daniel hesitated.
“We don't know yet.”
“Find out.”
“We're trying.”
Nathan hung up.
He stood alone in the hallway.
Then he heard footsteps behind him.
Lily.
She was standing at the top of the stairs.
Her stuffed rabbit was in her arms.
“Daddy?”
Nathan looked up.
“Yes?”
She smiled.
“I had a dream.”
“What kind?”
“Mommy was crying.”
Nathan's heart tightened.
“Did she say anything?”
Lily nodded.
“She said…”
The child paused.
Then whispered:
“Don't let them take me again.”
Nathan's blood ran cold.
“Again?”
Lily looked confused.
“Yes.”
“When did they take you before?”
She pointed toward the dark hallway behind her.
“Before Mommy found you.”
Nathan slowly climbed the stairs.
“What do you remember?”
Lily hugged her rabbit.
“A room.”
“What room?”
“A white room.”
“Who was there?”
She looked at him.
“A man.”
“Who?”
Lily's eyes widened.
Then she whispered:
“He looked like you.”
Nathan stopped.
“What?”
“He said he was Daddy.”
Nathan's heart slammed against his ribs.
He stared at his four-year-old daughter.
And suddenly the DNA test wasn't about proving whether Lily was his.
It was about discovering which version of the truth had been stolen from him.
Downstairs, Nathan's phone vibrated again.
A new message.
No number.
No name.
Only one sentence:
YOUR FATHER DIDN'T HAVE ONE SECRET CHILD. HE HAD TWO.
Nathan looked toward Lily.
May you like
And for the first time, he wondered whether the greatest secret his family had buried wasn't Lily's existence—
but the identity of the child who had been taken before she ever reached his arms.
