CHAPTER 6 — THE SECOND DNA TEST
CHAPTER 6 — THE SECOND DNA TEST
The man's voice disappeared into the darkness.
For three seconds, nobody moved.
Then the emergency lights flickered on.
Red.
Dim.
Unsteady.
I saw him standing at the far end of the private room.
Tall.
Older.
Perhaps in his late fifties.
Silver threaded through his dark hair.
He wore an expensive charcoal coat, perfectly tailored, and held a cane in one hand.
But it wasn't the cane that caught my attention.
It was his face.
There was something disturbingly familiar about it.
Not because I knew him.
Because I had seen his eyes before.
In photographs.
In old family albums.
In the face of my father.
I tightened my arms around Emma.
“Who are you?”
The man smiled.
“My name is Adrian Vale.”
Luka immediately stepped in front of me.
“Stay away from her.”
Adrian's expression barely changed.
“You're still playing the protector.”
“And you're still hiding behind other people.”
Adrian looked at him.
“Your father taught you that?”
Luka's jaw tightened.
“My father is dead.”
“So is mine.”
I stared at Adrian.
“You knew my father.”
“I knew him very well.”
“Were you friends?”
“No.”
“Enemies?”
Adrian smiled.
“Something more complicated.”
I looked at the letter.
Then at him.
“Did you write this?”
“No.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because your father left something that belongs to me.”
I shook my head.
“Everything in this room belongs to my family.”
Adrian's eyes moved toward Emma.
“Not everything.”
My body stiffened.
“What do you want?”
“Her.”
Luka stepped forward.
“No.”
Adrian sighed.
“You've always been predictable.”
“You've always been a coward.”
Adrian's smile disappeared.
“Careful.”
Luka didn't move.
Neither did I.
Then Adrian said something that made my heart stop.
“Ask him about the first DNA test.”
I looked at Luka.
“What first DNA test?”
He didn't answer.
“Luka.”
Nothing.
Adrian smiled.
“There it is.”
“What?”
“The look.”
“What look?”
“The look of a woman discovering that the man she trusted has another secret.”
I turned toward Luka.
“Did you test Emma?”
He finally spoke.
“Before she was born.”
My breath caught.
“What?”
“It wasn't an official test.”
“Then what was it?”
“A preliminary genetic screen.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know Daniel wasn't the father?”
Luka hesitated.
“Yes.”
I felt betrayed all over again.
“And you didn't tell me?”
“I didn't know whether the result was genuine.”
“You knew enough to lie.”
“I was trying to protect you.”
“Stop saying that!”
My voice echoed through the room.
“You don't get to use protection as an excuse every time you lie to me.”
Luka looked away.
Adrian watched silently.
I turned back to him.
“What does he mean?”
Adrian's smile returned.
“The first test was altered.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“Your husband arranged for the sample to be changed.”
Luka looked at him.
“That's not what happened.”
“Then tell her.”
Luka was silent.
I stepped toward him.
“Tell me.”
He took a breath.
“The sample Daniel provided was not Emma's.”
I stared.
“What?”
“Someone substituted it.”
“Who?”
“We don't know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“No.”
“Then what do you expect?”
“The second test.”
I looked at the black case on the table.
“You brought one?”
Luka nodded.
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because I knew we would eventually need it.”
Adrian laughed softly.
“Always prepared.”
Luka ignored him.
He opened the case.
Inside was a sterile testing kit.
Two small containers.
A swab.
A sealed strip.
And a biometric scanner.
I stared at it.
“This is legitimate?”
“Yes.”
“Independent?”
“Yes.”
“Who processes it?”
“A laboratory outside Meridian.”
“Who owns it?”
“No one connected to either family.”
I looked at Adrian.
“And you?”
“Not involved.”
“Can I trust that?”
“You shouldn't trust anyone.”
I almost laughed.
That seemed to be the only truth everyone agreed on.
I looked at Emma.
She was still crying.
I touched her cheek.
“I need to know.”
Luka nodded.
“Then we'll know.”
The test took less than five minutes.
The waiting would take twelve hours.
Twelve hours had never seemed so long.
We left the private room through a hidden exit.
Adrian didn't stop us.
That frightened me.
If he wanted Emma, why had he simply allowed us to walk away?
I asked Luka.
He gave me an answer I didn't like.
“Because he knows something we don't.”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why aren't you worried?”
“I am.”
“You don't look worried.”
“That's because I've learned not to show it.”
We returned to the farmhouse before sunrise.
Emma finally slept.
I sat beside her.
Luka remained in the kitchen.
Neither of us spoke.
Eventually I said:
“Tell me about the first test.”
He looked at me.
“Everything.”
He nodded.
“Daniel became suspicious during your pregnancy.”
“Of what?”
“Your medical results.”
“Why?”
“Your pregnancy didn't follow normal genetic patterns.”
“What does that mean?”
“You were carrying a child with M-17 markers.”
“I thought I was never tested.”
“You weren't.”
“Then how did he know?”
“Your father had left records.”
“With whom?”
“Daniel's father.”
My stomach tightened.
“Richard.”
“Yes.”
“Then Richard knew before Emma was born.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't he take her?”
“Because he wasn't sure the mutation had stabilized.”
“So they waited.”
“Yes.”
“For the birth.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel?”
“Was ordered to report everything.”
I closed my eyes.
“So my husband was spying on my pregnancy.”
“Yes.”
“Every appointment.”
“Yes.”
“Every scan.”
“Yes.”
“The night I gave birth…”
Luka nodded.
“He reported it.”
I felt sick.
“That night, Daniel didn't leave because he didn't love us.”
“He left because Richard ordered him to.”
“But he still chose to go.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Emma.
“Why did he sign the papers?”
“He didn't.”
“What?”
“He refused.”
“Why?”
“Because he knew the signature would give Meridian legal access to Emma.”
I stared at him.
“But he didn't sign as father.”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
Luka didn't answer.
My blood ran cold.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because someone had to claim responsibility before they could.”
I looked at him.
“You forged a legal document.”
“No.”
“I saw you sign it.”
“The nurse didn't submit it.”
“What?”
“It was a temporary emergency designation.”
I frowned.
“Then why did you do it?”
“Because if the hospital had listed Daniel as father, Richard could have legally removed Emma.”
I understood.
But I still couldn't forgive the deception.
“You should have told me.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because you would have refused.”
“I would have.”
“I know.”
I looked away.
“That's the problem.”
“What?”
“You keep making decisions for me.”
Luka was silent.
“I don't need another man deciding what's best for me.”
“I know.”
“I've already had one husband do that.”
“I know.”
“And I won't let it happen again.”
He nodded.
“Then from now on, you decide.”
I looked at him.
“Even if I make the wrong decision?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it puts Emma in danger?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it puts you in danger?”
He smiled faintly.
“Especially then.”
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then my phone rang.
Daniel.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Why did you send me to the station?”
“I didn't.”
My heart stopped.
“What?”
“I never sent that message.”
I looked at Luka.
Daniel continued.
“Someone used my phone.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“Your father?”
“Maybe.”
“Daniel…”
“What?”
“Were you ever at the private room?”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Why?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Your father's confession.”
I swallowed.
“What did it say?”
“I can't tell you over the phone.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know who's listening.”
“Then tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“Is Emma my daughter?”
Silence.
“Daniel?”
His voice broke.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
“Biologically?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Luka.
He remained motionless.
Daniel continued.
“I swear she's mine.”
“Then why does everyone say she isn't?”
“Because they need you to doubt me.”
“Why?”
“Because if you believe I'm her father, you'll trust me.”
I frowned.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It will.”
“Daniel, tell me the truth.”
“I am.”
“You've lied to me for years.”
“I know.”
“Then prove it.”
“I will.”
“How?”
“I'll meet you.”
“Where?”
“Not yet.”
“Daniel.”
“Wait for the test results.”
My heart stopped.
“You know about the second test?”
He went silent.
“Daniel?”
He whispered:
“Don't let Moretti see them.”
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
Luka noticed.
“What did he say?”
I didn't answer.
He understood.
“About the test?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
Luka looked at me.
“You're lying.”
I smiled bitterly.
“Now you know how it feels.”
He didn't argue.
At noon, a courier arrived.
Black envelope.
No return address.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
THE RESULT IS READY.
Underneath:
PRIVATE ROOM.
I looked at Luka.
He shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“It's a trap.”
“Then why send the result?”
“They want us to go back.”
“Maybe because that's where the truth is.”
“Or because they want Emma.”
I thought about Adrian.
Richard.
Daniel.
Sofia.
My father.
Everyone had a different version of the truth.
Everyone claimed to be protecting someone.
And every lie somehow led back to my daughter.
“We're going.”
Luka looked at me.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I'm done being afraid of rooms.”
He almost smiled.
“Your father would have said the same.”
We returned to the estate that evening.
The hidden corridor was empty.
The private room was unlocked.
Inside was a single envelope.
This time, it carried no name.
Only a number.
M-17-02.
Luka picked it up.
I stopped him.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“I'll open it.”
I took the envelope.
My hands shook.
I tore it open.
Inside was the DNA report.
I read the first line.
Then the second.
My heart began pounding.
I read it again.
The result was clear.
PATERNITY: 99.9998%
I couldn't breathe.
I looked at the name.
BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DANIEL BENNETT
My knees weakened.
Luka caught me.
I pushed him away.
“It's Daniel.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
“Then why did Richard lie?”
“To make you doubt him.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
I stared at the report.
“Daniel is her father.”
“Yes.”
“Then that's settled.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
He pointed to the bottom of the page.
“Read the second section.”
I did.
And my blood ran cold.
There were two DNA profiles.
One marked:
FATHER — DANIEL BENNETT
The other:
MATERNAL CONTRIBUTION — VERIFIED
But beneath that was a third line.
ADDITIONAL GENETIC CONTRIBUTION DETECTED.
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
Luka's face had gone pale.
“Read the next line.”
I did.
UNKNOWN MALE CONTRIBUTION: 17.4%
My hands began shaking.
“That's impossible.”
“No.”
“It's contaminated.”
“Maybe.”
“Then why is it on the report?”
“I don't know.”
“Can you explain it?”
Luka stared at the numbers.
“Not yet.”
I looked at the report.
“Does that mean another man contributed DNA?”
“Yes.”
“But Daniel is her father.”
“Yes.”
“Then what is this?”
“I don't know.”
I felt dizzy.
“Could it be from me?”
“No.”
“Could it be from the pregnancy?”
“No.”
“Then whose is it?”
Luka didn't answer.
A sound came from behind us.
A slow clap.
We turned.
Adrian stood in the doorway.
He looked at the report.
Then at me.
And smiled.
“Now you understand.”
I stepped backward.
“Understand what?”
He walked toward us.
“The second DNA test wasn't supposed to prove Daniel was the father.”
He pointed to the unknown contribution.
“It was supposed to prove something else.”
“What?”
Adrian's eyes moved to Luka.
“That M-17 isn't simply inherited.”
He looked back at me.
“It was engineered.”
My blood froze.
“By whom?”
Adrian smiled.
“Your father.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“He wouldn't.”
“He did.”
“Why?”
Adrian's voice became quiet.
“Because he discovered that natural M-17 carriers were dying.”
I stared.
“So he created a stable version.”
“Yes.”
“And Emma…”
“Is the first successful result.”
I held my daughter tighter.
“She wasn't born with it.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at the report.
“She was designed to carry it.”
My heart shattered.
“You're lying.”
“Ask Luka.”
I looked at him.
“Luka?”
He said nothing.
“Tell me.”
He closed his eyes.
“Adrian is partly right.”
“Partly?”
“Your father modified the genetic sequence.”
I felt sick.
“Before I became pregnant?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
“Then why do you know?”
“Because I helped him.”
I stared.
“You?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Six years ago.”
I looked at the report.
Then at Luka.
Then at Emma.
“You were there when my father created this?”
“Yes.”
“And you never told me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because he made me promise.”
“What promise?”
“That I would never tell you unless the child survived.”
I looked at my daughter.
“She survived.”
“Yes.”
“Then you broke your promise.”
“No.”
“What?”
“Your father gave me a second instruction.”
“What?”
Luka's eyes filled with something like grief.
“He told me that if Emma survived…”
He paused.
“…I had to take her away from you.”
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
“Why?”
“Because your father believed you would never be able to protect her.”
I shook my head.
“You've been planning to take my daughter?”
“No.”
“You just said—”
“I changed my mind.”
“Why?”
He looked at Emma.
“Because I finally understood your father was wrong.”
I couldn't speak.
Luka stepped toward me.
“I don't want to take her.”
“Then what do you want?”
“To give her a choice.”
“She is a newborn.”
“I know.”
“Then what choice?”
He pointed toward the report.
“When she grows up, she deserves to know what was done to her.”
I looked at the document.
“Engineered.”
“Yes.”
“Modified.”
“Yes.”
“Without my consent.”
“Yes.”
I felt rage.
“Then my father wasn't protecting me.”
Luka said nothing.
“He was using me.”
“No.”
“How is that different?”
“He loved you.”
“That doesn't excuse it.”
“No.”
I looked down at Emma.
My little girl.
My innocent child.
And for the first time, I wondered whether her birth had been a miracle—
or a project.
Then the door behind Adrian opened.
Daniel walked in.
Blood covered his shirt.
He looked at me.
Then at the report.
His face collapsed.
“No.”
I stared.
“Daniel?”
He stepped toward me.
“Give me the report.”
“Why?”
“Because you can't read the last page.”
“What last page?”
His eyes filled with terror.
“The one they don't want you to see.”
I looked down.
There was, indeed, another page.
Hidden beneath the report.
I pulled it free.
At the top was a heading:
GENETIC CONTRIBUTION — M-17 PROJECT
And beneath it was a name.
I read it.
My heart stopped.
I looked at Luka.
Then Daniel.
Then Adrian.
The name belonged to a man who had supposedly died six years earlier.
My father.
ALEXANDER BENNETT.
I couldn't breathe.
Daniel whispered:
“That's why they killed him.”
I stared at the impossible result.
My father's DNA was inside my daughter.
And beneath his name was one final line:
CONTRIBUTION CONFIRMED: 17.4%
The room went silent.
Then Emma began to cry.
And somewhere beneath the estate, a hidden alarm suddenly started ringing.
Luka looked toward the ceiling.
“They found us.”
Daniel turned pale.
“Who?”
Luka reached for his weapon.
“The people who know what M-17-02 really means.”
Adrian smiled.
“No.”
He looked at Emma.
“They aren't coming for the baby.”
His expression changed.
“They're coming for the father.”
I looked at Daniel.
Then Luka.
And suddenly the question wasn't simply who fathered my daughter?
May you like
It was much worse.
Why did my dead father contribute seventeen-point-four percent of her DNA?
