Chapter 9 — The DNA File
Chapter 9 — The DNA File
The pounding on the hospital door became louder.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
Khloe flinched.
Marcus moved in front of her.
Dr. Caldwell stood beside the locked door, his face drained of color.
“Who is outside?” Marcus demanded.
Caldwell shook his head.
“I don't know.”
“You said they found us.”
“I knew they would eventually.”
Marcus stared at him.
“You'd better start explaining.”
Caldwell looked toward Khloe.
“There isn't enough time.”
“Then make time.”
Another violent impact shook the door.
The lock groaned.
Khloe gripped the blanket.
“Marcus…”
He turned immediately.
“I'm here.”
Her eyes were frightened.
“What are they going to do?”
Marcus took her hand.
“They're not getting near you.”
Caldwell opened a hidden panel beneath the desk.
“There.”
A narrow passage appeared behind the wall.
Marcus stared.
“You built an escape route?”
“The hospital was designed by Sterling Medical.”
Caldwell looked at him.
“Your family has been hiding rooms beneath this building for decades.”
Marcus helped Khloe stand.
“Then let's go.”
Before they could move, the door burst open.
Two armed men entered.
Caldwell reacted instantly.
He pulled a fire extinguisher from the wall and slammed it into the first man's arm.
Marcus grabbed the second.
The struggle lasted seconds.
Then security officers rushed in.
The men were restrained.
Marcus looked at Caldwell.
“You knew they were coming.”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Caldwell pointed to one of the attackers.
“Look at his badge.”
Marcus bent down.
The man wore a Sterling Medical security insignia.
Marcus stared.
“They're hospital security.”
Caldwell nodded.
“Exactly.”
They escaped through the hidden corridor.
Khloe leaned heavily against Marcus.
Her breathing was shallow.
“Where are we going?”
“To somewhere safe.”
Caldwell led them through a series of underground tunnels.
After several minutes, they reached a steel door.
Caldwell entered a code.
The door opened.
Inside was a small room containing computers, files, and medical equipment.
Marcus stared.
“What is this?”
“The original Sterling genetic archive.”
Khloe looked around.
“Why is this under a hospital?”
Caldwell answered:
“Because the Sterling family has been tracking its bloodline for generations.”
Marcus turned.
“And my child?”
Caldwell nodded.
“The latest entry.”
He approached a computer.
“There is one file you need to see.”
Marcus moved closer.
A folder appeared.
PROJECT DAWN — DNA VERIFICATION.
Marcus opened it.
The first page showed his name.
The second showed Khloe's.
The third showed their unborn child.
Marcus stared at the numbers.
“What's wrong?”
Caldwell didn't answer.
Marcus looked at him.
“What's wrong?”
“The baby's DNA doesn't match yours.”
Silence.
Khloe's face went white.
“What?”
Marcus stared at the screen.
“That's impossible.”
Caldwell shook his head.
“The test was repeated four times.”
Marcus's hands trembled.
“Run it again.”
“It was.”
“Again.”
“Marcus—”
“Again!”
Caldwell lowered his eyes.
“The result won't change.”
Khloe began crying.
Marcus looked at her.
“I know you're my baby’s father.”
“I don't know what to believe anymore.”
Marcus's heart broke.
“I've never been with anyone else.”
“I know.”
“Then how—”
Caldwell interrupted.
“Because the child is not genetically related to you in the way you think.”
Marcus stared.
“What does that mean?”
Caldwell opened another file.
The screen showed:
PATERNAL LINE: EDWARD STERLING
Marcus frowned.
“What?”
“The baby isn't genetically yours.”
He pointed to the result.
“But the baby is genetically Sterling.”
Marcus felt a chill.
“Then whose child is it?”
Caldwell looked at Khloe.
“That's what the DNA file was designed to hide.”
Marcus stood motionless.
Khloe whispered:
“Marcus, I don't understand.”
Neither did he.
Caldwell opened the deeper genetic report.
“The baby shares 99.97% of its relevant markers with Edward Sterling.”
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It does if the bloodline was artificially preserved.”
Marcus stared.
“Artificially?”
Caldwell nodded.
“Your father discovered that Edward Sterling had undergone experimental fertility treatment decades ago.”
“What does that have to do with my child?”
“The treatment created a stored genetic lineage.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“Stored?”
“Embryonic material.”
Khloe covered her mouth.
“No.”
Caldwell continued.
“Your grandfather secretly preserved several embryos carrying the original Sterling genetic markers.”
Marcus felt sick.
“So my child…”
“Was conceived using one of them.”
Khloe stared at him.
“That's impossible.”
Marcus looked at Caldwell.
“Who used it?”
Caldwell hesitated.
“Your mother.”
Marcus's blood ran cold.
“My mother?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Before she disappeared.”
Marcus shook his head.
“You're telling me my mother created my child?”
“No.”
Caldwell looked at Khloe.
“She selected the genetic material.”
Khloe's eyes widened.
“She knew about me?”
“She chose you because your genetics were compatible.”
Marcus stared at Khloe.
“That's why she was targeted.”
Caldwell nodded.
“She was the only woman capable of carrying the embryo.”
Khloe touched her stomach.
“Then this baby…”
“Is biologically Sterling.”
“But not biologically Marcus.”
Caldwell nodded.
Marcus closed his eyes.
His entire marriage suddenly felt like a carefully constructed plan.
He looked at Khloe.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
Her voice broke.
“I swear.”
Marcus believed her.
Because the fear in her eyes was real.
Then another question hit him.
“Why was I chosen?”
Caldwell looked at him.
“You weren't.”
Marcus froze.
“You were never part of the original plan.”
Khloe stared.
“What?”
Caldwell continued.
“Your mother expected Khloe to carry the embryo for the Sterling Trust.”
“But why marry me?”
“She didn't arrange your marriage.”
Marcus stared.
“Then who did?”
Caldwell's silence was terrifying.
“Vivian.”
The room fell silent.
Marcus felt betrayed from every direction.
“Vivian arranged my marriage?”
“She believed you were the only person who could protect Khloe.”
Marcus shook his head.
“She tried to separate us.”
“Because she changed her mind.”
“Why?”
“Because she became convinced the Sterling fortune was more important than your happiness.”
Khloe looked at Marcus.
“So our marriage began because of them.”
Marcus nodded slowly.
“But it became real because of us.”
Khloe reached for his hand.
He held it.
Then the computer beeped.
A new result appeared.
LEGAL PATERNITY STATUS: DISPUTED.
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Caldwell opened the legal section.
“The Sterling Trust doesn't recognize biological fatherhood alone.”
“What does it recognize?”
“Genetic lineage.”
Marcus stared.
“So whoever has the strongest Sterling DNA can control the trust?”
“Yes.”
“And the baby?”
“The baby has the strongest.”
“Then who has legal control?”
Caldwell looked at him.
“Not you.”
Marcus's face hardened.
“Who?”
“The baby's legal guardian.”
Marcus froze.
“Khloe.”
Caldwell nodded.
“She becomes the controlling beneficiary upon birth.”
Khloe stared.
“But I don't want their money.”
“You don't have a choice.”
“Why?”
“Because the trust automatically transfers authority to the mother carrying the Sterling heir.”
Marcus looked at the screen.
“And if Khloe dies?”
Caldwell swallowed.
“Control transfers to the nearest verified Sterling relative.”
Marcus's expression changed.
“Isabella.”
“Yes.”
Khloe whispered:
“So if they kill me…”
“Isabella controls everything.”
Marcus understood.
The attacks on Khloe weren't only about the baby.
They were about the legal succession.
The computer suddenly displayed another document.
EMERGENCY SUCCESSION AMENDMENT.
Marcus opened it.
His mother's signature appeared.
But beneath it was another signature.
Marcus recognized it immediately.
Alexander Vale.
Marcus stared.
“He signed this?”
Caldwell nodded.
“Vale was appointed emergency trustee.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Then he's controlling the money.”
“Not exactly.”
“Explain.”
“The trust is divided into three levels.”
“Who controls the first?”
“Vale.”
“The second?”
“Khloe.”
“And the third?”
Caldwell looked at the unborn child.
“The child.”
Marcus stared.
“Then why is Vale helping us?”
“Because your father trusted him.”
Marcus frowned.
“And Isabella?”
“She's the wildcard.”
“How?”
“Because Isabella's DNA gives her a claim to the original Sterling branch.”
Marcus looked at the file.
“Can she challenge Khloe?”
“Yes.”
“And if she wins?”
“She becomes legal controller.”
Khloe's face went pale.
“Then why hasn't she?”
Caldwell looked at her.
“Because someone altered her DNA records.”
Marcus immediately understood.
“Vivian.”
“No.”
Caldwell shook his head.
“Your mother.”
Marcus stared at him.
“My mother altered Isabella's DNA records?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To prevent Isabella from inheriting.”
“Then why did she protect her?”
“Because she loved her.”
Marcus shook his head.
“This makes no sense.”
“It will.”
Caldwell opened another file.
A genetic comparison appeared.
ISABELLA THORNE — 99.1% STERLING MATCH.
Then another.
KHLOE THORNE — 98.7% STERLING MATCH.
Marcus frowned.
“Khloe isn't as closely related.”
“No.”
“Then how can she control the trust?”
“Because she is carrying the heir.”
Marcus looked at the final result.
UNBORN CHILD — 99.97% STERLING MATCH.
The numbers were overwhelming.
Then something else appeared.
MATERNAL LINE: UNIDENTIFIED.
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Caldwell froze.
“We don't know.”
“Then test it.”
“We can't.”
“Why?”
“Because the mother's genetic profile has been deliberately erased.”
Khloe stared.
“My mother?”
Caldwell nodded.
“Someone removed your maternal records.”
“Who?”
Caldwell looked at Marcus.
“Your mother.”
Khloe's face crumpled.
“Why would she do that?”
Caldwell didn't answer.
Then a voice came from the doorway.
“Because she was protecting you.”
Everyone turned.
Alexander Vale stood there.
Marcus immediately moved in front of Khloe.
“You.”
Vale raised both hands.
“I came alone.”
“How did you get in?”
“Your uncle gave me access.”
Marcus turned toward David.
David wasn't there.
Vale continued:
“You need to listen.”
Marcus didn't move.
“Talk.”
Vale looked at the DNA report.
“You found the truth.”
“What truth?”
“That Khloe isn't who she thinks she is.”
Khloe stared.
“What are you saying?”
Vale looked at her.
“Your mother wasn't an ordinary woman.”
Khloe's face went pale.
“Who was she?”
Vale hesitated.
Then he said:
“Vivian's sister.”
Silence.
Marcus stared.
Khloe's breathing stopped.
“That means…”
Vale nodded.
“You are part of the original Sterling bloodline.”
Khloe touched her stomach.
“And my baby?”
Vale looked at her.
“Your baby is the first child in seventy years with a complete genetic claim to the Sterling Legacy.”
Marcus understood.
The child wasn't merely an heir.
The child was the legal bridge between two branches of the family.
The branch that had been erased.
And the branch that had survived.
But Vale wasn't finished.
He placed another file on the table.
“There's one more result.”
Marcus opened it.
The words made his blood freeze.
PATERNITY: UNKNOWN.
Below it:
GENETIC FATHER — LIVING.
Marcus looked up.
“What?”
Vale's expression was grim.
“The biological father of Khloe's unborn child is alive.”
Marcus stared at Khloe.
She looked just as shocked.
“That's impossible.”
Vale shook his head.
“No.”
He pointed at the screen.
“It's very possible.”
Marcus's voice became dangerously quiet.
“Who is he?”
Vale looked toward the door.
Before he could answer, the lights went out.
A gunshot echoed through the underground archive.
Khloe screamed.
Marcus pulled her to the floor.
Caldwell dropped beside them.
When the emergency lights came on, Vale was gone.
May you like
And on the computer screen, one final message had appeared:
THE FATHER HAS COME HOME.
