Chapter 6: The DNA Report
I read the report four times.
The first time, I didn't understand it.
The second time, I thought there had been a mistake.
By the third, my hands were shaking.
The document claimed that Maya had no biological relationship to Claire Hayes.
It listed a laboratory, a reference number, and a genetic comparison.
At the bottom was a signature.
Claire's.
I felt as if someone had punched me in the chest.
It was impossible.
I remembered Maya's birth.
I remembered holding Claire's hand in the hospital.
I remembered the first time she placed our daughter in my arms.
There had never been any doubt.
Maya was our child.
So where had this report come from?
I immediately called Jonathan.
He answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"Tell me this is fake.""
"I was hoping you'd contact me.""
"There's a DNA report in Vanessa's court filing.""
"Yes.""
"It says Maya isn't Claire's biological daughter.""
"I know.""
"How can they even make that claim?""
Jonathan sighed.
"The report appears to come from a private laboratory. However, the documentation is incomplete.""
"What does that mean?""
"The sample collection records are missing. There is no verifiable chain of custody.""
I gripped the phone.
"So it could be fabricated?""
"It could be unreliable. We need an independent test.""
"Then arrange one.""
"I've already started the process.""
I paced across the kitchen.
"Why would Vanessa do this?""
"Because if she can establish that Maya isn't Claire's biological descendant, she can challenge her inheritance rights.""
I looked toward the living room.
Maya was watching cartoons.
"She knows what she's doing.""
"Marcus, there's something else.""
"What?""
"Your mother submitted a sworn statement supporting the petition.""
I closed my eyes.
"Of course she did.""
Jonathan lowered his voice.
"She claims Claire privately admitted that Maya was adopted and that you knew about it.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"I never adopted Maya. She's my biological daughter.""
"Then we need to prove it.""
I looked down at the document.
"How soon?""
"We can arrange an independent DNA test within forty-eight hours.""
"Do it.""
That afternoon, Vanessa called.
I almost ignored it.
But I wanted to hear what she would say.
"Hello.""
"Marcus, I heard about the filing.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You filed it.""
"Don't be dramatic. I'm trying to protect the family.""
"From a nine-year-old girl?""
"From a situation Claire created.""
I leaned against the counter.
"How dare you?""
"Listen to me. You have no idea what Claire was involved in.""
"Then explain it.""
"She knew Maya's parentage was complicated.""
"She's my daughter.""
Vanessa sighed.
"Marcus, you need to stop saying that as if it answers everything.""
I gripped the phone.
"Are you questioning whether I'm Maya's father?""
"No.""
"Then what exactly are you questioning?""
She didn't answer.
I could hear traffic in the background.
Finally, she said:
"You're making this personal.""
"It is personal. You're trying to take my daughter's inheritance.""
"She doesn't need eight million dollars.""
I went silent.
There it was.
She knew the amount.
"How do you know how much Maya stands to inherit?""
"Because I understand the estate.""
"You're not a trustee.""
"Someone needs to look after the family's interests.""
"My daughter is the family's interest.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Don't pretend you care about family now. You walked out of Daniel's wedding and humiliated everyone.""
I looked at the photograph of Maya on the refrigerator.
"Do you know what she asked me after that wedding?""
Vanessa said nothing.
"She asked whether she was really my daughter.""
There was a pause.
Then Vanessa replied coldly.
"Maybe you should have thought about that before believing everything Claire told you.""
My entire body went still.
"Repeat that.""
"Marcus—"
"Repeat what you just said.""
She hung up.
I stared at the phone.
For the first time, I didn't feel confused.
I felt certain.
My sister knew something about the report.
And I intended to find out exactly what.
The following morning, I took Maya to the independent testing center.
I explained that we needed to do a simple medical check.
She sat in a small chair while a nurse gently rubbed a cotton swab against the inside of her cheek.
"Does this hurt?"" she asked.
"Not at all," the nurse replied.
Maya looked at me.
"Why are we doing this?""
I crouched beside her.
"Just checking some family records, sweetheart.""
She nodded.
Then she asked:
"Will this tell us if I'm really a Hayes?""
My throat tightened.
I took her hand.
"You don't need a test to prove that you're my daughter.""
She smiled.
"Okay.""
The nurse collected the sample.
Then we went for ice cream.
For twenty minutes, Maya talked about her school play, her best friend Olivia, and a boy who had accidentally glued his sleeve to his desk.
I listened to every word.
I wanted those ordinary moments to last forever.
Two days later, Jonathan called.
"Marcus, we have the preliminary results.""
I stood up from my desk.
"Tell me.""
"Your paternity result is confirmed. You're Maya's biological father.""
I closed my eyes.
"Thank God.""
"But there's something unexpected.""
I opened them.
"What?""
"The maternal comparison is also consistent with Claire being Maya's biological mother.""
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
"So Vanessa's report is false.""
"Yes. The independent laboratory found no support for the claim in her filing.""
I leaned against the wall.
"Then we can have the petition dismissed.""
"Probably. But I need you to look at something.""
He emailed me another document.
I opened it.
It was the original laboratory report submitted by Vanessa.
Jonathan had highlighted several sections.
One caught my attention.
The sample collection date.
It was dated two months after Claire's death.
I stared at the screen.
"How could Claire provide a sample after she died?""
"That's precisely the problem.""
I scrolled further.
The report listed a second sample donor.
Eleanor Hayes.
I frowned.
"Why is my mother listed?""
Jonathan spoke carefully.
"Because the report doesn't actually compare Claire's DNA with Maya's.""
I looked at the highlighted section.
It compared Eleanor's genetic profile with Maya's.
And the conclusion stated that the relationship was inconsistent with the claimed maternal connection.
I read the words again.
My mother wasn't Maya's biological grandmother.
But that didn't prove anything about Claire.
My mother's DNA was not Claire's DNA.
The report had been deliberately presented as something it wasn't.
"Vanessa knew this?""
"She submitted it.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Then she's lying to the court.""
"That is something our legal team will address.""
I scrolled down to the final page.
There was an authorization signature.
Eleanor Hayes.
Underneath it was a statement:
I confirm that the child identified as Maya Hayes is not biologically related to my deceased daughter, Claire Hayes.
My mother's signature was unmistakable.
I closed the document.
For a moment, I couldn't hear anything.
Then Jonathan spoke again.
"Marcus, I think we should discuss another possibility.""
"What?""
"Your mother may have known all along that Claire was not her biological daughter either.""
I froze.
"What did you say?""
He continued.
"We've located an older document from Thomas Reed's estate. It suggests that Claire's birth records were altered when she was an infant.""
My mouth went dry.
"Altered how?""
"We don't know yet. But there's a reference to a second birth certificate and an emergency guardianship arrangement.""
I sat down slowly.
"Are you telling me Claire might not have been Eleanor's biological daughter?""
"That's what the document suggests.""
I looked toward the hallway.
Maya was coming downstairs.
She held a drawing in her hands.
"Daddy, look! I drew everyone for the school play.""
I forced a smile.
"That's beautiful, sweetheart.""
She placed it on the table.
There were four figures.
Me.
Maya.
Claire.
And a smaller figure holding a balloon.
"Who's that?"" I asked.
"That's Mommy's daddy.""
I smiled faintly.
"Your grandfather?""
She nodded.
"Mrs. Parker said we can draw people we love even if we never met them.""
I hugged her.
"That's exactly right.""
My phone vibrated again.
An unknown number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke quietly.
"Is this Marcus Hayes?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Patricia Reed. I'm Thomas Reed's former personal assistant.""
I stood.
"How can I help you?""
"I've been trying to reach you since Claire died.""
"Why?""
"Because your mother and sister have been telling a story about Maya that isn't true.""
My grip tightened.
"What story?""
Patricia took a shaky breath.
"Marcus, Claire was not the daughter Thomas Reed believed he had lost.""
I looked at Maya's drawing.
Then Patricia said the words that changed everything.
"She was the daughter he had spent thirty years trying to find.""
May you like
A pause.
"And Eleanor knows exactly where she came from.""
