Chapter 4: The DNA Test My Mother Had Ordered
For a moment, I couldn't move.
The words on the envelope seemed to blur in front of me.
*PATERNITY TEST RESULTS.*
My mother stood beside the coffee table, clutching her handbag. Brielle was crying. Nia sat frozen in her chair, both hands wrapped protectively around her stomach.
I looked at the envelope.
Then at my wife.
Then at my mother.
"Tell me this is a joke.""
Nobody answered.
I picked up the envelope and pulled out the report.
It was three pages long. The first page contained laboratory information, sample identification numbers, and a date from two weeks earlier.
I read the names.
Marcus Williams.
Unborn Child of Nia Williams.
My stomach twisted.
"Who ordered this?""
Diane lifted her chin.
"I did.""
I stared at her.
"You ordered a DNA test on my unborn child?""
"I had concerns.""
"What concerns?""
She glanced at Nia.
"Things weren't adding up.""
I felt my hands begin to shake.
"Explain what wasn't adding up.""
Brielle wiped her cheeks.
"Marcus, please don't make Mom look like a monster. She was worried.""
I turned toward her.
"Did I ask you?""
She fell silent.
I looked down at the report.
The conclusion was printed in bold letters.
*Probability of paternity: 0.00%.*
For a second, the room became completely silent.
Then I heard Nia make a small sound behind me.
Not a scream.
Not even a sob.
Just a quiet, wounded breath.
I turned.
She was staring at the paper as if it had physically struck her.
"Nia?""
She shook her head.
"I don't understand.""
I walked toward her.
"Sweetheart, look at me.""
She raised her eyes.
There was fear in them.
But beneath that fear was something else.
Disbelief.
"Marcus, I have never been with anyone else.""
I took her hands.
"I know.""
She blinked.
"You haven't even read the report.""
"I don't need to.""
My mother scoffed.
"That's convenient.""
I slowly turned.
"Be very careful what you say next.""
Diane pointed toward the document.
"Are you going to ignore scientific evidence because you're afraid of hurting her feelings?""
I looked at the report again.
There was a laboratory name at the top.
But something caught my attention.
The date.
The test had supposedly been conducted two weeks earlier.
I remembered that period clearly. Nia had been dealing with a severe bout of morning sickness. She had barely left the house.
"How did you obtain her sample?""
My mother looked away.
"That's not important.""
"It is the most important question in this room.""
Brielle suddenly spoke.
"Mom said she had a way.""
I turned toward her.
"What way?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"Stop saying you don't know. You helped arrange this.""
Brielle started crying harder.
"Mom said she only needed something Nia had touched.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She said she collected a sample from a glass.""
Nia slowly looked up.
"A glass?""
Diane immediately interrupted.
"That is enough.""
I looked at my mother.
"Did you take something belonging to my wife and send it to a laboratory?""
"It was just a precaution.""
"Without her consent?""
"I was protecting you!""
I laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
"You stole my wife's DNA, ordered a test behind our backs, and then used the result to justify trying to take my child?""
My mother folded her arms.
"You're twisting everything.""
I placed the report on the table.
"Then explain the laboratory.""
She refused to answer.
I took out my phone and photographed the report.
Then I called Daniel again.
He answered immediately.
"Marcus?""
"There's another document.""
"What kind?""
"A prenatal paternity test. My mother says she ordered it.""
Daniel went quiet.
"Do not rely on that document yet. Send me a copy.""
I forwarded the photographs.
A few seconds passed.
Then Daniel spoke.
"Marcus, this is concerning.""
"Why?""
"Because the report appears to reference a non-invasive prenatal paternity test, but the sample information is incomplete. I can't verify the laboratory or the testing procedure from these pages.""
"Can you investigate?""
"Yes. But I want you to understand something. A report with a laboratory logo isn't automatically authentic, and even an authentic report is only as reliable as the samples and procedures behind it.""
I looked at Diane.
"Thank you.""
Daniel continued.
"Don't confront anyone physically. Keep the original documents. I'll contact the laboratory through independently verified channels.""
I ended the call.
My mother looked furious.
"You called your lawyer over a family issue?""
"Yes.""
"You're unbelievable.""
"No, Mom. What's unbelievable is that you thought you could do this and nobody would question you.""
Nia was still staring at the report.
I crouched in front of her.
"Listen to me. Nothing on that paper changes what I know about you.""
Her lower lip trembled.
"What if someone believes it?""
"Then we'll show them the truth.""
She touched my cheek.
"I didn't do anything.""
"I know.""
For the first time since I had entered the house, she began to cry openly.
I pulled her into my arms.
She buried her face against my shoulder.
Behind us, my mother made a frustrated noise.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Marcus.""
I didn't turn around.
"Leave.""
Diane looked stunned.
"What?""
"You and Brielle. Both of you. Leave my house.""
Brielle picked up her handbag.
"Marcus, please. I didn't mean for things to get this bad.""
I looked at her.
"You contacted my wife's doctor without permission. You participated in preparing a guardianship agreement. You helped Mom obtain private information about my wife's pregnancy. What exactly did you think would happen?""
She lowered her head.
Diane grabbed her arm.
"Come on, Brielle. We're not staying here to be insulted.""
As they reached the front door, my mother turned back.
"You'll regret choosing her over your own blood.""
I looked at Nia.
Then at the woman who had raised me.
"She's carrying my child. That's my blood too.""
Diane slammed the door.
For several minutes, neither Nia nor I spoke.
I gathered the papers and placed them in a folder.
Then I checked the locks.
When I returned, Nia was standing near the kitchen doorway.
"Marcus?""
"Yes, sweetheart?""
She hesitated.
"There's something else.""
I stopped.
"What?""
She looked toward the front door.
"Your mother didn't just ask me questions about the baby.""
My stomach tightened.
"What else did she do?""
Nia reached into the pocket of her blouse and pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
It was a hospital appointment card.
On the back, someone had written a telephone number and a short message.
I read it.
If Marcus asks about the test, tell him you agreed to it.
I looked up.
"Who gave you this?""
Nia swallowed.
"Brielle.""
"When?""
"Three days ago.""
I stared at the handwriting.
Then Nia whispered:
"She also told me that if I refused to cooperate, your mother would make sure I never got to bring the baby home.""
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
Because suddenly, the fake-looking DNA report wasn't the only thing I needed to investigate.
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My family had been threatening my wife long before I came home early.
And I was beginning to suspect they had already taken steps to make those threats real.
