Chapter 10: The Father Behind the DNA Report
For several seconds, I couldn't take my eyes off the DNA report.
The letters blurred.
The numbers seemed to move across the page.
*Paternity probability: 0%.*
I read it again.
Then a third time.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Richard stood beside the dresser, looking uncomfortable.
"Your mother knew about the results.""
I slowly lifted my head.
"How long?""
"Since before you married Daniel.""
I felt something inside me break.
My mother had known.
She had known that the man I called my father wasn't biologically related to me, and she had never said a word.
"Who is my father, Richard?""
He looked toward Daniel.
My husband was standing near the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"Tell her," Daniel said.
Richard hesitated.
"Your biological father was Edward Carter.""
The room went silent.
I stared at him.
"Edward?""
Daniel's father.
The man who had supposedly died six years earlier.
The man whose business Daniel claimed Thomas had destroyed.
I shook my head.
"No. My mother would never—"
"Your mother and Edward had a relationship before she married Thomas," Richard interrupted.
"It ended before you were born, but she discovered she was pregnant shortly afterward.""
I looked at Madeline.
She was just as shocked.
"Then Thomas knew?"" she asked.
Richard nodded.
"He knew Nia wasn't his biological daughter. But he raised her as his own.""
I gripped the edge of the dresser.
"Why?""
"Because he loved your mother. And because he loved you.""
I wanted to believe that.
I wanted to remember the father who taught me to ride a bicycle, who kissed my forehead before bedtime, who held my hand when I was afraid of thunderstorms.
But now every memory seemed to carry a question.
Was he protecting me?
Was he protecting my mother?
Or was he protecting a secret?
Daniel finally spoke.
"Now you understand.""
I turned toward him.
"Understand what?""
"Why your mother was so desperate to keep the company away from my family.""
"Because she didn't trust you.""
"Because she knew the truth about my father.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Your father was a criminal.""
Daniel's expression darkened.
"Watch your mouth.""
"Did he murder Thomas?""
Daniel stepped toward me.
"Don't make accusations you can't prove.""
Mr. Bennett immediately moved between us.
"That's enough.""
Daniel looked at him.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you? Watching her family fall apart?""
Mr. Bennett's voice remained steady.
"No. I'm watching you run out of lies.""
Richard picked up the DNA report.
"There is another matter we need to address.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
"The original trust was established by Thomas. Although he wasn't your biological father, he legally adopted you when you were three months old.""
My chest tightened.
"Then I'm still his daughter.""
"Legally, yes. And according to the trust, you remain a beneficiary.""
Daniel laughed.
"Unless the adoption was obtained through fraudulent information.""
I stared at him.
"What are you talking about?""
He reached into his jacket and removed a folded document.
"Your biological father was Edward Carter. That makes you my half-sister.""
The words landed like a slap.
Madeline gasped.
Daniel continued.
"And if the court determines that the adoption was improperly obtained to secure Thomas's inheritance, the entire trust could be challenged.""
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
"That's ridiculous. Thomas voluntarily adopted Nia. He knew exactly what he was doing.""
Daniel smiled.
"Then prove it.""
I looked at Richard.
"Is the adoption valid?""
He nodded slowly.
"Yes. I have the original court records.""
Daniel's smile disappeared.
"But there's a complication," Richard added.
I closed my eyes.
"What now?""
"The original adoption application contains a statement from Edward Carter.""
I looked at him.
"What statement?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"Edward formally acknowledged that he was your biological father and voluntarily surrendered his parental rights.""
I felt dizzy.
"Why would he do that?""
"Because he agreed that Thomas would raise you.""
Daniel looked furious.
"That document shouldn't exist.""
Mr. Bennett turned toward him.
"Why? Because it proves your father willingly gave up any claim to Nia?""
Daniel didn't answer.
I looked at my husband.
For the first time, I understood the depth of his hatred.
He hadn't simply wanted the Whitmore fortune.
He had wanted to punish the family that had raised his half-sister as its own.
"Did you know?"" I asked him.
He looked at me.
"Know what?""
"That Edward was my father.""
Daniel was silent.
Then he nodded.
"Yes.""
"Since when?""
"Before our wedding.""
My throat tightened.
"You married me knowing?""
He shrugged.
"At first, I didn't know the entire truth.""
"How long?""
"About a year.""
I stared at him.
A year.
For seven years, he had slept beside me knowing something that could have changed my entire understanding of my family.
"Did you ever intend to tell me?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"No.""
Madeline stepped closer.
"You're disgusting.""
He turned toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
"You married your own half-sister.""
Daniel's face twisted.
"I didn't know when we married.""
"But you knew afterward!""
He said nothing.
I felt sick.
Then something else occurred to me.
"Does that mean you and I share the same father?""
Richard nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked at Daniel.
The man I had loved.
The man I had married.
The man whose child I had once dreamed of having.
He was my half-brother.
I stepped away from him.
"Get away from me.""
Daniel's expression softened for a moment.
"Nia, listen—"
"Don't.""
He reached toward me.
Mr. Bennett pushed his hand away.
Daniel finally lost control.
"You think you're innocent in all this? Your mother lied to you. Thomas lied to you.
Edward lied to everyone. I'm the only person who actually knows what happened.""
I looked at him.
"Then tell me.""
He froze.
"Tell me what happened to Thomas. Tell me why my mother was at his hospital room. Tell me why your father changed the medication.""
Daniel looked toward Richard.
Then toward Patricia.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, he said:
"Because Thomas was going to expose Edward's crimes. And your mother begged him to stop.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because she knew Edward would destroy everything.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Thomas was going to report him. Edward had already arranged the financial transfers. If Thomas went to the authorities, Edward would spend the rest of his life in prison.""
I stared at him.
"And you?""
Daniel's voice became quieter.
"I was there because my father asked me to retrieve the original company documents.""
"Did you?""
He nodded.
"Yes.""
"What happened afterward?""
Daniel looked directly into my eyes.
"My father gave me one instruction.""
"What?""
"Find Thomas's missing ledger. Destroy it. And never let anyone discover what happened in that hospital.""
I looked at the memory card in Mr. Bennett's jacket.
"Then why are you still looking for the recording?""
Daniel's face changed.
"Because the ledger isn't the only thing your father left behind.""
Before anyone could speak, Patricia suddenly stepped forward.
"Daniel, stop.""
He turned toward her.
She was crying.
"Your father made me promise something too.""
Daniel stared at her.
"What?""
Patricia reached into her handbag.
She removed a small envelope and placed it on the dresser.
It was old.
Yellowed.
And addressed in handwriting I recognized immediately.
*To Nia, my daughter.*
I looked at Patricia.
"Where did you get that?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"Edward gave it to me six years ago. Before he died.""
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of a little girl standing beside a man in a gray coat.
The little girl was me.
And the man was Edward.
On the back, he had written:
I have watched my daughter grow up from a distance. One day, she deserves to know why I gave her away.
Beneath the photograph was a handwritten confession.
But before I could read it, Daniel grabbed the paper.
"Don't!""
He tore it in half.
I screamed.
Mr. Bennett lunged forward.
And Patricia finally shouted the words that stopped everyone.
"Daniel! Your father didn't die six years ago!""
We all turned toward her.
May you like
She looked at her son with tears streaming down her face.
"Edward Carter has been alive this entire time.""
