Chapter 9: The DNA Test
I didn’t remember leaving the room.
One moment I was standing there.
The next, I was downstairs with three decades of lies collapsing around me.
Lily.
Amara.
Naomi.
My mother.
Marcus.
Everyone had a piece of the truth.
And somehow, I was the only person who didn’t know my own story.
“Say it again.””
My voice sounded empty.
Amara stood across from me.
“Lily isn’t the child they originally took.””
I looked at my daughter.
She was holding Naomi’s hand now.
Confused.
Scared.
“I don’t understand.””
Amara looked at me.
“Neither did I.””
She sat down slowly.
“I grew up believing my entire family abandoned me.””
Naomi looked away.
“I spent years searching.””
Amara continued.
“Then I found out the truth.””
“What truth?””
She looked at Evelyn’s old files scattered across the basement.
“Your mother had a plan.””
I felt sick.
“My mother?””
Amara nodded.
“She knew Marcus was dangerous.””
“Then why hide everything?””
“Because she made a deal.””
The room went silent.
“With who?””
Amara looked at Naomi.
“With my mother.””
I frowned.
“Clara?””
Amara nodded.
“The night of the fire, Clara found out about the stolen money. She also found out Marcus was planning something worse.””
“What?””
Amara hesitated.
“He was going to expose the entire Carter family.””
I shook my head.
“That doesn’t explain children disappearing.””
“No.””
Amara looked down.
“It explains why people were willing to make them disappear.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Marcus.
*You’re hearing lies from people who betrayed me.*
I ignored it.
“What happened to Lily?””
Nobody answered.
That scared me.
“Someone tell me.””
Naomi looked at me.
“The child they took wasn’t Lily.””
My heart stopped.
“Then who?””
Naomi’s voice broke.
“A baby from another family.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Marcus arranged it.””
The room became silent.
“He wanted control over the Carter legacy. He knew losing Amara and Naomi would destroy your mother.””
I shook my head.
“This is insane.””
Amara reached into her bag.
She pulled out a folder.
“I thought so too.””
Inside were documents.
Hospital records.
Birth certificates.
DNA results.
My hands shook as I looked.
The names blurred.
But one thing was clear.
The DNA match.
Between me.
And Lily.
I looked up.
“What does this mean?””
Amara swallowed.
“It means Lily is your daughter.””
Relief hit me for half a second.
Then confusion.
“Then what were you saying?””
She looked at Lily.
“She’s your daughter.””
I stared.
“Then why?””
“Because the person who arranged the switch wanted you to believe she wasn’t.””
My mind raced.
“Why?””
Amara looked toward the basement door.
“Because if you knew who Lily’s biological mother was…”
The door suddenly slammed.
Everyone jumped.
A shadow moved in the hallway.
Marcus.
He stepped inside.
Holding a gun.
My body immediately moved in front of Lily.
“Stay away from my daughter.””
Marcus looked at me sadly.
“I knew this would happen.””
Naomi stood.
“You ruined enough lives.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You still don’t understand.””
He looked at me.
“Your father knew the truth.””
I froze.
“What?””
“He knew Lily wasn’t originally part of the plan.””
My grip tightened.
“Stop lying.””
“I’m not.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“He left you a message.””
“What message?””
His eyes moved to the memory card in my hand.
“That.””
I looked down.
The tiny card.
My father’s final evidence.
Marcus smiled.
“Play it.””
I didn’t move.
“Why would I trust you?””
“Because when you hear your father’s voice…”
He looked at Lily.
“You’ll finally understand why everyone fought to keep her alive.””
A sound came from the doorway.
Someone else was there.
My mother.
Evelyn.
She looked at the gun.
Then at me.
And whispered:
“Darius…”
Her face was filled with fear.
“Don’t play that recording.””
I stared at her.
“Why?””
She began crying.
“Because your father didn’t leave that message for you.””
A long silence.
“Who was it for?””
My mother looked at Lily.
May you like
And answered:
“For her.””
