Chapter 4 - THE DNA TEST
Alexander almost laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was impossible.
“What DNA test?”
Veronica folded her arms.
“You really want to do this in front of her?”
“You brought it into her life. We’re doing it in front of her.”
Sofia looked terrified.
Alexander immediately softened his voice.
“Sofia, nothing she says changes who you are.”
Veronica gave a bitter smile.
“You might want to wait before making promises.”
Alexander took one step toward her.
“Show me.”
Veronica hesitated.
“Show me the test.”
She walked to the bedroom she shared with Alexander.
He followed.
Sofia and Rosa remained behind.
Minutes later Veronica returned with a manila envelope.
She handed it over.
Alexander pulled out three pages.
PATERNITY PROBABILITY: 0%.
He stared at the result.
Veronica watched him.
“I found it in Elena’s papers.”
Alexander looked at the testing company.
Then at the collection date.
Four years ago.
Before Elena died.
“You’re telling me Elena ordered this?”
“Yes.”
“And you’ve had it how long?”
“About a year.”
Alexander looked up.
“You had something you believed proved Sofia wasn’t my biological child for a year, and instead of talking to me, you used it to terrorize her?”
“I was trying to prepare her for reality.”
“You told a twelve-year-old her father didn’t love her.”
“I told her the truth.”
Alexander ripped the paper in half.
Veronica stared.
“What are you doing?”
“I don’t care whose blood she has.”
Sofia stood in the doorway.
She had heard him.
Alexander looked at her.
“You are my daughter.”
She cried silently.
“You understand?”
She nodded.
“You were my daughter yesterday. You’re my daughter today. And you will be my daughter tomorrow.”
Veronica shook her head.
“You’re emotional.”
“Yes.”
He looked back at her.
“And you should be afraid of how clear my thinking is right now.”
Rosa picked up one torn piece of the DNA report.
She stared at it.
Then frowned.
“Mr. Vale.”
“What?”
“This address.”
She pointed to the laboratory.
“I know this place.”
Veronica went stiff.
Alexander noticed.
Rosa continued.
“My sister used to work there.”
“So?”
“It closed eight years ago.”
Alexander looked down.
The test was dated four years ago.
His eyes slowly lifted.
Veronica spoke quickly.
“Maybe it reopened.”
Rosa shook her head.
“No.”
Alexander reached for his phone.
He searched the lab’s name.
The company had indeed closed eight years earlier after losing its license.
He stared at Veronica.
She said nothing.
“Where did you really get this?”
“I told you.”
“This document is fake.”
“You don’t know that.”
“The company didn’t exist when this test was supposedly performed.”
Veronica’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Sofia looked between them.
Alexander stepped closer.
“You manufactured a DNA test?”
“No.”
“To convince my daughter she wasn’t mine?”
“No!”
“To isolate her?”
“I said no!”
Alexander held up the paper.
“Then explain this.”
Veronica’s face twisted.
For one second, the mask dropped.
“You want an explanation?”
“Yes.”
“Fine.”
She pointed at Sofia.
“She was destroying this family.”
Sofia recoiled.
Alexander’s voice became low.
“She is this family.”
Veronica laughed bitterly.
“No, Alexander. She is Elena.”
Nobody spoke.
Veronica’s eyes filled with something far uglier than anger.
“She has Elena’s face. Elena’s voice. Elena’s little smile. Every day I walk through this house, and your dead wife is staring at me through that girl.”
Alexander stared at her.
“And you punished a child for reminding you of her mother?”
Veronica’s chin trembled.
“You never stopped loving Elena.”
“That has nothing to do with Sofia.”
“It has everything to do with Sofia!”
Rosa stepped between Veronica and the girl.
Veronica pointed at Alexander.
“You think I’m the monster? Ask yourself why you worked late every night. Ask yourself why you took every business trip you could.”
Alexander went silent.
Veronica smiled.
“You weren’t here, Alexander.”
Then Sofia spoke behind him.
“She made sure you weren’t.”
Alexander turned.
Sofia reached into the pocket of his jacket.
May you like
And pulled out a small black USB drive.
“I found this in her desk.”
