Chapter 8 - THE DNA TEST
The DNA results arrived forty-eight hours later.
99.9987 percent probability.
Clara Bennett was Noah’s biological mother.
Adrian read the report three times.
Clara only read it once.
She had never needed proof.
Noah sat between them.
“So it’s true?”
Clara knelt.
“Yes.”
“You’re really my mommy?”
“Yes.”
Noah threw his arms around her.
Clara held him.
For the first time, she didn’t have to look over her shoulder.
She didn’t have to release him when footsteps approached.
She didn’t have to pretend.
Adrian watched.
And something inside him broke.
He walked out.
Clara found him later on the terrace.
“You okay?”
“No.”
At least he was honest.
“I failed both of you.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have known.”
“How?”
“I should have questioned things.”
“You trusted people.”
“The wrong people.”
Clara looked toward the gardens.
“So did I.”
Adrian turned.
“I believed Vanessa.”
“I believed her too.”
That surprised him.
Clara continued.
“She made me believe you hated me.”
Adrian looked sick.
“She made me believe you sold Noah.”
Clara’s voice trembled.
“She told me you paid me through some trust.”
“I never paid you anything.”
“I know that now.”
They stood in silence.
Then Adrian asked the question Clara had feared.
“What happens now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you want custody?”
Clara looked at him.
“I want my son.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
“Then you’ll have him.”
She frowned.
“You’re not going to fight me?”
“No.”
He looked through the glass doors at Noah.
“I’ve already stolen six years from you without knowing it.”
“I won’t steal another day intentionally.”
Clara studied him.
For the first time, she saw something beyond the billionaire.
A father.
Terrified of losing his child.
“We don’t have to destroy Noah’s life to repair mine.”
Adrian looked at her.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying he needs both of us.”
Before Adrian could answer, Detective Moreno called.
Vanessa had requested a meeting.
May you like
She wanted to confess.
But only if Clara came alone.
