Chapter 10 - THE DNA TEST
Grant demanded proof.
Anna understood.
She wanted proof too.
A private physician arrived before sunrise.
DNA samples were collected from Grant, Lily, and Anna.
Rebecca locked herself in a guest suite.
She called Arthur twelve times.
He answered on the thirteenth.
“You should have dealt with this.”
“She’s inside the house.”
“Then leave.”
“I am not leaving my life.”
“It was never your life.”
Rebecca went silent.
Arthur continued.
“You were supposed to keep Grant distracted until I could exit the company.”
“You stayed.”
“You got engaged.”
“You started playing mother.”
Rebecca’s voice dropped.
“I love him.”
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“You love winning.”
Rebecca ended the call.
Downstairs, Anna sat beside Lily.
Neither knew what to say.
Lily kept looking at her face.
Finally she asked.
“Does it hurt?”
“What?”
“Looking different.”
Anna smiled sadly.
“Sometimes.”
Lily reached toward her.
“Can I touch?”
Anna nodded.
Tiny fingers moved across her cheek.
Anna closed her eyes.
Somewhere beneath scars and surgery, her daughter was searching for the mother she remembered.
Lily touched the corner of Anna’s left eyebrow.
Then she gasped.
“You still have it.”
Anna opened her eyes.
“What?”
“The little bump.”
Lily smiled through tears.
“I used to touch it when I couldn’t sleep.”
Grant stood in the doorway.
He turned away before either saw him cry.
The DNA results came six hours later.
Probability of maternity.
99.9998 percent.
Grant read the report three times.
Then he sat down.
Anna stood across from him.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Finally Grant whispered.
“Claire.”
Hearing her real name from him broke something open.
She began to cry.
Grant crossed the room.
Then stopped before touching her.
Two years had passed.
His wife stood before him.
But everything between them had changed.
“I looked for you.”
“I know.”
“I searched for eight months.”
“I know.”
“I held a memorial because they told me—”
“I know.”
Grant covered his face.
“I gave up on you.”
Anna stepped closer.
“You thought I was dead.”
“I let her into our home.”
Anna knew exactly who he meant.
Neither needed to say Rebecca’s name.
Upstairs, Lily had fallen asleep beside Evelyn.
Rebecca entered the security office.
Daniel Price looked up.
“Ms. Hale?”
“I need footage from the west garage.”
“Grant suspended your access.”
Rebecca smiled.
“I know.”
She placed an envelope on his desk.
Daniel looked at the money.
Then at her.
“What are you asking me to do?”
“Nothing complicated.”
“Delete one file.”
He pushed the envelope back.
“No.”
Rebecca’s smile disappeared.
Daniel reached for his phone.
Before he could call Grant, Arthur Hale entered behind her.
Daniel stood.
“Mr. Hale?”
Arthur closed the door.
Rebecca looked at her father.
“I thought you said leave.”
Arthur’s eyes were cold.
“I changed my mind.”
May you like
Then he looked at the security system.
“If Claire Bennett remembers everything, none of us leave this house free.”
