Chapter 4 - The DNA Result Luka Refused to Hide
Daniel moved toward Vanessa.
Luka stood once.
That was enough.
Daniel stopped.
Vanessa wiped her eyes.
“They contacted Daniel when you were four months pregnant.”
I looked at my husband.
“Is that true?”
He didn't answer.
Vanessa continued.
“They offered him money for your prenatal records.”
“I was trying to protect us,” Daniel said.
“By selling my medical information?”
“They said your father's research could expose them to lawsuits worth billions.”
Luka leaned against the table.
“So you took the money.”
Daniel glared at him.
“You would've done worse.”
“Probably.”
Luka's calm answer silenced him.
“But I wouldn't sell my wife.”
Daniel looked at me.
“I didn't know what they wanted initially.”
“When did you know?”
His silence answered.
“Daniel.”
“Seven months.”
I nearly dropped into the chair.
“For two months, you knew people were interested in our unborn daughter?”
“Yes.”
“And you said nothing.”
“They threatened me!”
“What about us?”
“I thought cooperating would keep you safe.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“No. You thought cooperating would make you rich.”
Daniel turned.
“Vanessa.”
She pulled an envelope from her purse.
“I found this in his office.”
She handed it to me.
Northstar Biomedical.
Inside was a contract.
Payment upon acquisition of viable neonatal genetic sample:
$1,000,000.
I looked at Daniel.
“One million dollars?”
“I never signed it.”
“Because I went into labor early.”
He couldn't deny it.
Luka took the contract.
“This is enough to open an investigation.”
Daniel laughed nervously.
“You think they'll let you?”
“They don't get a vote.”
The next morning, we went to an independent genetics laboratory.
I chose the doctor.
I watched every swab.
Mine.
My daughter's.
Daniel reluctantly provided his after Luka's attorney explained that refusing would look very interesting during the divorce.
Luka also provided a sample.
I stared at him.
“Why?”
He looked at the technician.
“Run mine against Emma.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because there's one possibility Thomas never eliminated.”
My pulse accelerated.
“What possibility?”
“That we're related.”
Daniel actually laughed.
“You're insane.”
Luka ignored him.
The results arrived forty-eight hours later.
We sat in Luka's kitchen.
The geneticist joined by secure video.
“Ms. Carter?”
“Yes.”
“We confirmed the M-17 marker in your sample.”
My hand tightened around Luka's table.
“And my daughter?”
“She carries it.”
Silence.
Proof.
My baby was evidence.
“What about paternity?”
The geneticist hesitated.
Daniel leaned forward.
“Just say it.”
“The probability that Daniel Carter is the biological father is 99.99 percent.”
I closed my eyes.
Daniel exhaled triumphantly.
“See?”
I opened my eyes.
“You abandoned your biological daughter anyway.”
His smile vanished.
Then the geneticist spoke again.
“There is another finding.”
I looked at Luka.
He hadn't moved.
“The sample submitted under Luka Moretti shows a significant biological relationship with Emma Carter.”
My heart stopped.
“What relationship?”
“Half-sibling probability exceeds 99 percent.”
Nobody spoke.
I stared at Luka.
“My brother?”
His face was unreadable.
Apparently, this surprised even him.
The geneticist continued.
“You share one biological parent.”
I stood so quickly my chair fell backward.
“You said you didn't know who my biological father was.”
“I don't.”
“Then how—”
Luka went still.
Not confused.
Realizing.
“My mother.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
Luka stood.
“Thomas didn't hide your father's identity.”
His voice had changed.
“He hid your mother's.”
My knees weakened.
“My mother was Susan Bennett.”
“No.”
He looked devastated.
“Susan raised you.”
“Then who—”
“My mother.”
Luka whispered her name.
“Maria Moretti.”
My entire childhood rearranged itself in one sentence.
Daniel stared between us.
Then slowly backed toward the door.
Luka noticed.
“Where are you going?”
Daniel stopped.
His face was gray.
And I suddenly realized something.
“You knew.”
Daniel swallowed.
“You knew Luka was my brother.”
“No.”
“Daniel.”
“I suspected.”
“How?”
He looked toward the M-17 documents.
“Northstar had the original files.”
Luka's voice dropped.
“Which means they know where Maria's records are.”
Daniel said nothing.
Luka stepped closer.
“Where?”
Daniel whispered, “M-17.”
“The hospital room?”
“No.”
Daniel shook his head.
“M-17 isn't just a project number.”
May you like
He looked at me.
“It's a storage vault.”
