Chapter 12 - THE DNA SECRET THAT BROKE THE FAMILY
Vanessa stood up so quickly her chair nearly fell over.
“No.”
Her face went white.
“No. That’s impossible.”
I understood her reaction immediately.
If M.D. meant Martin Donovan, then the DNA test suggested Eric’s father could be Lily’s biological father.
But biology and old paperwork were not enough.
We needed facts.
Vanessa’s voice trembled.
“I never slept with Martin.”
“I believe you.”
“Then how—”
“Maybe M.D. isn’t Martin.”
Rebecca raised one hand.
“Before anyone jumps to conclusions, we verify.”
That evening, we met Martin again.
This time he looked genuinely confused.
When I placed the DNA invoice in front of him, he read it twice.
Then laughed once.
A harsh, stunned sound.
“This isn’t mine.”
“You’re M.D.”
“So is Michael Donovan.”
“Who?”
“My brother.”
I stared.
Eric had never mentioned an uncle named Michael.
Martin explained that Michael had died ten years earlier.
Unlike Martin, Michael had stayed close to Eleanor and Sarah.
And, years ago, he had briefly employed Vanessa.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“Michael was my supervisor.”
Now she remembered.
Before dating Eric, she had worked six months at a property-management company Michael operated.
“But I never—”
Martin interrupted gently.
“No one is accusing you of anything.”
Rebecca asked the obvious question.
“Then how could his DNA be connected to Lily?”
Vanessa went silent.
Her eyes changed.
“Oh my God.”
“What?”
“Fertility treatment.”
Years ago, before Lily was conceived, Vanessa had undergone fertility testing because of a medical issue.
She had stored genetic material at a clinic affiliated with the company’s health plan.
Rebecca’s expression hardened.
“You think there may have been a mix-up?”
“Or manipulation.”
The possibility was horrifying.
But before we could go further, Martin shook his head.
“Michael never had access to a clinic.”
Maybe not.
But Sarah had.
According to Martin, Sarah briefly worked in billing administration for the same medical network.
The room fell silent.
Once again, Sarah was standing near the center of an old mystery.
We could not prove what had happened that night.
But we no longer needed the DNA mystery to stop the financial crime.
Rebecca had something better.
Daniel Harlow was willing to cooperate.
His loan attempt had been frozen.
The lender’s fraud investigators had contacted him.
And suddenly Daniel wanted protection.
He admitted preparing false financial documents.
He admitted using signature samples provided by Sarah.
He admitted receiving Clara’s tax records from Eric.
Then Rebecca played the final part of his recorded statement.
“Who designed the plan to send Clara to Paris?” the investigator asked.
Daniel answered:
“Sarah Donovan.”
“Not Eric?”
“No.”
“Not Eleanor?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Because Sarah believes Clara’s grandmother destroyed her family.”
Then the investigator asked:
“What was Sarah planning to do after the divorce filing?”
Daniel answered:
“Move more than the loan.”
“How much?”
A pause.
“Everything she could reach.”
“And who was supposed to help her?”
Daniel whispered a name.
Not Eric.
Not Eleanor.
May you like
Not Richard.
Evelyn Parker.
