Chapter 2 - THE DNA TEST THAT NEVER EXISTED
My mother's Greenwich mansion looked exactly as I remembered it.
Perfect.
Immaculate.
Cold.
I entered without knocking.
She was standing beside the fireplace with a glass of wine.
Eleanor Lane didn't look surprised.
“You're early.”
“You knew Zara was staying at my hotel.”
She smiled.
“Of course.”
“You knew Prince was there.”
Her smile disappeared.
“Justin.”
“Answer me.”
“You're emotional.”
“I saw the boy.”
Her hand tightened around the wineglass.
“He isn't your son.”
“You said that two years ago.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then why was the test fraudulent?”
Silence.
My mother slowly placed the glass down.
“Who told you that?”
“The laboratory.”
“That doesn't prove anything.”
“The doctor was dead before the test was conducted.”
She stared at me.
I stepped closer.
“The report was paid for by your foundation.”
She didn't move.
“Justin, you don't understand how dangerous this woman is.”
“Zara?”
“Yes.”
“She raised a child alone for two years.”
“She manipulated you.”
“She refused to speak to me.”
“Because she knew you would discover the truth.”
“What truth?”
My mother looked at me.
Then she whispered:
“Prince isn't yours.”
I felt something inside me snap.
“Then whose is he?”
She didn't answer.
“Mom.”
Silence.
“Whose son is he?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
Her eyes hardened.
“You always were too sentimental.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Sentimental?”
“You allowed a woman to destroy your judgment.”
“No.”
I pointed at her.
“You destroyed my judgment.”
She stepped back.
“You don't know what you're saying.”
“I know you forged the test.”
“You cannot prove that.”
“I will.”
She smiled.
“You think this is about money.”
“Isn't it?”
“No.”
Her expression changed.
“It is about your father's legacy.”
I froze.
“My father?”
“Your father knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That Zara was pregnant.”
I stared.
“When?”
“Before you ever found out.”
My heart pounded.
“That's impossible.”
“He met her.”
“When?”
“Three weeks before his death.”
I couldn't speak.
“My father met Zara?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
My mother looked away.
“Because he knew someone was watching you.”
“Who?”
She said nothing.
Then the mansion doors opened.
A man in a gray suit walked in.
I recognized him.
Arthur Bell.
Our family's attorney for twenty-seven years.
“Mr. Lane.”
“What are you doing here?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Your mother asked me to come.”
I stared at him.
“Did my father leave a letter?”
Arthur's face went pale.
My mother whispered:
“No.”
I stepped toward him.
“Did he?”
Arthur lowered his eyes.
“Yes.”
My mother turned.
“Arthur.”
He swallowed.
“I can't keep lying.”
He pulled an envelope from his briefcase.
“Your father instructed me to give this to you if you ever questioned the paternity test.”
My hands shook as I took it.
The seal carried my father's initials.
I opened it.
Inside was one page.
Justin,
If you are reading this, Eleanor has already done what I feared.
My heart stopped.
Do not trust the DNA report.
I looked at my mother.
She was crying.
For the first time in my life, my mother looked afraid.
I continued reading.
Zara told the truth. Prince is your son.
The room disappeared.
I looked at Arthur.
“Why didn't you give me this two years ago?”
Arthur's voice cracked.
“Because your mother threatened to destroy my family.”
I turned toward Eleanor.
She whispered:
“I was protecting you.”
“No.”
I held up the letter.
“You were protecting yourself.”
Then another sentence caught my eye.
But there is something you must know about Prince.
I read the final line.
He was not the first person in our family they tried to erase.
I looked up.
“Who?”
My father had written only one name.
Your sister.
I had never had a sister.
May you like
At least, that's what my mother had told me.
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