Chapter 5

Lester took the child and told me I'd worked hard.

Anthony also showed a rare smile, walking with his hands behind his back to Tobias's side, looking down at the child.

The atmosphere actually felt somewhat harmonious.

Everyone was satisfied, until Anthony spoke.

"Now that the child is born." He turned to look at Tobias. "According to Blackwood family tradition, you and the child should verify the DNA."

The air instantly froze. The smile on Tobias's face stiffened.

He slowly raised his head, fury surging in his eyes, though he said nothing.

In my view, he'd never doubted it.

That drunken night—he thought it was real.

In his eyes, a woman like me picked up from the street getting pregnant with his child was luck and an honor.

Tobias nodded and spoke, "Alright, arrange it quickly."

No one noticed me.

No one saw that the moment Anthony mentioned DNA, I felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over me from head to toe.

I had no strength left in my body.

Soon, a man in a white coat pushed the door open and began taking samples.

I stared intently at his every move.

No... no... no...

I was screaming frantically in my mind.

My tears almost instantly welled up.

"Elliott, why are you crying?" Lester glanced at me. "It's just sampling. It won't hurt the child. Don't worry."

She thought I was just worried about the child.

She didn't think much of it. No one did.

Only I knew I was afraid—afraid to my very bones.

The sampling ended. The doctor left the room with the samples.

The moment the door closed, I felt like I'd heard my death sentence.

For the next stretch of time, I lay in the hospital bed like I was paralyzed, my mind completely blank.

Like a death row prisoner at the execution ground, neck on the chopping block, just waiting for that final blow to fall.

I don't know how much time passed before that door finally opened again.

The doctor who took the samples came in holding a report, his expression very grim.

Everyone's faces changed at the sight.

He glanced at Tobias, then finally spoke carefully.

"According to the DNA comparison results... the paternal relationship between Mr. Blackwood and the child cannot be established. The two are not biological father and son."