Chapter 13: The Man Behind the DNA Report
“I wasn't the only person who disappeared in 1998.””
Thomas's words hung in the air.
I stared at the DNA report.
Noah Williams.
Thomas Williams.
Probability of paternity: 99.99%.
My hands were shaking.
“You're telling me you're Noah's biological father?””
Thomas nodded slowly.
Daniel grabbed the report.
“That makes no sense. Noah was born in 2020. You were supposedly hiding for twenty-two years before that.””
Thomas looked at him.
“I didn't say I disappeared completely.””
I felt sick.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas sat down.
“After Robert discovered my financial problems, I left Illinois. But I returned several times over the years. I had relationships.
I made mistakes. And one of those mistakes involved Vanessa's biological mother.””
I shook my head.
“Vanessa's mother was Margaret.””
Thomas nodded.
“Margaret and I were together before she became involved with Robert. When she became pregnant, she told everyone Robert was the father.””
Daniel looked horrified.
“So Vanessa might not be Robert's daughter?””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“She isn't.””
I stepped away from the table.
“Then why does the report say you're Noah's father?””
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
“Because the report is real. But the sample identification isn't.””
I stared.
“What?””
“Someone switched the labels.””
He pulled another document from the folder.
It was a laboratory chain-of-custody record.
The samples had been collected from Noah and Thomas, but the names had been entered incorrectly.
The report had been manipulated to make it appear that Thomas was Noah's biological father.
“Who switched them?”” I asked.
Thomas looked toward the door.
“Richard.””
Daniel cursed under his breath.
“Richard is dead.””
“His records aren't.””
Thomas explained that Richard had been using DNA reports to manipulate the trust for years.
He had deliberately created contradictory results, hoping to make the family members distrust one another.
If nobody could establish the children's true identities, the trust would remain frozen.
And whoever controlled the temporary accounts could continue withdrawing money.
I looked at the documents.
“Then who is Noah's biological father?””
Thomas hesitated.
“That's what the original report will tell you.””
“Where is it?””
“At Margaret's nursing home.””
I grabbed my jacket.
“We're going.””
Thomas stood.
“I'll come with you.””
“No.””
He stopped.
“You've spent decades lying to this family. You're not coming anywhere near Noah.””
Thomas looked down.
“I understand.””
Daniel put the documents into a folder.
“We should contact the authorities.””
I nodded.
But before we could leave, Thomas spoke again.
“One more thing.””
I turned.
“Make it good.””
He reached into the cabinet and removed a small black notebook.
“Richard kept records of every payment. Every altered document. Every person involved.””
He placed it on the table.
“Your mother wasn't the person who started this. She was the person who was blackmailed into continuing it.””
I opened the notebook.
The first pages listed payments to hospital employees.
The middle pages contained transfers to Bennett Family Holdings.
Then I reached the final section.
A handwritten list of names.
Evelyn Williams.
Vanessa Williams.
Richard Bennett.
Thomas Williams.
And one more.
*Peter Lawson.*
Beside his name was a note:
Final payment upon confirmation of surviving infant.
I looked up.
“Which infant?””
Thomas swallowed.
“The second child Margaret gave birth to.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Who is he?””
Thomas pointed toward the last page.
There was an address.
And a name.
*Dr. Peter Lawson — Private Residence.*
I immediately called the number listed in the hospital records.
A woman answered.
“Hello?””
“I'm looking for Peter Lawson.””
“I'm sorry. Dr. Lawson passed away last night.””
I froze.
“When?””
“Approximately eleven forty-five.””
I looked at Daniel.
“Did he leave any records?””
The woman hesitated.
Then she whispered:
“He left a message for you.””
My blood ran cold.
“What message?””
She read from a piece of paper.
Tell Marcus Williams that the child he raised is innocent. But the man who raised him has never been who he thinks he is.
The line went dead.
I stood motionless.
Daniel looked at me.
“What did she say?””
I repeated the message.
Then my phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
No sender name.
One attachment.
The original DNA report.
I opened it.
At the top were three names.
Marcus Williams.
Noah Williams.
Thomas Williams.
But the final conclusion wasn't about paternity.
It was about a different biological relationship.
*Marcus Williams and Noah Williams: 99.99% probability of biological parentage.*
I stared at the screen.
I was Noah's biological father.
The original report had confirmed it.
But how?
Thomas stepped closer.
“Marcus, your father left something else behind.””
I looked up.
“What?””
Thomas pointed to the date of the sample collection.
It was October 2020.
Two weeks after Noah's birth.
And beneath the results was a note.
Biological father confirmed. Secondary sample required due to suspected specimen substitution.
I slowly looked toward Daniel.
“Who ordered the second sample?””
May you like
Thomas whispered:
“Your mother.””
