Chapter 13: The Blood Test
I stared at the paper in Detective Harris’s hand.
The words refused to make sense.
*Biological match pending.*
My eyes moved from the document to him.
Then to Vanessa.
Then back to the document.
“What does that mean?””
Nobody answered immediately.
That scared me more than anything.
“Detective.””
My voice shook.
“Tell me what that means.””
Detective Harris slowly placed the paper on the table.
“The bracelet found in the video wasn’t just an old hospital record.””
He took a breath.
“It was attached to a sample request.””
My heart started racing.
“A sample request for who?””
He looked at me.
“Your daughter.””
The room became silent.
I touched my stomach instinctively.
“She’s fine.””
“Yes.””
“Then why?””
Detective Harris glanced at Vanessa.
“Because someone requested a DNA test before the accident.””
I felt cold.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked down.
Not Daniel.
Not my mother.
Her.
“You did this?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Then who?””
She swallowed.
“Daniel.””
The world stopped.
I turned toward my husband.
Daniel was standing near the wall.
His face had gone pale.
“No.””
The word escaped his mouth.
“No, I didn’t.””
I stared at him.
“Didn’t what?””
He looked at Vanessa.
Then at Detective Harris.
“I never requested a DNA test.””
Detective Harris opened another folder.
“Mr. Carter, the request was submitted using your information.””
Daniel stepped back.
“That’s impossible.””
I felt something inside me break again.
Not because I believed the evidence.
Because I was exhausted from discovering new versions of my husband.
“Daniel.””
He looked at me.
“Tell me the truth.””
“I am.””
“Then why does your name keep appearing?””
He had no answer.
Vanessa spoke quietly.
“Because someone wanted him to take the blame.””
Everyone looked at her.
She continued.
“The same person who wanted me to look guilty.””
I frowned.
“You mean there is someone else?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Yes.””
Detective Harris leaned forward.
“Who?””
Vanessa looked terrified.
“I don’t know.””
That answer would have sounded like another lie before.
But now I saw something different.
Fear.
Real fear.
She looked at me.
“I thought Daniel was the person controlling everything.””
My jaw tightened.
“You tried to kill me.””
Her eyes filled.
“I know.””
“You laughed.””
“I was angry.””
“That’s your excuse?””
She lowered her head.
“No.””
For the first time, Vanessa didn’t defend herself.
“I was wrong.””
I looked away.
An apology couldn’t erase what happened.
The doctor’s warnings.
The blood.
The fear of losing my baby.
Nothing could erase that.
But something else bothered me.
Someone had manipulated all of us.
Daniel.
Vanessa.
Me.
Detective Harris looked at the DNA request again.
“The test result came back this morning.””
My heart stopped.
“What result?””
He hesitated.
Then handed me another paper.
I didn’t want to read it.
But I did.
The first line made my hands shake.
*Maternal relationship confirmed.*
I looked up.
“What does this mean?””
Detective Harris answered carefully.
“It means the sample belongs to your daughter.””
“I know she’s my daughter.””
He shook his head.
“No.””
My stomach tightened.
“Then what?””
He looked at the paper.
“The second match.””
The room became completely still.
“The test also compared the sample to an old genetic database.””
I felt dizzy.
“And?””
Detective Harris looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“The results matched another person.””
My fingers went numb.
“Who?””
He said the name softly.
“Lily Lane.””
I couldn’t breathe.
The missing baby.
The baby from my past.
The baby everyone thought disappeared.
My daughter’s DNA matched her.
That was impossible.
Unless…
I looked at my mother.
Her face had gone white.
“Mom?””
She started crying.
“I was afraid this would happen.””
I stood frozen.
“What are you talking about?””
May you like
My mother whispered:
“Because Lily was never missing.””
