Chapter 6: The Blood Test
Daniel didn’t move.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
The entire world seemed to stop inside that bridal suite.
Then he laughed.
Not because something was funny.
Because sometimes pain is too large for tears.
“You’re lying.””
Jessica looked at him.
“I wish I was.””
“No.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You’re lying because you’re losing.””
He pointed at the papers.
“You’re trying to distract everyone.””
Michael stepped forward.
“Daniel—”
“Don’t.””
My son looked at him.
“Don’t say my name like you know me.””
The words hit harder than any slap.
Michael looked away.
I wanted to reach for Daniel.
I wanted to tell him everything.
But fear held me back.
Not fear of him hating me.
Fear of breaking him further.
“Mom,” Daniel said quietly.
I looked at him.
“Tell me.””
My lips trembled.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me the truth.””
The room waited.
Even Jessica stopped pretending.
I closed my eyes.
And twenty years disappeared.
“I adopted you.””
The words finally left my mouth.
Daniel stared.
The silence afterward was unbearable.
“I’m sorry.””
He looked like he had been physically hurt.
“You knew?””
I nodded.
“Your father and I had just started the adoption process before he died.””
Michael immediately interrupted.
“Before he died?””
His voice was sharp.
I looked at him.
“What?””
He smiled coldly.
“You still tell that story?””
My stomach tightened.
“What are you saying?””
Michael stepped closer.
“You never knew what really happened that night.””
Daniel looked at him.
“Dad…”
Michael ignored him.
“She told you I abandoned you.””
“Because you did.””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I almost laughed.
“Protect him?””
“You don’t understand.””
“No, Michael.””
My voice became stronger.
“You don’t get to rewrite twenty years.””
Daniel looked between us.
“Someone tell me the truth.””
Michael reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small envelope.
“I brought this because I knew this day would come.””
He handed it to Daniel.
My heart raced.
“What is that?””
Michael didn’t answer.
Daniel opened the envelope.
Inside was a DNA test.
His hands shook as he read it.
Then his face changed.
“What?””
Jessica immediately stepped forward.
“What does it say?””
Daniel looked up.
His eyes were filled with confusion.
“It says…”
He stopped.
I could barely breathe.
“What does it say?””
Daniel looked at Michael.
Then at me.
Then back at the paper.
“It says Michael Miller is not my biological father.””
Nobody spoke.
The room spun.
Michael’s face remained calm.
Jessica smiled faintly.
And that was when I realized.
This was exactly what they wanted.
They wanted Daniel confused.
They wanted him angry.
They wanted him to stop asking the right questions.
I stepped closer.
“Daniel, listen to me.””
He looked at me.
“Did you know?””
I hesitated.
“No.””
The answer hurt him.
“I swear.””
Michael interrupted.
“She’s lying.””
I turned toward him.
“You have done enough.””
But Michael smiled.
“You still don’t understand.””
He looked at Daniel.
“The person who abandoned you isn’t me.””
Daniel frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
Michael slowly pointed at me.
“It’s the person your mother has been protecting all these years.””
My blood ran cold.
Daniel looked at me.
“Mom?””
I shook my head.
“No.””
Michael reached into the folder again.
And pulled out another photograph.
This one was older.
Much older.
A picture of a hospital room.
A newborn baby.
And a woman standing beside the bed.
Daniel took the photo.
Then he whispered:
“Why is Grandma in this picture?””
I froze.
Because I recognized the hospital.
I recognized the date.
And I recognized the name written on the back.
A name I had buried with my mother.
Daniel turned the photograph over.
His face went pale.
“Mom…”
His voice barely came out.
“Who is Sarah Collins?””
I stared at the name.
Because Sarah Collins wasn’t a stranger.
May you like
She was the woman who had changed my life forever.
And the woman who knew the truth about Daniel before anyone else.
