Chapter 12: The DNA Report Nobody Was Supposed to See
Vanessa walked up the porch steps as if she still owned the house.
She knocked three times.
Dad stood between her and the door.
"Why are you here?""
She held up the briefcase.
"Because I have something Emily needs to see.""
I stepped into the hallway.
"What is it?""
Vanessa looked past Dad.
"Something your mother kept hidden.""
Dad didn't move.
"Leave.""
She sighed.
"Richard, this isn't about you.""
"It's about my daughter. That makes it about me.""
Vanessa placed the briefcase on the porch.
"I brought the original medical records.""
I looked at Dad.
He reluctantly opened the door but kept his body between Vanessa and the hallway.
"You're not coming inside.""
"Fine.""
She opened the briefcase and removed a thick envelope.
"Your mother ordered a DNA test shortly before she died.""
Michael stepped forward.
"I know.""
Vanessa looked at him.
"Do you?""
She removed a paper.
"Because the result wasn't what you expected.""
Michael stared at the page.
Dad took it from her.
It was a laboratory report.
The first page contained my mother's name.
The second contained the sample identification numbers.
And the third contained the result.
I watched Dad read it.
His face went completely blank.
"What does it say?"" I asked.
He didn't answer.
I reached for the paper.
The result was written in medical language, but the meaning was clear.
Michael Bennett was not my biological father.
I looked up.
Michael appeared devastated.
"No. That's impossible.""
Vanessa gave a small, satisfied smile.
"Apparently, your mother wasn't as honest as everyone thought.""
I felt like the floor had disappeared beneath me.
"Then who is?""
Vanessa closed the briefcase.
"That's what your mother spent her final days trying to hide.""
Dad looked at her.
"Where did you get this report?""
"From Daniel.""
"Why did you keep it?""
"Because it was valuable.""
I stared at her.
"You knew this entire time?""
Vanessa shrugged.
"Your mother told me enough.""
"Then tell me.""
She looked directly at me.
"Your biological father was someone she knew before she married Richard. Someone who had a very good reason to stay away.""
Michael shook his head.
"You're lying.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Am I?""
She removed another document.
It was a second laboratory report.
This one contained a different name.
*Robert Hayes.*
Dad's eyes widened.
"Who is Robert Hayes?""
Vanessa looked at him.
"Your business partner.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Robert Hayes had been Richard's closest business partner for almost twenty years.
He had attended my childhood birthday parties, bought me Christmas presents, and once taught me how to drive in an empty parking lot.
I'd always called him Uncle Robert.
I looked at Dad.
"No.""
Dad sat down heavily.
"That can't be right.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Your wife had an affair with Robert. That's why she needed the money protected. She knew the truth would eventually come out.""
Michael looked furious.
"You're manipulating the report.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Why would I need to?""
Dad stood.
"Get out.""
Vanessa ignored him.
"Richard, think about it. Evelyn knew you loved Emily. She knew you'd never abandon her. But she also knew that if you discovered the truth, everything would change.""
Dad's hands were shaking.
"Get out of this house.""
Vanessa finally stepped backward.
"Ask Robert yourself.""
She picked up the briefcase and walked toward her car.
Before leaving, she turned around.
"Oh, and Emily?""
I stared at her.
"Your graduation ceremony starts in less than an hour. I wouldn't worry about finding another dress.""
Then she smiled.
"Some families have bigger problems than a missing outfit.""
Her car disappeared down the road.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Michael spoke.
"She's lying.""
Dad looked at him.
"How do you know?""
"Because Evelyn told me she had been tested before. She said the results confirmed I was your biological father.""
I looked at the report.
"Then why does this say otherwise?""
Michael examined the document.
He pointed toward the laboratory identification number.
"This isn't the laboratory that conducted our original test.""
Dad leaned closer.
"Can you tell?""
Michael nodded.
"I worked with forensic laboratories for years. This report uses a different reference format.""
Martin immediately answered when Dad called him.
Dad explained what had happened.
Martin asked him to photograph every page.
After studying the images, he said something that made us all freeze.
"Richard, this report is dated four days after Evelyn's death.""
I stared.
"That's impossible. She couldn't have ordered it.""
Martin continued.
"There's another problem. The laboratory listed on the report closed six years ago.""
Dad slowly lowered his phone.
Vanessa had given us a fake DNA report.
But why?
Martin asked us to send the original documents to his office.
Then he added something else.
"Richard, I've checked the ownership records for the foundation. There's an emergency meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning.""
"What meeting?""
"A vote to transfer the foundation's controlling shares.""
Dad frowned.
"Who called it?""
Martin paused.
"Vanessa Carter.""
I looked at the old medical report again.
Everything was connected.
The inheritance.
The forged documents.
The fake DNA test.
The attempt to discredit my mother.
Vanessa had been trying to make us doubt each other while she quietly took control of everything.
Dad turned toward me.
"Emily, we're going back to Atlanta.""
I nodded.
But before we could leave, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed Robert Hayes.
I answered.
His voice sounded urgent.
"Emily, I heard Vanessa has been showing people a DNA report.""
"She came here.""
He exhaled.
"Listen to me carefully. Do not believe anything she tells you.""
"Uncle Robert, what's going on?""
There was a long silence.
Then he said:
"Your mother asked me to protect you. And there's something I've never told your father.""
I gripped the phone.
"What?""
Robert's voice broke.
"Emily, I was the person who paid for your mother's final DNA test.""
I looked at Dad.
Robert continued.
"And the result proved something Vanessa has been trying to hide for eighteen years.""
"What's that?""
He paused.
Then he whispered:
"Richard Carter is your biological father after all. But Vanessa isn't trying to replace him with another man.""
My heart pounded.
"Then what is she trying to do?""
May you like
Robert answered with six words.
*"She's trying to erase your mother's will.""*
