CHAPTER 3 – THE DNA THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
The words echoed inside Ethan's head.
"Richard Blackwood is your father too."
For several seconds, the world disappeared.
The rain.
The traffic.
The strangers rushing past.
None of it mattered anymore.
"You're lying," Ethan whispered.
"My mom told me my father died before I was born."
The old man lowered his eyes.
"That's the story she was forced to tell."
Ethan stepped backward.
"No... no, that's impossible."
Just then, the old man's phone vibrated.
A single message appeared on the cracked screen.
YOU HAVE TEN MINUTES.
The old man immediately deleted it.
"They know exactly where we are."
Before Ethan could ask another question, the two men in black suits crossed the street.
One of them spoke calmly.
"Sir... Mr. Blackwood has been searching for you everywhere."
The old man laughed bitterly.
"If Richard wanted to find me..."
"...he wouldn't have sent killers."
The taller man smiled.
"We're simply here to bring you home."
His hand slowly disappeared inside his jacket.
Ethan instinctively stepped in front of the old man.
"You stay away from him."
The man looked Ethan up and down.
Then his expression suddenly changed.
He stared at Ethan's face.
His eyes widened.
"...Impossible."
He immediately pulled out his phone.
Without saying a word, he snapped a picture of Ethan and sent it.
Less than five seconds later...
His phone rang.
He answered immediately.
"Yes, sir."
Silence.
The color drained from his face.
He looked at Ethan again.
Then quietly said,
"...Understood."
Without another word...
Both men got back into the SUV and drove away.
Ethan blinked.
"They just... left?"
The old man looked terrified.
"No..."
"They've confirmed it."
"Confirmed what?"
The old man reached into the leather bag once more.
Hidden beneath the faded photograph was a small metal box.
Inside...
A sealed envelope.
A hospital bracelet.
And a DNA test report dated seventeen years ago.
The old man's hands shook as he handed it to Ethan.
"You were never supposed to see this."
Ethan opened the folder.
His heart nearly stopped.
Probability of paternity: 99.9998%.
Father: Richard Alexander Blackwood.
"No..."
"This can't be real."
"It is."
"But why would he abandon me?"
The old man's voice broke.
"He didn't know you existed."
Ethan stared at him.
"What?"
"Someone made sure Richard never found out."
The old man closed his eyes.
"And the person who did..."
"...was someone inside our own family."
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Suddenly—
A black motorcycle roared into the parking lot.
The rider removed her helmet.
She couldn't have been older than twenty-five.
Her eyes locked onto Ethan.
"Get in!"
Ethan hesitated.
"Who are you?"
She reached into her jacket and threw him a silver necklace.
The moment Ethan caught it...
His breathing stopped.
It was identical to the one his mother had worn every day of her life.
The woman looked directly into his eyes.
"If you want to know why your mother disappeared..."
"...you have exactly sixty seconds before the people coming next don't ask questions."
In the distance...
Five black SUVs turned the corner.
Their headlights lit up the rain-soaked street.
The old man whispered only four words—
May you like
"They've sent the Cleaners."
TO BE CONTINUED...
