Chapter 6 - THE PATERNITY BOMBThe silence in St. Jude’s Cathedral became absolute—a heavy, suffocating vacuum where nobody dared to breathe.
Ryan turned his head slowly from Mia back toward Lauren, his expression twisting from rage into utter bewilderment. What... what is she talking about? Lauren, who is she talking about?
Lauren’s knees buckled slightly, catching her father’s arm for support. Her face was the color of chalk. Ryan, no... she’s making it up! She’s insane!
Mia reached back into her tote bag and pulled out a single, folded sheet of paper with an official state seal stamped in gold across the top. She unfolded it, holding it up for the entire front row to see.
Court-certified DNA test, completed forty-eight hours ago at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mia announced, her voice ringing clear and steady through the nave. Matching Baby Girl Carter’s genetic markers with Ryan Brooks.
Ryan blinked, his mind struggling to process the words. Baby... baby girl? You... you had a baby?
Oh, I had a baby, all right, Mia smiled, a sharp, dangerous expression that didn't reach her eyes. Conceived three weeks before our divorce became final. I kept it a secret because I knew the moment you found out, you’d try to weaponize her the way you weaponized every miscarriage and every fertility appointment during our marriage.
Ryan took a step toward her, his hand trembling as he pointed a finger at her face. That’s... that’s impossible. You told me you couldn't carry a child! Doctors said—
Doctors said my body needed time, Ryan, Mia corrected sharply, her voice finally snapping with the accumulated rage of seven years of emotional abuse. But you didn't want a wife. You wanted a trophy. And when my body failed to give you an heir on your timeline, you called me broken. You called me barren. While you were sleeping with your assistant in your office, I was healing. And the moment I was free of you, my body did what it was designed to do.
Lauren let out a high-pitched, hysterical sob, shoving past her father and running halfway down the aisle. You bitch! You planned this! You waited until today to destroy us!
I didn't plan for you to steal my inheritance, Lauren, Mia turned to face her directly, her eyes narrowing into slits of pure ice. I didn't plan for you to use my grandmother’s money to pay for this cathedral. But when Marco pulled the corporate sponsorship records yesterday, I realized you weren't just a mistress—you were an embezzler with a diamond ring.
Ryan looked around wildly, his eyes darting from Lauren to Mia, and then to the sea of high-society guests staring at him in mounting horror. Several prominent investors in the front row—men whose capital had built Vance-Brooks Enterprises—were already whispering to one another, pulling out their phones to make urgent calls.
Julian! Ryan screamed toward the back. Get the cops! Get her out of here!
Federal agents don't need your permission, Ryan, a deep, authoritative voice boomed from the back of the cathedral.
The side doors near the altar swung open, and three men in dark suits stepped into the sanctuary, flashing federal badges. Leading them was Special Agent Vance of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Financial Crimes Unit.
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Agent Marcus Vance stepped down the aisle, his eyes fixed squarely on Ryan Brooks and Lauren Vance.
Ryan Brooks, you are under arrest for wire fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit interstate financial theft, Agent Vance announced, his voice echoing off the stone walls. Lauren Vance, you are coming with us for questioning regarding the systematic embezzlement of trust funds from the Carter estate.
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