Chapter 3 - The DNA Test Never Lies... Or Does It?
The mansion erupted into chaos. The intruder managed to slip out through the balcony doors into the pouring rain, dropping the syringe on the Persian rug before vanishing into the estate’s vast gardens.
By sunrise, police cruisers with flashing red and blue lights lined the driveway. Detective Marcus Vance, a hardened investigator with a long history with the Sterling family, stood in the grand study, examining the dropped syringe.
"Potassium chloride," Vance stated dryly, looking at Victor and Clara. "A lethal dose. Someone wanted this boy dead before the DNA results came back from the lab."
"This proves it!" Clara yelled, pacing frantically. "Why would someone try to murder a random street kid unless he really IS Julian? Someone in this house is terrified of the truth!"
Victor remained standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, sipping black coffee. His expression was a stone mask. "Or perhaps it was staged to make us believe he’s real. Clara, you are emotionally unstable. You see ghosts everywhere."
Two hours later, Dr. Evans arrived escorted by armed guards, carrying a sealed steel briefcase. The entire family gathered in the formal living room: Eleanor, Victor, Damon, Clara, and the children.
"The results of the expedited DNA analysis are complete," Dr. Evans announced, opening the briefcase and withdrawing a document marked with high-security holographic seals. "We compared the boy’s DNA against the genetic profile on file for Victor and Clara Sterling."
Clara held her breath, gripping Julian’s small, cold hand.
"The results are conclusive," Dr. Evans read aloud. "There is a 0.00% genetic match between the boy and Victor Sterling. He is NOT your son."
A sharp gasp echoed through the room. Eleanor snorted with triumph. Damon smirked.
"No... no! That’s impossible!" Clara screamed, snatching the papers from the doctor’s hands. "He looks just like Victor! He has the birthmark!"
"Get this fraud out of my house!" Eleanor commanded the security guards. "Throw him back into the alley where he belongs!"
Two security guards stepped forward, grabbing Julian by his arms. The boy began to cry softly, looking at Clara with heart-wrenching eyes. "Mom... please don't let them take me back to the dark place..."
"Stop!" Clara threw herself in front of the guards. "I don't care what that paper says! I know my child!"
Meanwhile, unnoticed by anyone, little Lily crawled under the heavy mahogany desk in the corner where Dr. Evans had placed his medical bag. Her keen eyes caught something sticking out of the doctor's coat pocket—a thick, white envelope marked with a red stamp that read: "CONFIDENTIAL - ACTUAL RESULTS."
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Lily’s eyes widened. She reached out her tiny hand and pulled the hidden envelope from his pocket.
HOOK / CLIFFHANGER: Lily tore open the hidden envelope behind the desk. Her eyes scanned the numbers. The real document read: 99.99% MATCH TO VICTOR STERLING. Dr. Evans had been paid to fabricate the fake result! But before Lily could shout, a dark hand covered her mouth from behind!
