Chapter 4

I barely slept that night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Vincent and Rumbidzai back in the living room. I kept replaying the same words; You were never the wife. By morning, my chest felt hollow—like something had been ripped out and left empty.

“Drink this,” Lila said, handing me a cup of tea. I took it with a small nod. “Thank you.” She hesitated before sitting across from me. “You can stay as long as you need.”

“I won’t impose,” I said quickly. “You’re not imposing.”

I didn’t argue because the truth was… I had nowhere else to go. A knock sounded at the door. Lila frowned. “Are you expecting someone?” I shook my head.

The unease from last night crept back instantly. “I’ll get it,” Lila said, standing.

Something in my gut twisted. “No… I’ll go.”

I set the cup down and walked toward the door slowly, my heart beginning to pound. When I opened it— A man in a perfectly tailored black suit stood there. Behind him, parked by the curb…was the same black car. My stomach dropped. “Miss Daphne Harper,” he said calmly. “Good morning.” I stiffened. “Who are you?”

“My name is Mr. Dube,” he replied. “I work for someone who has been looking for you.”

A chill ran through me. “I think you have the wrong person,” I said immediately, already starting to close the door. His hand came up—not touching the door, but stopping it with quiet authority. “I don’t,” he said.

Something about his tone made me pause. “Please,” he continued. “This will only take a few minutes.”

Lila appeared behind me. “Daphne…?”

I hesitated. Then stepped outside, closing the door behind me. “I’m listening,” I said cautiously. Mr. Dube studied me for a moment, as if confirming something.

Then he spoke. “We would like you to take a DNA test.”

I stared at him. “…What?”

“A DNA test,” he repeated. “To confirm your identity.”

A short, disbelieving laugh escaped me. “I think you’ve made a mistake,” I said. “I know who I am.”

His gaze didn’t waver. “Do you?”

The question hit harder than it should have. I frowned. “This is ridiculous.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out a file, handing it to me. “Your mother,” he said. “Elena Harper.” My breath caught.

I hadn’t heard her name from a stranger in years. Slowly, I took the file. Inside were documents, old records, dates, places. Things I barely remembered. Things I never fully understood.

“My employer believes there is a high probability,” Mr. Dube continued, “that you are not who you think you are.” My fingers tightened around the papers. “This is insane,” I said, though my voice lacked conviction now. “Why would I agree to something like this?”

“Because,” he said calmly, “if we are correct… your life is about to change.”

After everything I had just lost… The word felt almost cruel. “I’m not interested,” I said quickly, handing the file back. “I’ve had enough surprises for a lifetime.”

I turned, ready to go back inside. “Miss Harper,” he said.

I stopped. “If you walk away now,” he added, “you may be walking away from the truth about your family.” I thought about my mother. All the questions she never answered. All the gaps in my past. All the things that never made sense and slowly… I turned back.

“When?” I asked quietly. A faint smile touched his lips. “Now,” he said.

The clinic was private. I sat in the chair, staring at the form in my hands.

Name: Daphne Harper.

“This is just a formality,” the nurse said gently. I hesitated only a second longer then signed. The test was quick. A simple sample, a small moment that somehow felt like it carried the weight of my entire life.

“It will take a few hours,” Mr. Dube said as we stepped outside.

“A few hours…” I repeated.

Everything could change in a few hours or nothing would. I didn’t know which scared me more.

Across the city, Vincent Carter raised a glass of champagne. “To freedom,” he said with a satisfied smirk. Rumbidzai clinked her glass against his. “To finally getting rid of her.” They laughed completely unaware.

My phone rang. I froze, I didn't know the number. My fingers tightened slightly before I answered. “…Hello?”

“Miss Harper,” Mr. Dube’s voice came through. My heart started pounding. “The results are in,” he said.