Ch71 - Her DNA

Matteo had just survived what might have been the hardest days of his life. He’d already been exhausted, but staring at those pin-sized watch components made his eyelids even heavier. 

If not for the fate of his precious toys, he would never have sat through these “lessons.” Claire had warned him: if Josef complained about his attitude or told him not to come back, the yacht was gone. His mother scared him more than anyone—his father included.

The morning began exactly like the previous one. Claire dragged him off that sagging, unsupportive hotel mattress and shoved him into the car. The only difference was that today she whispered an extra instruction on the way.

Inside Josef’s workshop, they sat at the long table. Josef occupied one side, while Violet and Matteo sat shoulder to shoulder across from him, both staring at the three tiny screws laid out on a white cloth. Edward was away in Geneva for business these two days.

Josef leaned back slightly, arms folded, watching them with the sharp, appraising calm only master craftsmen possessed. He asked them to identify which screw had been polished by hand.

Violet lowered her head first. She picked up each screw delicately, rolling them along her fingertips, letting the edges glide against her skin. Then she lifted the middle one. “This one. There’s a slight irregularity—the transitions are softer. The other two are too straight, too uniform.”

Matteo jumped in immediately. “Yeah, I think it’s the middle one too.” His tone was confident, as if he had done a full analysis and not simply followed Violet’s lead.

Josef pressed his lips together. “Not bad. You both got it right.”

Matteo grinned triumphantly. He knew he didn’t need to pay too much attention; all he had to do was echo Violet’s choices. But Josef then announced they would each polish a screw themselves.

“I already did this last time,” Matteo whined.

Josef ignored him. “Last time your hand was still shaky. Let’s see if you’ve improved.”

Matteo pulled a face but obeyed. Normally he wouldn’t have minded, but today someone beside him was working faster and far more confidently. Violet’s precision made his own efforts look embarrassing.

He shot her a resentful glance. When he first met her, he only thought she was pretty—delicate enough to look like a porcelain doll—and he assumed she knew nothing. Instead, she was more skilled than he was, despite his years of half-hearted watchmaking training.

Even worse, Josef clearly adored her. Watching the old man’s stern face soften into warmth whenever Violet succeeded made Matteo Scoff Internally. Who was the real grandchild here?

Still, impressing Josef wasn’t the main mission today. Matteo hadn’t forgotten what Claire wanted: a few strands of Violet’s hair. Ever since morning, he’d been trying to figure out how to get them without being obvious.

Violet had braided her hair neatly into two plaits today. He’d originally planned to pick up any stray strands she dropped, but that plan was DEAD. He didn’t know why his mother needed the girl’s DNA, only that completing the task would earn him a brand-new sports car.

When noon approached, Matteo suddenly sprang up from his seat and turned to Violet. “What kind of coffee do you like? There’s a place nearby with AMAZING coffee. I’m going out—let me bring you one.”

Violet hesitated. “Thank you, but it’s fine. I rarely drink coffee.”

“The hot cocoa is even better there. Really rich. You can’t come here and not try it,” he insisted.

“Well… since you recommend it, I’ll try it. Thank you.”

“No problem. I’m heading out anyway.” Matteo shot up, shrugged on his coat, and didn’t even bother fixing his scarf before darting outside.

He ran off like the shop was selling the last batch on earth.

Josef lifted a brow. He had never seen the boy this eager. Matteo usually complained about everything—uncomfortable chairs, boring work, even being asked to lift a finger required three reminders. 

Volunteering to go out into the freezing cold to buy something for someone? Completely unlike him. What was the kid up to? But Josef dismissed the thought quickly; Matteo was playful by nature but not malicious.

Matteo had grown up wanting for nothing, spoiled endlessly by his parents, which shaped his entitled temperament. Still, he was more promising than Laurent ever was. Josef looked again at the sketch in his hands—a watch design Matteo had drawn himself.

Bold colors, an unconventional silhouette, nothing like Reinhardt’s current aesthetic but still a strong piece. Perhaps it could become a new product line, a fresher direction for the brand. Maybe, Josef thought, Matteo could be shaped into the next successor.

Across the table, Violet felt overwhelmed by the sudden kindness. She had noticed Matteo’s curious, then borderline hostile stares the first day. Today he spent half the time zoning out while staring at her, but the intensity had softened.

Still, when he suddenly offered to buy her a drink, she nearly jumped out of her seat. And when he returned, insisting she drink the hot cocoa while it was still warm, she couldn’t resist those eager eyes and downed it quickly.

Matteo tucked the empty cup back into the paper bag. When the day in the workshop finally ended, he casually took the bag with him.

Back in the car with Claire, he practically vibrated with excitement as he handed it over. “Mom, here’s what you wanted. So… my car?”

Claire peeked inside—an empty disposable cup and, in the transparent bag meant for hair samples, half a piece of bitten bread. She frowned. “What is this? This isn’t what I asked for.”

“It is! She ate it. I can’t just yank hair out of her head. But the cup and the food have her saliva. You can get DNA from that.” Matteo sounded desperate, defensive.

Claire’s expression eased. She hadn’t thought of that; she’d assumed hair would be the easiest to collect. For once, her usually clueless son had used his brain and found another path.

Matteo leaned forward eagerly. “So? Am I smart or what? When are you ordering my car?”

“You’ll get it. But did anyone notice you? If anyone asks, you must not slip up. Not a word.”

“Relax. I know what I’m doing. I’ll forget this whole thing ever happened.” Matteo promised.

Claire carefully sealed the cup inside a proper evidence bag, then grabbed another one to collect her husband’s saliva.

Laurent asked, “Why mine? Wouldn’t my father’s be better?”

“ARE YOU STUPID? If Josef suspects anything, we’re done. Forget collecting his DNA—any trace in the medical system would be evidence against us. Impossible. You and your niece share much less DNA, but for a basic kinship check, it’s enough. We don’t need precision, just confirmation.”

Claire secured both samples. The assistant would drive into the town early the next morning to pick them up, and they should have results within half a day.

Violet was staying only three days. Tomorrow would be the third, and she was leaving the morning after. Once the DNA was confirmed, Claire would still have enough time to create an “accident”…