Chapter 27 — The Wait

The DNA testing facility was discreet, located in a medical plaza in Westwood.

Julian walked in at 4:30 PM, the hair sample carefully sealed in a small envelope in his pocket.

The receptionist looked up, smiling professionally. "How can I help you?"

"I need a paternity test," Julian said, his voice low. "Expedited. I need results within forty-eight hours."

The receptionist's eyebrows rose slightly. "That's... unusual. Most paternity tests take two weeks."

"I don't have two weeks," Julian said, setting a check on the counter. "And I'm willing to pay for the urgency."

The receptionist looked at the check. Her eyes widened.

"Let me get the lab technician," she said immediately.

An hour later, Julian walked out.

The sample was submitted. The test was running.

Now he just had to wait.

Forty-eight hours.

That's all.

Then he'd know.

Then he'd know if those boys were his.

If Elena had kept his children from him for four years.

If he had a family he'd never known about.

The thought made his chest tight.

He got in his car, driving on autopilot, his mind racing.

What would he do if they were his?

Would she give them to him? Would she fight him? Would she disappear again?

Or... would she let him be part of their lives?

The questions haunted him all the way home.

The nanny arrived home at 5:45 PM.

She helped the boys out of the car, carrying their backpacks inside.

Elena was in the kitchen, finishing dinner. James was at the table, helping Lucas with a worksheet.

"Hey," Elena called when she heard them come in. "How was school?"

"Good!" Leo announced, running into the kitchen. "We learned about dinosaurs!"

"Dinosaurs?" Elena smiled. "Which ones?"

"T-Rex!" Leo shouted, making claw motions with his hands. "And Velociraptor!"

Elena laughed, ruffling his hair. "Very cool, baby."

Lucas walked in more quietly, climbing onto a stool beside James. "Mommy, can I have juice?"

"Of course," Elena said, pouring him a glass.

The nanny, Maria, was hovering in the doorway, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Maria?" Elena asked, noticing her expression. "Is everything okay?"

Maria hesitated. Then she said, "Ms. Moore, something... something happened at pickup today."

Elena's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

Maria stepped into the kitchen, lowering her voice. "There was a man. Waiting outside. He... he approached the boys."

Elena's blood went cold. "What?"

James stood immediately, his expression protective. "What man?"

Maria's hands were trembling slightly. "He said he was a... a family friend. He was very polite. Very well-dressed. But... but Ms. Moore, he looked..."

She trailed off, not finishing.

Elena's heart was pounding. "What, Maria? What did he look like?"

Maria took a deep breath. "Tall. Dark hair. Very handsome. Expensive suit. He said his name was Julian." She paused. "And Ms. Moore... the resemblance was... uncanny. The boys, they... they seemed to like him. Immediately."

Elena's world stopped.

Julian.

Julian Vance.

He'd found them.

He'd found the boys.

"Did he hurt them?" James demanded, his voice sharp.

Maria shook her head quickly. "No. He just... he wanted to say hello. He said he was a family friend. He was very gentle with them."

Elena's hands were trembling. "Maria, if you see him again, if he approaches the boys, I want you to call me immediately. Do not let him talk to them. Do not let him near them."

Maria nodded quickly. "Of course, Ms. Moore."

"And if he comes to the school again," Elena continued, her voice firm, "you tell the administration. You tell security. You do whatever you have to do to keep him away from my children."

"I understand," Maria said.

Elena turned away, gripping the counter.

Julian knew.

He knew about the boys.

And he'd seen them.

Seen how much they looked like him.

James stepped beside her, his voice low. "Elena, who is he?"

Elena didn't look at him. "No one."

"He's not no one," James said firmly. "Maria said he looked like the boys. Like their father."

Elena's throat tightened. "It's... it's complicated."

"Complicated how?" James demanded. "Elena, who is the father of those boys?"

Elena turned to face him, her eyes filled with tears. "I can't. I can't talk about this right now."

James's expression was pained. "Elena, please. You have to tell me something. If this man is their father, if he's going to start showing up—"

"He's not their father," Elena lied, her voice breaking. "He's... he's just someone from my past. Someone I don't want anywhere near my children."

James studied her for a long moment. Then he nodded, slowly.

"Okay," he said quietly. "But Elena... if he comes back, if he threatens you or the boys, you tell me. I'll handle it."

Elena's eyes filled with tears. "James, I..."

He pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. "I've got you. I've got all of you."

Elena closed her eyes, letting herself lean into him.

But her mind was elsewhere.

On Julian.

On what he was planning.

On the fact that she couldn't hide forever.