Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: DNA Test

Nathan was fuming that evening. The car crawled through evening traffic, horns blaring outside, but inside it felt like the air had been sucked out. He kept glancing in the rear-view at Alex, then finally couldn’t hold it anymore.

“You’re not going near that woman or those kids again. That’s it. End of discussion.”

Alex stayed quiet for a second, just staring back with those big eyes that always got shiny when he was about to cry. He knew his dad didn’t say things he didn’t mean.

“Dad… I’m sorry. I won’t make any more trouble. 

Please… just let me keep seeing Mummy.”

The word Mummy hit Nathan like a punch. He pulled the car over sharp, tyres scraping the curb, switched off the engine and twisted round in his seat. Reached back and caught Alex’s cheek, not rough enough to leave a mark, but firm enough to make the boy freeze.

“That woman is not your mummy. I don’t know her. And I don't want to know her. You say that word one more time and you won’t like what happens next.”

Alex’s lip trembled. Tears started sliding down quiet, no big sobs, just the silent kind that made everything feel heavier. Nathan let go, faced the road again, and drove the rest of the way home without another word.

Emma was already outside when they pulled into the drive, barefoot, hair messy, looking worried sick. She ran to the back door, arms out for Alex. He pulled away hard, and wouldn't let her touch him. She looked up at Nathan stepping out and went completely still.

“Nathan… I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I thought she was…”

“You thought what?” He cut her off, voice low and sharp. “Do you have any idea of the embarrassment you caused me today? Right in front of people I needed on my side for that deal? If you’ve got issues with your sister, go sort them at her place. Not in my bloody business meeting.”

“I didn’t mean to… I promise I won’t do anything like that again.”

“Save the promises.” He walked straight past her. “The only thing you’ve ever brought into my life is problems.”

Emma stood there in the driveway breathing fast, fists clenched. Then she turned and stormed inside. Her bedroom door slammed so hard the pictures on the wall rattled. Straight after came the crashing, books thrown, bottles smashing, drawers emptied onto the floor. That was how she dealt with it when the hurt got too much. Wreck the room instead of the person who hurt her. Nathan’s words kept echoing in her head: problems… only problems.

Next morning Sarah’s phone buzzed on the kitchen counter. She was pouring juice for the twins when she saw the name. Dad. The man who’d kicked her out five years ago after one mistake and never once reached out since. No calls, no texts, nothing. She stared at it ringing, then just let it die out.

A minute later Sophie called. That one she picked up.

“Hey… sorry I’ve been quiet. You alright?”

Sarah leant against the fridge, voice tired. “Yeah, just about. Thanks for yesterday. I never knew what would have happened without you.”

“Anytime. Your step-sister stays causing chaos, but Sarah… that picture online? How do your boy and Nathan’s son look so alike? Like properly identical.”

Sarah sighed long and slow. “I don’t know, Soph. Maybe it’s just genes. Me and Emma got the same dad. Sometimes family stuff shows up weird like that.”

“True. Just don’t let it eat you up. If it gets heavy, call me. Okay?”

“Okay. You take care too.”

She hung up and walked into the sitting room. The twins were already awake, playing with their cars on the rug. Aria saw her and ran over, hugging her leg tight.

“Mummy… can Alex’s daddy be our daddy too?”

Sarah’s chest locked up. She knelt down, took her daughter’s little hands.

“No, sweetheart. He’s not. You can’t just choose someone and make them your daddy.”

Aria frowned, confused, but didn’t push. Sarah stayed there on her knees a moment, trying to breathe past the knot in her throat.

At the Reed place Nathan was getting ready for the press conference. Those photos that had spread like wide fire he had promised them to clear the misunderstanding, He walked into the venue stone-faced. Cameras flashed the second he appeared.

He went straight to the mic.

“The rumours about an illegitimate child are completely false. That boy is just a friend of Alex’s. Children can look alike. It’s normal. These stories are made up and they stop now. Any media that keeps spreading them will be hearing from my lawyers. Personally.”

He turned and left. No questions. No second glance.

The room went silent. Journalists looked at each other, thrown. They’d come for drama. They got nothing.

Then Alex slipped out onto the stage. Small, calm. A reporter rushed him.

“Young master, who’s the boy in the photo with you?”

Alex looked around at all the microphones, then said it plain.

“That’s my brother. And I have a sister too.”

Shouts erupted. Another reporter jumped in.

“But you’re Mr Reed’s only child. Everyone knows Emma gave birth to you alone.”

“I never said that woman was my mum.”

Nathan had reached the side door. He stopped dead. Watched his son stand there saying things no one expected. That was why the boy had begged to come today. Not to sit quietly. To speak.

Nathan’s face went dark. He turned back toward the stage, but the reporters were already crowding him.

“Mr Reed, are you hiding a secret family?”

“Is what your son said true?”

“Is Emma really his mother?”

Nathan stopped, voice steady but cold.

“Children say things when they’re upset. My fault, I’ve not been around enough lately. He’s angry with his mother right now. That’s all those words are.”

They didn’t buy it. One reporter pushed too far.

“The boy in that photo looks exactly like you, sir. Are you sure he’s not yours? Maybe switched at birth? Or something else?”

The whole room felt the chill. Nathan’s eyes narrowed.

“Fine. Since no one wants to believe me, I’ll do a DNA test. Myself. With the child in the photo. Results will be public in two weeks.”

Sarah was at home, laptop open, watching the interview. When he said those words, DNA test… two weeks, her hand went numb. The remote fell to the floor with a clatter.