All Chapters of Love in the Shadows of Legacy: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Alexander's POVThe DNA results arrived Wednesday morning, eight days early, and the courier insisted on hand delivery with signature confirmation, as if the envelope contained nuclear codes instead of just information that would change everything.I signed for it at my apartment at 7 AM before heading to the office and stared at the plain white envelope with the lab's logo discreetly printed in the corner.My hands shook as I carried it to my kitchen table and sat down because once I opened this there was no going back from whatever truth it contained.Part of me wanted to throw it away unopened and tell Lily what Richard's letter claimed without scientific confirmation.But I'd already violated her privacy by taking her DNA and sending it for testing so I might as well see the results that had cost me another piece of my integrity.I opened the envelope carefully and pulled out the report with technical language about genetic markers and probability calculations that I skimmed past

Alexander's POVI watched Lily present the debt recovery strategy to the board on Friday afternoon and saw Richard in every gesture she made.The way she explained complex financial concepts using visual metaphors made them accessible.The way she listened to concerns without getting defensive, then addressed them with the patience Richard had always shown.The way she refused to sacrifice employee well-being for short-term profits was because character mattered more than quarterly earnings.She was Richard's daughter in every way that mattered and now I had scientific proof of the biological connection.The DNA results sat in my desk drawer like a bomb waiting to explode and destroy whatever fragile trust we'd built.I'd planned to tell her Wednesday night, but when she'd walked into Richard's office looking vulnerable after her conversation with Rafael, I couldn't do it.Then Thursday, we'd worked together, and she'd brought me coffee and asked about my parents, and I'd watched her

Chapter 0064Alexander's POVSophia Martinez showed up at my office on Friday at five thirty without an appointment, and my assistant looked apologetic as she followed her in."I'm sorry Mr. Thompson, she insisted it was urgent regarding Miss Rose.""It's fine Janet. Close the door on your way out." I gestured for Sophia to sit. "What's urgent about Lily?""I'm worried about her." Sophia crossed her legs and leaned forward in a way that felt deliberately provocative. "She's exhausted and stressed and this job is destroying her. Someone needs to intervene.""Lily is handling the pressure remarkably well considering the circumstances." I kept my tone professional. "Was there something specific you wanted to discuss?""I wanted to talk to you about giving her space." Sophia's voice dropped lower. "She needs friends right now, not colleagues who monopolize her time and energy.""I'm not monopolizing anything. We're working together to save the company." I stood to signal that the conversa

Alexander's POVJanet called me Saturday afternoon while I was at home reviewing debt restructuring proposals."Mr. Thompson, I thought you should know Miss Rose was in the office this morning and spent considerable time in Mr. Richard's private office.""Did she say what she was doing there?""No, but when she left, she looked like she'd been crying, and she was carrying something that looked like old letters." Janet's voice was careful. "I think she might have opened the locked drawer."My stomach dropped because if Lily had found Richard's letters to Elena, then she knew the truth, and I'd lost my chance to tell her properly."Thank you for letting me know Janet."After we hung up, I sat staring at my phone, knowing confrontation was coming and I needed to be ready.Lily would have read Richard's letters about loving Elena and trying to adopt their daughter.She'd have pieced together that Richard Thompson was her biological father.And she'd realize I'd known or at least suspected

Lily's POVI didn't wait until ten AM Sunday morning because fury propelled me to Alexander's apartment at seven with Richard's letters clutched in my hands.I banged on his door until he opened it looking like he hadn't slept either."You knew." I pushed past him into the apartment. "You knew Richard Thompson was my father."Alexander closed the door and his face was carefully blank. "Yes. I suspected based on the letters and then I confirmed it.""Confirmed it how?" My voice was shaking."DNA test. I took your coffee mug and sent your DNA along with Richard's for testing." He met my eyes. "The results came back confirming ninety-nine point nine percent probability that Richard was your biological father."The room spun and I had to grab the back of his couch. "You took my DNA without my permission?""Yes. I needed to know the truth before telling you something that would change your entire life." Alexander moved toward me but stopped when I flinched back. "Lily, I'm sorry. There's n