All Chapters of What Blood Reveals: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I crushed the honey-lavender shortbread in my fist and dropped it into the trash.I took several slow breaths before walking into the room.The moment I saw the man's face, my heart jolted.No wonder the voice had sounded so familiar.It was Caleb Price, the scholarship student I'd supported for four years and personally mentored from an intern into a key member of Raleigh Industries' flagship project team.I'd never imagined he and Vanessa knew each other. My wife had always looked down on almost everyone.Yet here he was, comfortably inside her hospital room."What are you doing here?"Caleb went pale and stumbled over his explanation."Everyone at the company heard Mrs. Raleigh was about to deliver, and they were worried. Since I work closely with you, I came on their behalf."I nodded, walked to the bed, and sat down.Vanessa was propped against the pillows, a faint trace of milk at the corner of her mouth.There was milk around Caleb's lips too. When he noticed me look

Chapter 2

The baby was born shortly after midnight.A nurse emerged carrying a tiny, wrinkled newborn."Family of Vanessa Raleigh? Mother and son are both stable."I stood frozen, as though my feet had been nailed to the floor.The nurse placed the child in my arms. When I remained stiff, she frowned."Sir, your son was just born. Aren't you even going to hold him?"I accepted the baby with rigid arms.He was impossibly small, with a weak cry and a face scrunched tight.I'd heard enough outside that hospital room to know the truth, yet the moment I held him, one ridiculous hope still rose inside me.What if?What if he really was mine?I used the newborn screening as an excuse to get away from Margaret and contacted a physician I trusted.A short while later, the preliminary results appeared on my phone.My friend's voice was grave."Daniel, the relationship test confirms what you suspected. The child isn't biologically yours."I closed my eyes.There was a pause on the other end

Chapter 3

The next day, I moved Vanessa and her mother into Meadowcrest Postpartum Retreat.As soon as they settled into the private suite, Margaret slapped a stack of forms onto the table in front of me."I already found out which documents Aldercrest County needs."The moment the hospital issues the birth certificate, you need to file everything and add him to the Raleigh family records."Vanessa leaned against the headboard and nodded weakly."Daniel, the baby's already here. We'll all feel better once the paperwork is finished."I looked at her and answered calmly."There's no hurry."The room fell silent.Margaret frowned."What do you mean, no hurry? Registering a child's birth is important!"I picked up the forms and flipped through them."We haven't settled on his name."Vanessa blinked, then stared at me with a crease between her brows."We chose the name months ago."Her voice softened, as though she were gently reminding me."Noah Raleigh."Something sharp seemed to p

Chapter 4

After that, Margaret behaved herself for a while.Because I'd paid for Meadowcrest's premium package, she treated the retreat as though she owned it.When the director called to complain, I gave only one instruction."Whatever they ask for, do your best to accommodate it."After ending the call, I continued reviewing the files my attorney and investigator had delivered.Caleb had appeared hardworking after joining Raleigh Industries, but behind the scenes, he'd been helping himself.He'd interfered with project funds, copied confidential documents, and accessed client information without authorization.More absurdly, the supplementary card I'd given Vanessa showed multiple transfers into Caleb's account.The security records also showed that whenever I traveled for work, Caleb entered my home as though he belonged there.He keyed in the door code and walked straight to the primary bedroom.Our wedding portrait still hung on the wall inside that room.On those same nights, Va

Chapter 5

The instant the screen lit up, the entire ballroom went silent.It displayed the concealed camera feed from the private lounge.Vanessa and Caleb were wrapped around each other in a way that required no explanation.Caleb's face was buried against her chest, while Vanessa looked down at him with one hand resting on the back of his neck."Sweetheart, make it quick."We still have to watch Daniel publicly welcome our son into the Raleigh family. Once the assets are transferred, we'll never have to hide again."That idiot Daniel honestly believes he became a father."The words carried through the ballroom.The guests erupted.Victor's face darkened until it was almost unrecognizable.Victor Cole cared about appearances more than nearly anything else.The Cole family wasn't among the wealthiest dynasties in Aldercrest, Bellweather, but it was respected in local business circles.More importantly, much of Colewell Development's current business depended on introductions and cont

Chapter 6

The slap left Vanessa stunned.Tears flooded her eyes.Whatever else she'd done, Margaret still rushed forward with the baby and placed herself between Vanessa and Victor."Victor, what are you doing?"She just finished postpartum recovery. Are you trying to put her back in the hospital?"Victor's chest heaved as he pointed at his daughter."This is what happens when a mother excuses everything."If you hadn't indulged her all these years, she'd never have become this shameless."Margaret's face reddened, and her voice rose."What kind of thing is that to say?"Can I control who our daughter loves?"Victor nearly laughed from sheer disbelief."You still dare say that?"Do you care nothing about Colewell Development? Once this gets out, how's our family supposed to face anyone in Aldercrest?"Margaret lifted her chin. She was clearly frightened, but she refused to surrender."What do the choices of two young people have to do with us?"She tightened her hold on the baby

Chapter 7

Vanessa suddenly lunged at me, tore the report from my hand, and ripped it into pieces."It's fake! Every word is fake!"With her hair disheveled and her eyes red, she shouted at the guests below the stage."Daniel, you forged this because you want a divorce without giving me any property. What kind of man does that?"This is your biological son. Do you have another woman, and is that why you chose the baby's reception to humiliate me?"She wept beautifully.At that point, however, I felt no pity. Her performance only seemed clumsy.I'd intended to reveal no more than necessary, but she refused to admit anything even with the truth in front of her.Fine.The display changed again.More evidence appeared.There was security footage of Caleb entering my home late at night.There were statements showing Vanessa transferring money from my supplementary card into Caleb's account.There were clear photographs of them embracing and kissing in hotels, shopping centers, and parking

Chapter 8

Vanessa collapsed to the floor as though every bone had disappeared from her body.She crawled toward me and wrapped both arms tightly around my leg."Daniel! Daniel, please!"I know I was wrong. Forgive me this once. Please let me go."We were husband and wife. I gave you seven years of my life. You can't be this heartless."Her voice turned hoarse from crying, and tears streaked her face.Once, I would've softened immediately.Now, when I looked down at her, I saw a stranger.The baby began wailing again.His sharp, urgent cries cut through the chaos in the ballroom.Margaret cried as she held him.She finally seemed to understand that there was no lie left large enough to hide the truth.Clutching the baby, she stumbled forward and lowered herself before me."Daniel, I'm begging you."We were a family. The baby is so small. Please don't take this all the way."I shook my head and stepped back.The police officers had already entered the ballroom.One of them looked

Chapter 9

The fallout spread faster than I expected.By that evening, the video from the baby's reception had circulated throughout Aldercrest's business community.Vanessa's affair, the false paternity, the Cole family's attempt to seize Raleigh assets, Caleb's theft of confidential information...Any one of those scandals could've ruined the Cole family.Lawsuits were filed, partners terminated contracts, lenders demanded payment, and active projects stopped.Within a month, Colewell Development collapsed.Their polished estate was listed in a court-supervised sale. The cars, jewelry, and shares were sold wherever a buyer could be found.Victor seemed to lose his spirit overnight.A man who'd once cared more about dignity than anything else eventually came to wait outside Raleigh Industries for me.The wind was fierce that day.He wore a wrinkled old suit. His hair had turned gray, dark circles shadowed his eyes, and he carried two bags of inexpensive health products.When he saw me

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