Chapter 5: The DNA Test
479 Words
Amelia rushed out of the office, her hands trembling.
She had prepared herself for this day, but standing face-to-face with Ethan had shattered the walls she’d spent five years building.
“Miss Stone!” her manager called.
She stopped.
“Mr. Blackwood has chosen our company to redesign the lobby of Blackwood Holdings. You’ll be leading the project.”
Amelia’s heart sank.
“What?”
“Congratulations! This is the biggest contract we’ve ever received.”
She forced a smile.
“Thank you.”
Inside, she was falling apart.
⸻
Across town…
Ethan sat alone in his office, staring at the family photo on his desk.
Except it wasn’t his family.
It was an artist’s sketch his investigator had created from the security footage—a woman holding a little girl.
The child’s eyes.
Her smile.
Even the shape of her face reminded him of himself.
He picked up the phone.
“Daniel.”
“Yes, sir?”
“I want a DNA test.”
Daniel froze.
“Sir… we don’t even have the child’s DNA.”
“We’ll get it.”
⸻
That evening…
Amelia picked Lily up from kindergarten.
The little girl ran into her mother’s arms.
“Mama!”
“How was school?”
“I drew our family!”
Lily proudly held up a colorful drawing.
It showed three people.
Amelia.
Lily.
And a tall man holding both their hands.
Amelia’s smile faded.
“Who’s this?”
Lily pointed to the man.
“My daddy.”
Tears filled Amelia’s eyes.
“But you’ve never met him.”
“I know.”
The little girl looked down shyly.
“I dreamed about him.”
⸻
The next morning…
Blackwood Holdings buzzed with excitement as Amelia arrived for the design meeting.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the executive conference room.
Ethan was already there.
Their eyes met.
Neither spoke.
The meeting began, but Ethan barely listened.
His attention stayed on Amelia.
When everyone else left for a coffee break, they were finally alone.
“You can’t avoid me forever,” he said.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
“Then answer one question.”
She remained silent.
He stepped closer.
“Is Lily…”
His voice cracked.
“…my daughter?”
Amelia’s heart pounded.
Before she could answer, a cheerful voice echoed through the hallway.
“Mama!”
Lily ran into the conference room, having arrived early with Amelia’s babysitter.
She rushed straight toward Amelia.
Then she looked up at Ethan.
Her bright blue eyes widened.
She smiled.
“Hello again, mister.”
Ethan knelt to her height.
“Hello, princess.”
Without thinking, Lily reached out and held his hand.
A strange warmth spread through Ethan’s chest.
For the first time in years…
He felt something he couldn’t explain.
It wasn’t just affection.
It was instinct.
A father’s instinct.
End of Chapter 5
- Writer
