A BLOODY SURROGACY DEAL.

THE DNA TEST.

Chapter 2

Clara’s POV

I couldn’t think for a moment as I stared at Dominic with wide eyes. As the silence grew heavier, I quickly reached for an oblivious Leo and guided him behind my legs as I tried to shield him as much as possible.

"He isn't yours," I lied, even when the truth was as clear as day. "I don't know who you are, but you need to leave my shop right now."

My heart pounded heavily against my chest when Dominic didn’t say a word and only continued staring coldly at me. From behind me, I felt Leo grip my trousers and peek out to look at Dominic one more time.

"Mommy? This daddy?" Leo whispered, but his voice was still very loud. My eyes widened in alarm at his question as I took another step back. As Leo grew, I had often told him his daddy was away and would be back some day. Who could have thought it would become reality?

"Not daddy," I quickly said. "Just a customer who was leaving," I said in a shaky voice. My eyes met Dominic’s one more time and I silently begged for him to play along but it was futile.

"A customer?" Dominic repeated, his voice dangerously low. "You are going to stand there, looking into my face, and tell me that child does not carry my blood? Look at his eyes, Clara. Look at his face. He is a Thorne in every way that matters."

"He’s mine!" I hissed, moving toward the door to usher Leo away before it became too late. "I carried him and I birthed him. I raised him while you were sitting in your mansion so you have no right to come here and claim him."

"I have every right," Dominic countered as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a cell phone. Then, he pressed a single button and placed it to his ear as his eyes bore into mine.

"Come in, Marcus," he said.

Panic flared in my chest. "Who is Marcus? Dominic, stop this."

Almost immediately, the front door chimed again, and a man in a grey suit walked in. He carried a leather briefcase and carried himself with a kind of aura that made the knots in my belly twist harder.

"This is Marcus Thorne, my head of legal counsel," Dominic said, his tone shifting from rage to a calmness. "Marcus, explain to Ms. Vance or whatever alias she’s using today, exactly what happens next."

The lawyer clicked open his briefcase, pulling out a thick folder. "Ms. Clara, let’s be very clear about your position. You signed a binding surrogacy contract with the Thorne estate. By faking the death of the fetus and fleeing with the child, you have committed multiple counts of fraud, custodial interference, and breach of contract. We are prepared to file suit for the return of all things paid to you, plus damages. Furthermore, we will be pursuing criminal charges for the falsification of government documents regarding the child's birth certificate."

I felt the blood drain from my face. I looked at the papers he held out which consisted of the copies of the contract I had signed in a moment of desperation years ago. "I did it to save him! Your family... they were going to terminate the pregnancy after the accident!"

"Prove it," Dominic challenged, stepping closer until he was looming over me. "Show me the paper trail and the recordings. Because all I see is a woman who stole a child and spent four years spending my money to hide him."

"I didn't use your money! I worked for every penny!"

"It doesn't matter," Marcus interrupted, cutting me off coldly. "In the eyes of the law, you are a kidnapper. If we go to court today, a judge will grant Mr. Thorne temporary custody within the hour based on the breach of contract alone. You will be lucky to see this boy again by the time we are done."

The thought of Leo being taken away from me almost made me collapse to the ground as I felt like life had been drained out of me. He thinks I am selfish and doesn’t believe the fact that his family threatened our lives.

I couldn’t afford to lose him, that would break me completely.

"What do you want?" I whispered in fear as I stared desperately at Dominic. If I proved stubborn, he would arrest me and I didn’t have enough money for a court case.

“I just want the truth,” he said, gesturing to Marcus and as if waiting for the signal, Marcus reached into his briefcase and took out a DNA collection swab.

“What is this?” I dared to ask.

“A DNA test needs to be conducted. I just need to see if he’s really my son,” he explained.

“If the test is positive," I said, my voice shaking because I already knew the truth. "you don't just take him. We talk. We... we figure this out."

"We will do what is best for my son," Dominic replied strictly, clearly ignoring my request.

Shattered, I knelt down in front of Leo, trying to keep my face composed so I wouldn't scare him further. "Leo, honey, this man is a doctor's friend. He just needs to tickle the inside of your cheek with a little stick, okay? It won't hurt at all."

Leo only nodded and then, I stepped back while Marcus came and quickly took the sample. He did the same for Dominic as well, before putting them in his briefcase.

"My private lab is two blocks away," Dominic stated. "They are expecting us already. We will wait there for the results."

Things were moving so fast, I barely registered entering as he sped off. I felt like I was in a nightmare but here, I wasn’t waking up. With Leo on my lap, the car drove silently to our destination, which only made me more afraid.

When we got to the lab, we waited for what felt like hours, before Marcus walked back out and handed Dominic the results.

Dominic read it, his expression unreadable for a long moment. With breath stuck in my throat, I waited for him to tell me what the result said but when he turned the paper so I could see, I almost burst into tears.

“Probability of Paternity: 99.9%”