The CEO's Secret Bride

chapter 4: The DNA Lie

The atmosphere inside Blackwood Manor was suffocating.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

The television screen continued replaying Vanessa Hart's emotional interview, her tear-streaked face filling every news channel.

"I'm not asking Damian to love me again. I'm only asking him to acknowledge our child."

Amara reached for the remote and switched the television off.

Silence filled the room.

She turned toward Damian, who stood by the floor-to-ceiling window with both hands buried in his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed the anger he was trying to suppress.

"Tell me the truth," Amara said quietly.

"I already have."

"Then why isn't she stopping?"

"Because that's exactly what she wants."

Amara frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Damian finally looked at her.

"She doesn't want me."

He paused.

"She wants my company."

Before Amara could ask another question, the mansion doors burst open.

A security guard rushed inside.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

Damian frowned.

"What is it?"

"Miss Vanessa Hart is outside."

Amara's heart skipped.

The guard continued nervously.

"She refused to leave."

"And..."

He swallowed.

"She's brought the media with her."

Outside Blackwood Manor, dozens of reporters crowded around the entrance, microphones stretched forward like weapons.

Camera flashes illuminated the dark evening.

Standing confidently in the middle of them all was Vanessa.

She wore an elegant white dress that accentuated her figure, one hand resting gently on her stomach.

The moment Damian stepped outside, the reporters erupted.

"Mr. Blackwood!"

"Is the baby yours?"

"Did you abandon Miss Hart?"

"Did you marry Amara Collins for money?"

Vanessa smiled sadly before walking toward Damian.

"You finally came."

Damian's face remained expressionless.

"Leave."

"I just want to talk."

"You've already talked enough."

She laughed softly.

"You've always been cold."

Then she looked directly at Amara.

"So..."

"This is the replacement."

Amara took a step forward.

"My name is Amara."

Vanessa smiled politely.

"I know."

"I've done my research."

Something about the way she said it made Amara uncomfortable.

Vanessa leaned closer.

"Do you know why Damian chose you?"

Amara remained silent.

"He didn't marry you because he loved you."

"He married you because he needed someone."

Damian stepped between them.

"That's enough."

Vanessa ignored him.

"Ask him about me."

"Ask him why I disappeared."

"Ask him why I came back."

Damian's voice turned dangerously calm.

"Security."

Within seconds, guards surrounded Vanessa.

She raised both hands dramatically.

"I'm leaving."

"But before I go..."

She opened her designer handbag and removed a sealed envelope.

"The DNA report."

The reporters gasped.

Vanessa handed it directly to the nearest journalist.

"The father is Damian Blackwood."

Every camera immediately focused on Damian.

Questions flew from every direction.

"Is it true?"

"What will happen to your marriage?"

"Will you divorce your wife?"

Amara felt the ground disappear beneath her feet.

She looked at Damian.

He hadn't moved.

He hadn't even looked at the envelope.

Instead...

He smiled.

It was the first genuine smile she had seen from him.

Vanessa's confident expression faltered.

"You think this is funny?"

"No."

Damian replied calmly.

"I think it's predictable."

He reached into his suit pocket and removed another envelope.

"I was waiting for this."

Vanessa's face turned pale.

Damian handed the envelope to one of the reporters.

"Since Miss Hart wants the truth to be public..."

"We might as well show everyone."

The reporter opened the envelope.

Inside were official medical documents.

His eyes widened.

"What..."

Another reporter grabbed the papers.

The crowd instantly fell silent.

One sentence was highlighted in bold.

Patient: Vanessa Hart.

Medical examination confirms pregnancy: NEGATIVE.

"No..."

Vanessa whispered.

"That's impossible."

Damian folded his arms.

"Three days ago, someone broke into my hospital's database."

"They attempted to upload fake pregnancy records."

"I expected you to use them."

Vanessa stared at him in horror.

"You..."

"You knew?"

"I know everything."

The reporters immediately turned toward Vanessa.

"Miss Hart, were you lying?"

"Is the pregnancy fake?"

"Did you forge the DNA report?"

Panic spread across her face.

"This isn't over."

She pushed through the crowd and climbed into her waiting car.

Within seconds, the vehicle sped away.

The reporters chased after it.

In less than five minutes...

The crowd was gone.

Only Amara and Damian remained standing outside the mansion.

She looked at him in disbelief.

"You knew she was coming."

"Yes."

"You knew she'd fake the pregnancy."

"Yes."

"You let it happen?"

"I needed everyone to see her destroy her own credibility."

Amara shook her head slowly.

"I don't understand you."

Damian looked toward the dark horizon.

"You don't have to."

Just then, his phone rang.

His expression changed the moment he answered.

"What?"

A long silence followed.

Then...

"Lock down every office."

"Nobody leaves."

He ended the call.

Amara immediately noticed the tension in his face.

"What happened?"

Damian turned toward her.

"Our company has just been hacked."

"The attackers stole confidential files."

"And they left one message."

"What message?"

He looked her straight in the eyes.

"Tell your wife she's next."

End of Chapter 4.

Cliffhanger: Someone has declared war on Damian—and now Amara has become the target. But who is behind the attack, and what secret connects them to her past?