Chapter 5: The DNA Demand
1542 Words
The boardroom fell into a suffocating silence.
Sophia’s words still hung in the air like poison.
“You might want that DNA test sooner than you think.”
No one moved.
No one even breathed too loudly.
Because everyone in the room understood exactly what she was implying.
Adrian’s gaze slowly shifted from Sophia…
…to Vanessa.
His expression had changed.
The calm confidence from earlier was gone.
Now there was something darker in his eyes.
Something colder.
Doubt.
Vanessa felt it instantly.
It was like a knife sliding between her ribs.
Three years of marriage.
Three years of loyalty.
And yet one sentence from Sophia had planted suspicion in his mind.
Vanessa’s voice came out steady.
“Say what you mean.”
Sophia laughed softly.
“Oh, I will.”
She crossed her arms, clearly enjoying the attention of the entire boardroom.
“You’re all acting like this pregnancy automatically belongs to Adrian.”
Her gaze slid toward Vanessa.
“But no one here actually knows that.”
Director Wallace shifted in his chair.
“This conversation is inappropriate—”
Sophia ignored him.
She walked slowly around the table.
Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor.
“Let’s review the timeline.”
Vanessa’s hands slowly clenched at her sides.
Sophia stopped across from Adrian.
“Six weeks pregnant.”
She turned toward Vanessa.
“That’s what the doctor said, right?”
Vanessa didn’t respond.
Sophia smiled wider.
“Interesting.”
Adrian’s voice cut through the room.
“Get to the point.”
Sophia nodded.
“Gladly.”
She looked straight at Vanessa.
“Six weeks ago… Adrian had just returned from London.”
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Sophia continued.
“But what Adrian doesn’t know…”
Her voice lowered dramatically.
“…is that you weren’t even in the city that night.”
The room froze.
Vanessa’s heart skipped.
Adrian’s gaze sharpened instantly.
“What?”
Sophia laughed.
“Oh yes.”
She turned to the board members.
“I did a little research after hearing about this pregnancy scandal.”
Vanessa’s stomach twisted.
Sophia reached into her purse.
Then placed a printed document on the table.
Plane tickets.
Hotel receipts.
Adrian picked them up slowly.
Sophia spoke sweetly.
“These records show Vanessa checked into a hotel in Chicago that same night.”
The room erupted into whispers.
Adrian stared at the documents.
His expression darkening.
Vanessa stepped forward immediately.
“That’s not—”
Sophia cut her off.
“Oh please.”
Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
“You expect everyone here to believe that’s a coincidence?”
Director Chen frowned.
“Miss Clarke, these records appear authentic.”
Vanessa’s pulse was racing now.
Because the records were real.
She had gone to Chicago that week.
For a business negotiation.
But Sophia was twisting the truth.
Vanessa forced her voice to remain calm.
“I returned to New York that evening.”
Sophia laughed.
“Convenient.”
Adrian looked up slowly.
His eyes were unreadable.
“You’re saying she lied about where she was.”
Sophia shrugged.
“I’m saying the timeline doesn’t look good.”
Vanessa felt anger rising in her chest.
“This is ridiculous.”
She turned toward Adrian.
“You know exactly where I was that night.”
Adrian didn’t answer immediately.
And that hesitation hurt more than anything Sophia had said.
Sophia noticed it too.
Her smile widened.
“Look at him.”
She gestured toward Adrian.
“He’s already questioning it.”
Vanessa’s chest tightened.
Sophia leaned closer to Adrian.
“You should thank me.”
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“I just saved you from raising another man’s child.”
The insult echoed across the boardroom.
Adrian’s hand slammed down on the table.
“Enough!”
The sound startled everyone.
Sophia blinked.
Adrian stood slowly.
His voice was cold.
“I didn’t ask for your theories.”
Sophia opened her mouth to protest.
But Adrian cut her off again.
“I asked for proof.”
He turned toward Vanessa.
Their eyes met.
The room held its breath.
“…Is the baby mine?”
The question felt like a punch to the chest.
Vanessa stared at him.
“You actually have to ask that?”
Adrian didn’t blink.
“I need the truth.”
Vanessa let out a slow breath.
“Then get the test.”
The words came out sharper than she intended.
But she didn’t regret them.
“If that’s the only thing you’ll believe.”
Adrian studied her face carefully.
Looking for hesitation.
For fear.
For guilt.
But Vanessa simply held his gaze.
Steady.
Unmoving.
Sophia scoffed.
“Of course she’s agreeing.”
She waved her hand dismissively.
“By the time the test comes back, she’ll already have trapped you with the media.”
Vanessa’s patience snapped.
“I don’t need to trap anyone.”
Her voice was ice.
“Especially not a man who already divorced me.”
The room fell silent again.
Sophia’s expression darkened.
Adrian’s eyes flickered briefly.
Because Vanessa was right.
He had been the one who ended the marriage.
The one who told her to disappear.
And now—
Now she was standing here carrying a child that might change everything.
Daniel’s voice suddenly returned through the speaker.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
Adrian didn’t turn.
“What.”
“The reporters are asking for a statement.”
Director Wallace checked his watch nervously.
“This situation is escalating quickly.”
Director Chen looked at Adrian.
“If the media believes this pregnancy is disputed, the scandal could double.”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
Sophia stepped forward again.
“Then deny it.”
Everyone looked at her.
Sophia’s voice was firm.
“Tell the press you’re not the father.”
Vanessa’s head snapped toward her.
Sophia continued coldly.
“That should solve everything.”
The room felt colder.
Adrian slowly turned toward Sophia.
His voice was dangerously quiet.
“You want me to accuse her of lying.”
Sophia didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
Vanessa watched him carefully.
Waiting.
Sophia smiled confidently.
“Adrian, think about it.”
She gestured toward Vanessa.
“She’s already taken your company.”
Her tone hardened.
“You’re really going to let her take your reputation too?”
Adrian was silent for a long moment.
Then he walked toward the window.
The city stretched far below them.
His reflection stared back from the glass.
A man who controlled billions.
A man who dominated every room he entered.
But right now…
His entire life had turned into chaos overnight.
After several seconds, Adrian turned back toward the room.
His gaze landed on Vanessa again.
“I won’t deny the child.”
Sophia’s smile disappeared instantly.
“…What?”
Adrian’s voice was calm.
“Until the DNA results are confirmed.”
Sophia stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
Sophia’s anger exploded.
“You’re defending her?!”
Adrian’s eyes turned cold.
“I’m protecting the company.”
The explanation sounded logical.
Professional.
But Vanessa noticed something else in his expression.
Something uncertain.
Sophia shook her head furiously.
“You’re making a mistake.”
Adrian ignored her.
Instead he looked at Vanessa again.
“We’re going downstairs.”
Vanessa frowned.
“To the press.”
Director Wallace nodded quickly.
“That may be the best way to stabilize the situation.”
Vanessa hesitated.
Standing beside Adrian in front of the media would make this scandal explode.
But refusing might make it worse.
Before she could answer—
Sophia suddenly laughed again.
Everyone turned toward her.
“Oh this is perfect.”
Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.
“You two are really going to pretend to be a united front?”
Vanessa’s patience was gone.
“What exactly do you want, Sophia?”
Sophia’s eyes flashed.
“I want the truth.”
She stepped closer.
“You think you’ve won.”
Her voice dropped lower.
“But this story isn’t finished yet.”
Vanessa felt a strange chill run down her spine.
“What are you talking about?”
Sophia smiled slowly.
Then she said the one sentence that changed everything.
“I already ordered the DNA test.”
The room froze.
Adrian frowned.
“What?”
Sophia pulled out her phone.
“I sent the samples this morning.”
Vanessa’s heart skipped.
“What samples?”
Sophia’s smile widened.
“The ones from the hospital.”
Vanessa’s blood ran cold.
Because she suddenly understood.
Sophia had somehow accessed her medical file.
But Adrian spoke before she could react.
“That’s impossible.”
Sophia shrugged.
“Money opens many doors.”
Director Wallace looked horrified.
“That’s illegal.”
Sophia ignored him.
Her eyes were fixed on Vanessa.
“The results should arrive tomorrow.”
Vanessa felt her pulse hammering in her ears.
Tomorrow.
Everything could explode tomorrow.
Sophia leaned closer.
“And when they do…”
Her voice turned almost gleeful.
“…we’ll finally see whose baby that really is.”
Adrian’s gaze snapped back to Vanessa.
And for the first time since the scandal began—
The uncertainty in his eyes grew deeper.
Because tomorrow…
The truth would arrive.
And no one in the room was ready for what that truth might reveal.
- Writer
