Chapter 7 The Envelope
1331 Words
The crowd of reporters fell completely silent.
Sophia Laurent stood at the edge of the press line, holding the white envelope like a trophy.
Camera flashes exploded.
Everyone wanted the moment.
The moment that could destroy Adrian Blackwood.
Or Vanessa.
Or both.
Vanessa’s heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
The DNA results.
How was that possible?
Sophia had said the results would arrive tomorrow.
Yet now she stood here with an envelope in her hand.
Adrian’s voice turned dangerously calm.
“Sophia.”
The warning in his tone was unmistakable.
“This is not the place for whatever stunt you’re planning.”
Sophia smiled sweetly.
“Oh, I disagree.”
She raised the envelope slightly so the cameras could see it.
“I think this is the perfect place.”
The reporters immediately began shouting.
“Miss Laurent! Are those the DNA results?”
“Does the baby belong to Mr. Blackwood?”
“Is the pregnancy fake?”
Vanessa felt the world tilt slightly.
This was spiraling far beyond control.
Adrian stepped forward.
His presence alone quieted the crowd.
“Sophia,” he said coldly, “hand me the envelope.”
Sophia tilted her head.
“Why?”
“So we can handle this privately.”
Sophia laughed.
“Privately?”
She gestured toward the reporters.
“This stopped being private the moment the media got involved.”
Adrian’s patience snapped.
“Enough.”
But Sophia wasn’t intimidated.
Instead, she stepped closer.
Her voice dropped slightly.
“Don’t you want to know the truth?”
Adrian’s jaw tightened.
“I already told you. I’ll wait for the official results.”
Sophia’s smile widened.
“These are the official results.”
Vanessa’s stomach twisted.
Something about Sophia’s confidence felt wrong.
Too certain.
Too prepared.
Adrian extended his hand.
“Give it to me.”
For a moment, Sophia looked like she might refuse.
Then she shrugged.
“Fine.”
She placed the envelope in his hand.
Camera flashes exploded again.
Every reporter leaned forward.
Vanessa held her breath.
Adrian stared at the envelope for a moment before opening it.
Inside was a folded document.
The DNA report.
The paper felt heavier than it should.
Adrian unfolded it slowly.
The crowd watched in complete silence.
His eyes scanned the first line.
Then the second.
Then the third.
Vanessa searched his face desperately.
But Adrian Blackwood had always been impossible to read.
His expression didn’t change.
Not even slightly.
Sophia crossed her arms confidently.
“Well?”
Adrian didn’t answer.
Sophia’s smile widened.
“Go ahead.”
Her voice dripped with anticipation.
“Tell them.”
Vanessa’s pulse thundered.
The reporters were practically vibrating with excitement.
Finally, Adrian lowered the paper.
And looked straight at Vanessa.
The silence between them stretched painfully.
Vanessa’s chest tightened.
“…Adrian?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he turned slowly toward Sophia.
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
“Where did you get this?”
Sophia blinked.
“What?”
Adrian lifted the document slightly.
“This report.”
Sophia shrugged.
“I told you. I arranged it through the hospital.”
Adrian studied her carefully.
“You’re sure about that?”
Sophia frowned.
“Of course I am.”
Adrian nodded slowly.
Then something unexpected happened.
He started laughing.
Not loudly.
But the sound was enough to confuse everyone around him.
Sophia’s smile faltered.
“…What’s so funny?”
Adrian looked at her.
His eyes were colder than ice.
“This report.”
He held it up.
“Is fake.”
The reporters gasped.
Sophia’s face went pale.
“That’s impossible.”
Adrian’s voice hardened.
“The hospital logo is wrong.”
Sophia froze.
Adrian continued calmly.
“And the testing lab listed here…”
He tapped the paper.
“…doesn’t exist.”
The crowd erupted into whispers.
Sophia stared at the document in disbelief.
“That’s not possible.”
Adrian stepped closer to her.
His voice dropped.
“Who gave you this?”
Sophia’s confidence began cracking.
“I… I don’t know.”
Vanessa’s heart was still racing.
Someone had deliberately given Sophia a fake report.
Which meant—
Someone wanted this scandal to explode.
Adrian turned toward the reporters again.
His voice was firm.
“The document Miss Laurent presented is fraudulent.”
A reporter shouted—
“Are you saying the DNA results are still unknown?”
“Yes.”
The crowd buzzed again.
Another reporter yelled—
“Then what about the pregnancy?”
Adrian glanced briefly at Vanessa.
His voice softened slightly.
“The pregnancy is real.”
Vanessa felt a strange mixture of relief and confusion.
But Sophia suddenly spoke again.
Her voice shaking with anger.
“You’re lying!”
Everyone turned.
Sophia’s composure was gone.
“You’re just covering for her!”
Adrian’s eyes turned cold.
“I’m exposing whoever tried to manipulate this situation.”
Sophia stepped forward.
“You think this is manipulation?”
Her voice rose.
“Open your eyes, Adrian!”
She pointed at Vanessa.
“She planned all of this!”
Vanessa’s patience snapped.
“I didn’t leak anything.”
Sophia laughed bitterly.
“Oh please.”
She turned to the reporters.
“Ask her where she was six weeks ago.”
Vanessa’s stomach tightened.
But before she could respond—
Adrian spoke again.
“That’s enough.”
The sharp authority in his tone silenced everyone.
Then he did something that shocked the entire crowd.
He stepped closer to Vanessa.
Standing beside her.
Not across from her.
Beside her.
Sophia stared at them.
“…What are you doing?”
Adrian’s voice was calm.
“Ending this circus.”
Sophia’s expression twisted.
“You’re choosing her?”
Adrian didn’t answer directly.
Instead, he turned toward the reporters again.
“The DNA test will be repeated through an independent lab.”
A reporter asked—
“When will the results be available?”
Adrian’s reply was immediate.
“Forty-eight hours.”
The crowd erupted again.
Sophia’s face darkened.
“Fine.”
Her voice shook slightly.
“Let’s see what happens then.”
She turned sharply and walked away.
But before she reached the edge of the crowd—
She stopped.
Then looked back.
Her eyes locked onto Vanessa.
“You should enjoy these next two days.”
Her smile returned.
Because when the real results come out…
She paused.
“…your life might fall apart.”
Then she disappeared into the crowd.
The reporters continued shouting questions.
But Adrian ignored them.
Instead, he looked down at Vanessa.
For a moment, the noise around them faded.
“…Are you okay?” he asked quietly.
Vanessa blinked.
The question surprised her.
“I’m fine.”
Adrian studied her carefully.
“You’re not.”
Vanessa looked away.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want anyone to know about the pregnancy.”
Adrian’s voice softened.
“You should have told me.”
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You divorced me yesterday.”
Adrian didn’t reply.
Because she was right.
But before either of them could say anything else—
Daniel suddenly rushed through the crowd.
His face looked pale.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
Adrian frowned.
“What now?”
Daniel lowered his voice.
“There’s another problem.”
Vanessa’s stomach dropped.
“What kind of problem?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then said the words that made everything worse.
“The hospital just called.”
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“And?”
Daniel swallowed.
“They said someone broke into their records system this morning.”
Vanessa felt her blood run cold.
“Why?”
Daniel looked directly at her.
“…They weren’t looking for the DNA results.”
The pause stretched painfully.
Adrian’s voice turned sharp.
“Then what were they looking for?”
Daniel answered quietly.
“Your full medical history.”
Vanessa’s heart stopped.
Because there was one secret in that file that no one could ever discover.
And if it came out—
The pregnancy scandal would be the least of her problems.
- Writer
