Chapter 17 - Blood
The DNA test took six hours.
Richard did not need it.
But Julian did.
Vanessa did.
The police did.
The fertility clinic records had already confirmed that Alexander controlled the facility through shell companies.
A technician had switched Richard’s genetic sample.
The embryo was created using Vanessa’s egg and Julian’s sample.
Neither Vanessa nor Julian knew.
Ethan was biologically Vanessa and Julian’s child.
Richard sat alone in the hospital waiting room when the official result arrived.
99.98 percent probability of biological paternity.
Julian Sterling.
Richard read it once.
Then placed the paper on the table.
Hannah entered.
Ethan slept in her arms.
“He woke up asking for you.”
Richard stood.
Hannah passed the child to him.
Ethan curled against Richard without opening his eyes.
Richard held him.
Something inside him settled.
The laboratory could name biology.
It could not name two years of midnight fevers.
First steps.
Bath time.
Bedtime stories.
The first time Ethan said Daddy.
Richard whispered.
“You’re mine.”
Ethan slept.
Hannah sat.
“You okay?”
Richard almost laughed.
“No.”
“But he is.”
“That’s enough.”
Hannah nodded.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She looked terrible.
No makeup.
Borrowed hospital clothes.
A police officer nearby.
She had been formally arrested for conspiracy, unlawful imprisonment, fraud, and administering controlled substances to Richard.
She would face consequences.
No amount of coercion erased the crimes.
Richard looked at her.
She looked at Ethan.
“Can I see him?”
Richard hesitated.
Then nodded.
Vanessa approached.
She did not touch Ethan until Richard shifted him slightly toward her.
She kissed his hair.
Ethan stirred.
“Mommy.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
He opened them.
“Home?”
She cried silently.
“Soon.”
Richard did not correct her.
Home would be complicated.
Lawyers.
Judges.
Psychologists.
Investigations.
Maybe prison.
A two-year-old did not need that tonight.
Vanessa looked at Richard.
“I didn’t know.”
“I believe you.”
She exhaled shakily.
“Julian?”
“Destroyed.”
“He didn’t know either.”
“I know.”
Vanessa whispered.
“Alexander wanted this.”
“Yes.”
“To make you hate Julian.”
“Yes.”
“Do you?”
Richard thought.
“No.”
The answer surprised even him.
“I hate what he chose during the conspiracy.”
“But Ethan’s biology wasn’t his choice.”
Vanessa nodded.
Richard asked.
“Why did you join Julian?”
She sat.
“Alexander told me Julian owed him twelve million.”
“He said Julian would cooperate whether I did or not.”
“I thought I could stay close enough to sabotage the plan.”
“You poisoned me while sabotaging it.”
“I know.”
“How much?”
Vanessa looked down.
“Graves prepared capsules.”
“I opened most and removed part of the medication.”
“Most?”
“Not all.”
Richard absorbed that.
“I wanted you sick enough for Alexander to believe me.”
“But not enough to seriously harm you.”
“You could not know the difference.”
“No.”
She cried.
“I know.”
Richard looked at Ethan.
“I can understand why you were afraid.”
Vanessa looked at him hopefully.
He continued.
“That does not mean I forgive what you did.”
Her hope faded.
“I understand.”
“You lied to me about our son’s death.”
“I know.”
“You watched me grieve.”
She nodded.
“I will hear that scream for the rest of my life.”
Vanessa wiped her face.
“I deserve to.”
Richard did not reassure her.
Some guilt belonged where it landed.
After a moment, she whispered.
“But Ethan was alive.”
Richard looked at her.
“I kept telling myself that.”
“Every time you broke, I told myself Ethan was alive.”
“Every time I almost told you, I thought of Alexander finding him.”
“So I chose Ethan.”
Richard’s eyes sharpened.
“You chose fear.”
Vanessa looked at him.
“There’s a difference.”
She nodded slowly.
“Yes.”
Richard continued.
“You did not have to trust Alexander.”
“You could have trusted me.”
“I didn’t know how.”
“That may be true.”
“But Ethan paid for it.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
A police officer approached.
“Mrs. Sterling.”
Vanessa stood.
Richard looked at Ethan.
Then at her.
“He will know the truth someday.”
“All of it?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“He should.”
The officer escorted her away.
Ethan watched.
“Mommy go?”
Richard kissed his forehead.
“For now.”
Later, Julian entered.
He stood ten feet away.
He looked at Ethan differently now.
Richard hated that.
Not because Julian had done anything.
Because biology had changed the room.
Julian whispered.
“Can I hold him?”
Richard answered immediately.
“No.”
Julian flinched.
Richard softened slightly.
“Not tonight.”
Julian nodded.
“I understand.”
“No.”
Richard looked at him.
“I don’t think any of us understand anything tonight.”
Julian sat.
“I never knew about the clinic.”
“I know.”
“I swear.”
“I know.”
Julian looked at Ethan.
“He looks like you.”
Richard almost smiled.
“He looks like himself.”
Julian laughed quietly.
Then cried.
“I helped them destroy you.”
“Yes.”
“I wanted the company.”
“Yes.”
“I resented you.”
“Yes.”
“I thought Dad always chose you.”
Richard stared.
“He disappeared on both of us.”
Julian looked down.
“Apparently.”
Richard asked.
“Why didn’t you come to me about the debt?”
Julian laughed bitterly.
“Because you had already saved me once.”
“I couldn’t stand being your failure again.”
Richard shook his head.
“So you became Alexander’s weapon instead.”
“Yes.”
Julian looked at Ethan.
“I don’t want anything from him.”
Richard said nothing.
“I mean it.”
“He is your son.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“No.”
Richard stared.
Julian corrected himself.
“He is biologically connected to me.”
“But you are his father.”
Richard’s throat tightened.
Julian continued.
“If he ever wants to know me differently someday, that will be his choice.”
“But I am not taking your place.”
Richard nodded once.
It was the first decent thing Julian had said in years.
Then Conrad entered.
Richard’s expression changed.
Julian stood.
Their father stopped.
“I deserve that.”
Richard laughed.
“You deserve far more than a look.”
Conrad sat carefully.
His age showed now.
Richard asked.
“Why?”
Conrad knew which question.
“Why fake my death?”
“Yes.”
“Alexander discovered I was building a case against him.”
“He had already poisoned your mother.”
“He tried to kill Adrian.”
“He controlled Victor.”
“He had people inside the police.”
“I believed if he knew I was alive, he would come through you.”
Richard’s anger returned.
“So you let me bury you.”
“Yes.”
“You watched my wedding?”
Conrad looked away.
“Yes.”
“You knew Vanessa?”
“Not who she really was.”
“You knew Alexander sent her?”
“I suspected after Ethan was born.”
Richard stared.
“You watched your grandson from hiding?”
“Yes.”
“And you never came.”
Conrad whispered.
“I thought distance protected you.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“It protected Alexander.”
Conrad absorbed it.
“You’re right.”
That simple admission took some of the anger away.
Richard hated that too.
Conrad continued.
“I made the mistake of believing secrecy was strength.”
“It became cowardice.”
Richard looked at him.
“Why tell Alexander Ethan’s genetics could access the accounts?”
“I didn’t.”
“What?”
Conrad frowned.
“I never designed any biometric system around Ethan.”
Richard became still.
Vanessa had said Alexander told her that.
Alexander had built the scanner.
Conrad had said it was a trap.
But now he was saying Ethan was never connected to it.
“Then why did Alexander need Ethan?”
Conrad looked confused.
“I assumed to control you.”
Richard’s pulse quickened.
Something remained wrong.
He replayed the events mentally.
Alexander wanted the recorder.
The data key.
But he repeatedly demanded Ethan.
He kidnapped Ethan even after learning Richard possessed the key.
Why?
Not for authentication.
Not merely leverage.
There had been easier hostages.
Richard looked at Julian.
Then Conrad.
Then Ethan.
“Alexander knew Ethan was Julian’s biological child.”
Conrad nodded.
“Yes.”
“Why arrange that?”
Nobody answered.
Richard felt the final layer approaching.
Alexander did nothing without purpose.
He did not randomly switch samples.
He chose Julian specifically.
Why?
Richard turned to Conrad.
“Who is Julian’s biological father?”
Julian frowned.
“What?”
Conrad’s face went white.
Richard saw it.
Julian stood.
“Dad?”
Conrad looked away.
Richard whispered.
“Oh my God.”
Julian stared.
“What is he talking about?”
Conrad’s eyes filled with tears.
“Julian.”
“Who is my father?”
Conrad closed his eyes.
Then answered.
“Alexander.”
Julian staggered backward.
Richard stared.
Alexander was not only their enemy.
He was Julian’s biological father.
Which made Ethan Alexander’s biological great-grandson.
And suddenly Richard understood why the old man had never been willing to simply kill the child.
Ethan was not only leverage.
May you like
Ethan was Alexander’s bloodline.
---
