Probability of biological relationship:
99.98%.
Daniel was Thomas Hale’s son.
I thought that was the biggest secret.
It wasn’t.
Vanessa touched her stomach.
“Claire, Charles ordered another comparison yesterday.”
“With whom?”
“Evan.”
“And?”
Her face went white.
“The baby isn’t Daniel’s.”
I swallowed.
“It’s Evan’s?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
The room became unbearably quiet.
“Then whose?”
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“The laboratory says Daniel and the baby are genetically related—but Daniel is not the father.”
PART 5 — THE SON DANIEL NEVER KNEW EXISTED
“What does that mean?”
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
“The doctor says the baby’s father is likely a close male relative of Daniel.”
“Evan?”
“No.”
“You said Evan was possible.”
“He was. But he did a test voluntarily.”
“And?”
“Excluded.”
I leaned back.
“So Nathan?”
“Excluded.”
“Then who is left?”
Vanessa stared at the table.
“There is another Hale.”
