Chapter 3 - The DNA Trap
For the first time in my life, I felt physically afraid of my own mother.
Not because she was powerful.
Because she had planned something.
My attorney arranged an independent DNA test.
Lucy and I gave samples.
Ava's sample was collected at the hospital.
We waited.
The result came two days later.
Probability of paternity:
99.9999%.
I stared at the number.
My daughter was mine.
Exactly as I had always known.
Then why had my mother created a false report?
My attorney answered.
"To make you question the child's paternity."
"Why?"
"To create conflict between you and Lucy."
I looked at him.
"That doesn't explain everything."
"No."
He opened another file.
"There's more."
My mother had been gathering financial information about Lucy.
Her insurance.
Her medical records.
Her inheritance.
Her savings.
Then we found a trust document.
It was signed months before Ava's birth.
The beneficiary was not Lucy.
Not Ava.
It was Irene.
My sister.
I stared.
"Why would Mom create a trust for Irene using money from my wife's medical account?"
My attorney looked at me.
"She couldn't."
"Then what is this?"
"Forgery."
The pieces were beginning to fit.
My mother wanted access to Lucy's information.
She wanted to make me doubt Ava.
She wanted control of the household finances.
She wanted Irene to benefit.
And she had spent years telling me she was helping.
Then Lucy remembered something.
"Daniel."
"What?"
"Your mother asked me to sign something."
"What?"
"She said it was paperwork for the baby."
"Did you sign?"
Lucy nodded.
"She told me you had already approved it."
My stomach dropped.
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
We searched.
Nothing.
Then my attorney checked the family trust documents.
There it was.
A power of attorney.
Signed by Lucy.
But the signature looked wrong.
Lucy stared at it.
"That's not mine."
My attorney nodded.
"Then we have another problem."
I called the police.
That evening, investigators arrived.
They took the documents.
They took the medical records.
They took copies of the banking statements.
And they took the original handwritten note.
My mother had thought she was protecting herself.
Instead, she had left evidence everywhere.
But then the investigator asked:
"Why did she need the power of attorney?"
I didn't know.
Until they found a loan application.
My mother had used Lucy's information to secure a $250,000 business loan.
I stared at the document.
"She borrowed money using my wife?"
"Apparently."
"And if she defaulted?"
"Your wife could be liable."
Lucy covered her mouth.
I held her hand.
"You're not losing anything."
My attorney looked serious.
"Not if we act quickly."
I nodded.
"Then act."
That night, I called my mother.
For the first time since I'd arrived home, I allowed myself to speak.
She answered cheerfully.
"Daniel! How was the surprise?"
I said nothing.
Her voice changed.
"Daniel?"
"Did you use Lucy's identity to obtain a medical report?"
Silence.
"Who told you that?"
"I asked a question."
"You don't understand."
"Did you?"
She hung up.
I called again.
She didn't answer.
Then I received a text.
You have no idea what you're doing.
I stared at it.
Then another message arrived.
If you keep digging, Lucy won't be the only one who gets hurt.
I handed my phone to my attorney.
He read it.
Then looked at me.
"Now we have a threat."
I nodded.
"Good."
He frowned.
"Good?"
May you like
I looked at him.
"Because now she has finally admitted we're close to the truth."
