Chapter 7 - The Staircase
Daniel broke every speed limit on the way there.
He called Margaret.
No answer.
He called the nanny.
“She said your mother dismissed me at the door. She told me you were already inside.”
“I never sent that message.”
Daniel's voice terrified her.
He hung up and called 911.
Then he reached the mansion.
The front door wasn't locked.
He pushed through it.
And heard Noah cry.
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
His son was already tumbling down it.
Everything after that became instinct.
“Noah!”
He ran.
He gathered the crying toddler into his arms and checked him frantically.
Noah was conscious.
Terrified.
Daniel held him against his chest.
At the top of the stairs stood Margaret.
Her expression was almost calm.
That calmness disappeared only when Daniel produced the folded document he'd received hours earlier.
The new DNA report.
99.99%.
Daniel was Noah’s father.
When Margaret called Noah a bastard again, Daniel snapped and struck her once, knocking her backward.
Then he dropped the report beside her.
“Do you still want to call Noah a brat?”
Margaret unfolded it.
And went pale.
Daniel assumed the DNA result frightened her.
He was wrong.
It was the laboratory certification code.
The independent lab had processed Noah’s sample twice.
Once that week.
And once eighteen months earlier.
Daniel didn't know that yet.
But Margaret did.
Sirens approached outside.
Margaret suddenly grabbed the document.
Daniel saw panic in her eyes.
Not anger.
Panic.
“Give me that.”
Daniel pulled it away.
“Why?”
Margaret said nothing.
The paramedics rushed inside.
Daniel handed Noah to them and followed.
As officers began questioning Margaret, she kept staring at the paper in Daniel’s hand.
At the hospital, doctors examined Noah.
He was bruised and frightened, but there was no major injury.
Daniel nearly collapsed with relief.
Then his phone rang.
It was the laboratory director.
“Mr. Carter, there’s something strange about your son’s case.”
Daniel walked into the hallway.
“What?”
“We found another test under Noah’s genetic profile.”
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“From when?”
May you like
The director answered:
“Eighteen months ago.”
