Chapter 28
**Chapter 28: The DNA Results p>
The DNA Results.
Serena and Alice could hardly stomach the hearing’s conclusion. They had left the courtroom in haste, their minds reeling from the horrifying details that had emerged about Neal Collins’s brutal murder. The prosecution had not only called Jack Spell to testify, but they had also unveiled a series of photographs, the chilling autopsy report, and detailed medical records. Each piece of evidence interlocked seamlessly, leaving no room for doubt or denial.
The sheer brutality of Neal’s murder left Serena unsettled. It was astonishing to her that the police had seemingly turned a blind eye, not dedicating enough resources to uncover the truth behind Neal’s death.
Days turned into a blur, yet the haunting memory of Neal’s suffering clung to Serena, refusing to fade. When the day finally dawned for the DNA results to be unveiled, she found herself awake long before the sun had fully risen, lost in thought as she gazed out of the living room window. The world outside stirred to life, but inside, a storm brewed within her.
Alice stirred around seven, the soft sound of her movements breaking Serena’s trance. As she entered the living room, she announced, “Serena, I just saw on the news feed that Victor’s verdict will be revealed in the last hearing p>
Serena nodded, her mind still reeling from the weight of recent events. She had heard the same news, but it felt like a distant echo amidst her turmoil.
The final hearing, a pivotal moment in their lives, was set for nine in the morning.
Alice had a shift that wouldn’t start until noon, allowing the two of them a brief respite at home. They settled in front of the television, the news coverage of Victor’s verdict unfolding before them. Serena felt her heart race as the anchor confirmed it: he was found guilty.
The screen flickered to life, revealing Nathaniel and Bianca emerging from the courthouse, flanked by their lawyers. A swarm of reporters rushed toward them, eager for a glimpse of their reactions. Their lawyer was the first to break the silence, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
“This case has been years in the making. Justice has moved slowly, but it has not faltered. Today, the court has finally recognized the pain endured by Neal and his family, along with countless other victims silenced by Victor Kline p>
The cameras shifted to Bianca, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I spent years waiting to hear the truth spoken in a courtroom. Years filled with grief, fear, and silence. Victor stole my future with my husband-the family we should have built together. Today’s verdict doesn’t erase the past, but it gives me something I have longed for: acknowledgment. Justice, though delayed, has finally found us p>
Serena couldn’t look away from the screen, her heart aching for Bianca.
The reporters then turned their attention to Nathaniel. He stood tall, his sharp features etched with a solemn determination, his eyes burning with conviction. “I grew up watching my mother fight battles that most people never even knew existed. We lived with a grief that was too heavy to share and a truth that felt impossible to prove. I promised myself that if I ever had the opportunity, I would ensure my father’s story would not fade into obscurity. Everything I have achieved, every success, has been built upon that promise. Today, I fulfilled that promise. My father’s name is no longer shrouded in darkness p>
As Serena listened, her throat tightened painfully. Each word Nathaniel spoke struck deep, like a blade slipping beneath her ribs.
His suffering was palpable, etched into his very being long before she had entered his life. And all of it traced back to the man who had raised her.
Victor Kline.
‘My father did this to them. To him. To his family.’ The thought twisted her stomach into knots. She felt as though she might either weep uncontrollably or simply vanish from existence.
Yet, amidst her turmoil, a flicker of genuine happiness for Nathaniel emerged. He had finally achieved the justice he had fought so hard for throughout his life.
But in doing so, he had woven her into the fabric of that revenge. And that left her questioning… was he truly satisfied with the path he had chosen?
“Well, at least that part is over,” Alice muttered, her voice breaking the heavy silence. She quickly redirected the conversation. “Let’s go p>
They prepared to leave for the hospital, the weight of the day pressing down on them. Minutes before noon, Alice and Serena stood outside the laboratory, anticipation cracking in the art as they awaited the results that could alter Serena’s life forever.
Alice was the one to accept the envelope. It was sealed, white, and shockingly light for something that held the potential to change everything. They found a quiet corner, taking deep breaths to steady their nerves.
With trembling hands, Serena opened it. As she unfolded the paper, her heart raced, and a cold dread washed over her.
Then the results stared back at her, a harsh reality that shattered her hopes.
“The probability of paternity is 99.9999%,” she whispered, her face draining of color. “No p>
A solitary tear traced down her cheek. “This can’t be p>
“I can’t be Victor’s real daughter,” she nearly shouted, panic rising within her until
she remembered the public setting. “How could this be p>
Alice snatched the results from Serena’s hands, reading and rereading the words, each pass deepening her own disbelief. It felt impossible How could Victor whe had always treated Serena with such indifference, be her biological father? Or was it that he was so devoid of humanity that he could disregard his own flesh and blood?
“This… this can’t be right,” Alice breathed, turning toward the laboratory window, horror flickering in her eyes.
Determined, she marched toward the releasing counter. “I demand to speak with your supervisor. Now p>
Outside the laboratory, Alice’s voice rang out, barely containing her frustration. “I believe this DNA test was tampered with p>
“Alice, that’s impossible. Grand Mercy Hospital adheres to strict chain-of-custody and quality-control protocols. I assure you, the results are accurate,” replied the supervisor, a woman named Danica, her tone firm yet sympathetic.
“No,” Alice shot back, her voice sharp and unwavering. She couldn’t accept this.reality, not for Serena’s
sake “I want access to the surveilance footage for the past seven days, starting from when we submitted the samples. And I demand the names of every laboratory technician who handled or processed the paternity test p>
The supervisor shook her head, her expression tight. “I’m sorry, Alice. We can’t
release any of that information. You’ll need to file a formal complaint and request a subpoena p>
Alice’s jaw dropped in disbelief, her eyes wide with the weight of the situation.