Daniel turned toward her.
“What does he mean?”
“Daniel, don’t listen to him.”
But Noah reached into his jacket and pulled out a sealed envelope.
“My mother said this belongs to you.”
Daniel opened it.
Inside was a DNA report dated eight years earlier.
He read the first line.
Then the second.
His hands began shaking.
The probability of paternity was 99.98%.
But Daniel’s name wasn’t listed as the father.
His dead brother Michael’s name was.
Daniel stared at Victoria.
“You told me Michael died before he ever had children.”
Victoria backed away from the table.
Then Noah quietly said:
“My mother said Michael didn’t die in that accident.”
Daniel froze.
“What?”
Noah pointed toward the restaurant entrance.
Every guest turned.
An older man with a scar across his face had just walked inside.
Victoria dropped the photograph.
Daniel whispered:
“Michael…?”
And the man answered:
“Ask your wife why she paid me to disappear.”
