Chapter 12 - Julian’s Real Father)
Julian was Charles Caldwell’s son.
That part was expected.
What Nora did not expect was the second DNA report.
Probability of biological paternity:
0.00 percent.
She read it again.
“Charles isn’t Julian’s father.”
Thomas nodded.
“Victoria lied.”
“Then who is?”
Nora turned the page.
The answer made her stop breathing.
Samuel Vance.
Her grandfather.
“No.”
She pushed the folder away.
“No.”
Benjamin stared at the report.
Cole said nothing.
Nora felt sick.
“That would make Julian…”
“Samuel’s biological son,” Thomas said.
“And my…”
“Uncle.”
Nora closed her eyes.
Her husband was biologically her uncle.
The room seemed to tilt.
Benjamin immediately spoke.
“Nora, you had no knowledge of this.”
She barely heard him.
“How?”
Thomas explained.
Victoria worked for Samuel briefly in the late 1980s.
Their relationship became intimate during a period when Samuel was separated from Nora’s grandmother.
Samuel ended it.
Victoria returned to Charles.
When Julian was born, she claimed Charles was the father.
Samuel apparently suspected the truth only decades later.
Nora felt fury replace shock.
“Grandpa knew before I married Julian?”
“No.”
“When did he learn?”
“Three years ago.”
Nora looked at Thomas.
“And he didn’t tell me?”
“He planned to.”
“When?”
Thomas looked ashamed.
“He was trying to confirm whether Victoria knew.”
“She obviously did.”
“Samuel wasn’t certain.”
Nora laughed bitterly.
“She spent thirty-eight years hiding it.”
Cole examined another document.
“Why would paternity matter financially?”
Thomas pointed toward the trust records.
“Samuel’s original family trust contained a bloodline provision.”
Benjamin suddenly understood.
“Oh God.”
Nora looked at him.
“What?”
“If Julian could establish himself as Samuel’s biological son…”
“He could inherit?”
“Potentially hundreds of millions.”
The lake house was never the prize.
It was the evidence.
Victoria wanted to destroy the DNA report before Julian learned it existed.
Or perhaps before anyone else did.
Cole searched the cabinet.
“There should be more.”
Thomas nodded.
“There is.”
They found letters.
Victoria demanding money from Samuel.
Samuel refusing.
Charles threatening exposure.
Margaret arranging offshore accounts.
Then a document dated four months before Samuel’s death.
Samuel had amended the trust.
Julian was explicitly excluded.
Nora read the explanation.
Any biological descendant participating knowingly or unknowingly in coercion, concealment, fraudulent transfer, financial exploitation, or attempted destruction of trust evidence shall possess no inheritance rights arising from biological relationship.
Samuel had anticipated everything.
Almost.
Nora looked at Thomas.
“Did Julian know Samuel was his father?”
“I don’t think so.”
Cole’s phone rang.
He stepped away.
When he returned, his expression had changed.
“Julian made bail.”
Nora stared.
“How?”
“His attorney got the assault charge reduced pending review. Financial charges aren’t filed yet.”
“When was he released?”
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Thomas suddenly looked alarmed.
“Where’s Victoria?”
Cole checked his phone.
No one answered.
Then an officer upstairs shouted.
“Detective!”
Cole hurried toward the stairs.
Nora heard another voice through the radio.
Vehicle located.
Blood in passenger compartment.
No occupants.
Cole turned.
“Victoria’s car was found three miles away.”
Nora’s heart accelerated.
“Where is she?”
“We don’t know.”
Thomas looked toward the open archive.
“Close the door.”
Cole looked at him.
“Why?”
May you like
Thomas’s face had drained of color.
“Because if Margaret knows Julian is free, she’ll tell him the truth.”
