Chapter 12 - The Night of the Gala
The Bennett Foundation gala arrived six days later.
By then, Emma had received another laboratory report.
Daniel had agreed to independent testing.
Samuel had also located a preserved medical sample belonging to Henry from tissue retained during his cancer treatment.
With proper authorization from Henry's estate, a comparison became possible.
The final results arrived on the afternoon of the gala.
Emma collected the sealed envelope personally.
She did not open it.
Michael asked why.
"Because I don't want the first thing we feel to determine what we do next."
Daniel had agreed to meet them after the gala.
They planned to open everything privately.
But Diane had other plans.
The mansion glittered that night.
Crystal chandeliers.
Champagne.
Political donors.
Executives.
Old family friends.
Diane moved through the crowd as if she still owned every person in the room.
Emma noticed her watching the clutch purse.
Somehow, Diane knew.
Michael noticed too.
"Stay near me."
Emma lifted Lily.
"I can handle your mother."
"I know. That's what worries me."
For the first hour, nothing happened.
Then Diane approached Emma near the staircase.
"Come upstairs."
"No."
"I want to speak privately."
"Then speak tomorrow."
Diane looked at Lily.
"Now."
Emma should have refused.
Instead, she followed.
Because she wanted Diane to say it.
Whatever she had spent thirty-six years hiding, Emma wanted the lie spoken clearly.
They reached the second-floor balcony.
Guests moved below.
Music played softly.
Diane turned.
"You have the results."
Emma said nothing.
"Give them to me."
"No."
"You have no idea what you're carrying."
"I know enough."
Diane's expression tightened.
"Michael will lose his identity."
"No. He'll lose your version of it."
"Don't be clever."
"Don't threaten my child."
Diane looked down at Lily.
Something changed in her face.
"You think that baby protects you?"
Emma stepped backward.
"What does that mean?"
"If Michael is not Henry's son, Lily has no claim."
"To money?"
"To this family."
Emma felt disgust.
"She is your granddaughter."
Diane's voice sharpened.
"Blood matters."
Emma stared at her.
"You're the one who spent thirty-six years proving it didn't."
Diane reached for the purse.
Emma pulled away.
Lily began crying.
Diane grabbed the baby.
"Let go."
"Give me the envelope."
"Give me my daughter."
They struggled.
Guests below began noticing.
Michael looked upward.
Emma tried to pull Lily back.
Then Diane made a decision so monstrous that even she seemed surprised by it afterward.
She yanked Lily free.
And threw her over the balcony.
Emma screamed.
Michael ran.
Everything happened exactly as it would remain burned into their memories forever.
Lily falling.
Michael sliding across marble.
His knees striking the floor.
His arms catching his daughter.
Her cries.
Emma racing down.
Michael looking upward.
"What the hell did you do?"
Diane stood at the balcony.
And because she had crossed a line from which there was no return, she abandoned caution.
She pointed at Lily.
"That child isn't Bennett blood."
The guests froze.
Emma reached for her clutch.
Diane saw the envelope.
Her face changed.
Emma removed it.
Diane rushed downstairs.
"Emma! Don't open that!"
Michael stared between them.
"What the hell is in there?"
Emma tore the envelope open.
Diane lunged.
Michael blocked her.
Emma unfolded the first report.
The laboratory had compared Henry Bennett's preserved tissue with Michael Bennett.
Probability of paternity exceeded 99.99 percent.
Emma's hands trembled.
She looked at Michael.
Diane went white.
Michael reached for the paper.
Emma gave it to him.
He read.
Once.
Twice.
Then he looked at his mother.
"You knew."
Diane shook her head.
"No."
"You knew I was Dad's son."
"No. Listen to me."
Michael held Lily tighter.
Emma pulled out the second report.
Daniel Mercer.
Robert Vale.
Probability of paternity exceeded 99.99 percent.
The truth was complete.
Michael was Henry's biological son.
Daniel was Robert's biological son.
Twin brothers.
Different fathers.
Diane had hidden Daniel because his existence would expose her affair and the extraordinary circumstances of the twins' conception.
She had manipulated DNA evidence for decades.
And she had just tried to use the same secret against a ten-month-old child.
Michael stared at her.
"You threw my daughter because you thought this envelope would expose you."
Diane's eyes moved toward the guests.
Every face was watching.
Every phone remained lowered because Michael shouted one command.
"No recordings."
Even in chaos, people obeyed.
Diane whispered, "Michael, we can handle this privately."
He looked at Lily's terrified face.
May you like
Then at his mother.
"There is no private anymore."
