Chapter 3 - THE TEST DONNA NEVER FORGOT
Claire did not show Mark the letter immediately.
She called her attorney first.
Rachel Stone had handled Claire’s mother’s estate two years earlier and had the rare quality of sounding calm while saying terrifying things.
“Where did you get this?”
“Under my door.”
“Do you recognize the handwriting?”
“No.”
“Is the will authentic?”
“I don’t know.”
Rachel checked probate records.
Donna’s will was private, but an older trust summary existed.
The language about “biological issue” was real.
Claire felt cold.
“Why would anyone highlight Eli?”
Rachel asked:
“Has Donna ever questioned his paternity?”
“Not directly.”
“Indirectly?”
Claire thought.
Eli was born six years into their marriage.
After two miscarriages.
After fertility treatment.
Donna had once said:
“At least he has your eyes.”
Claire remembered Mark laughing.
At the time, she heard it as compliment.
Now it sounded different.
That evening, Claire confronted Mark.
“Did your mother ever question whether Eli is yours?”
Mark froze.
Only for a second.
Enough.
Claire’s heart sank.
“Mark.”
He sat down.
“Before he was born.”
“What happened?”
“My mother was angry about the fertility clinic.”
“Why?”
“She said the clinic had a scandal.”
Claire frowned.
“What scandal?”
“A mislabeled sample case.”
Claire stared.
“That happened in another state.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Mark looked ashamed.
“She got into my head.”
Of course.
Donna did not need evidence.
Only doubt.
Claire asked:
“Did you test Eli?”
Silence.
“Mark.”
“Yes.”
The answer crushed her.
“When?”
“He was six months old.”
Claire stood.
“You did a DNA test on our baby without telling me?”
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“That something had happened at the clinic.”
“No.”
Claire’s voice shook.
“You were scared your mother might be right.”
Mark looked down.
Claire whispered:
“What did it say?”
“He’s mine.”
The room went silent.
Biologically Mark’s.
Donna knew.
“Did you tell her?”
“Yes.”
“And she stopped?”
Mark gave a bitter laugh.
“No.”
Claire understood.
Donna had not cared about truth.
She cared about rank.
Eli was Claire’s child.
That was enough.
Then Mark said:
“You need to understand something.”
Claire almost laughed.
“No.”
“My mother had reasons.”
“Here we go.”
“Tyler and Ben’s father died.”
Claire stopped.
Susan’s husband, Daniel, had died in a workplace accident three years earlier.
Donna became obsessed with protecting Susan’s boys after that.
“They lost their dad,” Mark said.
“And so Eli deserves less?”
“No.”
“That is what she does.”
“She overcompensates.”
“She humiliates our son.”
Mark rubbed his face.
“She thinks Tyler needs to feel strong.”
Claire stared.
“And Eli is the object he gets to feel stronger than.”
Mark said nothing.
Then Claire placed the will copy on the table.
His face changed.
“Where did you get this?”
“You know it.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because it doesn’t matter.”
“Biological issue?”
“Eli is mine.”
“That’s not the point.”
Mark looked away.
Claire continued:
“Who sent this?”
“I don’t know.”
Then he noticed the handwritten note.
His face went pale.
Claire saw it.
“What?”
Mark shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“Mark.”
He stood.
“I need air.”
Claire blocked the doorway.
“What are you hiding?”
He looked at her.
Then said quietly:
“My mother did another test.”
Claire froze.
“Another DNA test?”
“Yes.”
“On Eli?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Mark swallowed.
“Me.”
Claire frowned.
“Why?”
May you like
He looked sick.
“Because she thinks Dad wasn’t my biological father.”
