Chapter 7 - The First DNA Test
By sunrise, Ryan was awake.
I went to the hospital.
Luka didn’t want me to.
I went anyway.
Ryan looked smaller in the hospital bed.
No expensive suit.
No smug smile.
No Danielle.
Just a man with a bandaged shoulder and a face full of regret.
He looked at me.
“Is Sophie okay?”
“She’s safe.”
His eyes filled.
“I never wanted—”
“Don’t.”
He stopped.
I pulled a chair close to his bed.
“My father said not to trust the first DNA test.”
Ryan’s face changed.
There it was.
Fear.
“What did you do?”
He stared at the ceiling.
“Ryan.”
“I ordered a test.”
“When?”
“During your pregnancy.”
“How?”
“Harlow arranged it.”
My hands curled into fists.
“He took my blood without telling me?”
“He said it was safe.”
“And what did the test say?”
Ryan didn’t answer.
“What did it say?”
“That I wasn’t the father.”
My heart stopped.
For several seconds, I heard nothing but the monitor beside him.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
“That’s impossible.”
“I thought so too.”
“I never cheated on you.”
“I know that now.”
My eyes burned.
“You knew me for six years.”
“Yes.”
“You watched me sleep beside you.”
He closed his eyes.
“You kissed me.”
“I know.”
“And one secret test was enough?”
He looked ashamed.
“Harlow showed me the result.”
“So you believed a doctor over your wife.”
“Yes.”
That single word hurt more than an excuse would have.
I stood.
Ryan caught my wrist.
“Claire, wait.”
I yanked free.
“What?”
“Danielle knew.”
I stared at him.
“Knew what?”
“She introduced me to Harlow.”
The room chilled.
“Danielle wasn’t a marketing consultant?”
“No.”
“What was she?”
“I don’t know anymore.”
My phone rang.
Luka.
I answered.
“Claire, where are you?”
“Ryan’s room.”
A pause.
“Leave.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
I heard movement on his end.
Then he said, “Danielle Price doesn’t exist.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“That identity was created four years ago.”
The exact length of my marriage.
I looked at Ryan.
His face turned white.
Luka continued.
“Her real name is Danielle Mercer.”
Ryan whispered, “Mercer?”
I put the phone on speaker.
Luka said, “Her father was Dr. Charles Mercer.”
Ryan frowned.
“Who?”
I already knew.
“One of the M-17 researchers.”
Luka’s voice hardened.
“And Danielle didn’t meet Ryan by accident.”
Ryan looked like he might throw up.
Then the door behind me opened.
Danielle walked in.
She wore blue scrubs.
A hospital badge hung from her neck.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then Danielle locked the door.
Ryan whispered, “Dani?”
She looked at him almost sadly.
“You were always the easiest part of the plan.”
Her hand slipped into her pocket.
Luka shouted through the phone.
“CLAIRE, MOVE!”
I dove behind the hospital bed.
Danielle pulled out a syringe.
May you like
And before Ryan could react, she drove the needle into his IV line.
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