Chapter 117
Gideon’s POV
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“If I wanted to have the girl’s DNA tested against my son’s, to see if they are related in anyway, would that be possible? Andi how?” I asked into the phone.
On the other end of the line, the healer at the hospital replied in simply need something from both of them that would carry the strand of hair.”
crisp, no–nonsense voice, “It is possible, Alpha. We would DNA. The easiest, outside of a blood sample, would be a
“I could do that…” All I would need was a strand of hair from Nova’s hairbrush. The maid should be able to acquire that easily enough, without distressing or alerting Nova or Raven.
“With those hair samples, I would be able to determine if the two children are related, if they were… perhaps… half–siblings. Even if they had different fathers.”
“Good,” I said. I still suspected that Ivan was Nova’s true father. But if Claire was her mother, then I would finally have the truth. “Thank you, Healer. Please set aside time to have this done as quickly as possible.”
“The tests themselves will take time, but I will move as quickly as I can.”
“I understand, and I thank you.” With that, I hung up the phone.
Immediately, I called for Xavier to come to my office. When he had done so, I told him my plan.
“Speak with the maid who cleans Nova’s room,” I said. “We need that hair, as soon as possible.”
“Of course, Alpha.” Xavier left then, to see to it.
When I was alone once more, I tiredly rubbed my forehead. I hoped for answers, to put an end to all this wondering. One way or the other, I wanted to know the truth, and for things to move forward.
Claire’s POV
What started as a normal morning changed abruptly as Peter approached me and said, “Have someone else what the kids for a minute. There’s someone you need to talk to.”
Peter wouldn’t suggest this without good reason. He knew how much I loved my kids, and how much I was desperate to protect them. He wouldn’t waste my time with something unnecessary.
I moved to comply at once, having some of the guard that I mostly trusted watch the children while I stepped away for a moment. Then I followed Peter to the servants‘ quarters, and to a small bedroom where a maid was anxiously waiting.
Peter gestured for me to enter and then closed the door behind us. Immediately, everything felt more secretive. Anxiety swelled up inside of me as I waited to hear why I was here.
“Raven, this is Angelica,” Peter said. He and the maid glanced at each other with a look of affection. I knew at once that this was the woman Peter had been meeting in secret. Their adoring glances were clear as day.
As happy as I was for him, I hoped he didn’t pull me away from my duties to introduce me to his girlfriend.
I gave him a flat look and he cleared his throat. “Angelica, why don’t you tell Raven what you told me.”
She seemed nervous about it, but with a reassuring glance from her lover, she then looked at me. “I was asked by the King’s Beta to retrieve a strand of hair from Nova’s hairbrush and return it to him. I’ve heard from the maid in Leo’s room that she was asked to do the same with one of Leo’s hairs.”
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Chapter 117
My heart pounded in my chest.
“I think you can guess what this means, Raven…” Peter said.
“He wants to do a DNA test,” I said,
“And you know what he would find…” Peter said.
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I did. He would learn the truth about Nova, and then the truth about me. My secret would be exposed for his judgement. And I could lose everything.
I looked at Angelica now with some suspicion, How much did she know? How much would she reveal?
Angelica took a small step back.
“Angelica came to me at once,” Peter said in her defense. “She could have simply gone along with the order, but she didn’t.”
“It just seemed strange,” Angelica said. “I like Nova, and I don’t understand why any of this should be necessary. Who does her lineage matter?”
I was still nervous, but Angelica’s words soothed me somewhat. Perhaps Peter was right. Maybe Angelica was an ally.
“I want to help,” she said.
“We could switch the samples,” Peter said. “Angelica can return a hair that isn’t Nova’s, and then this might not come up again.”
I liked that idea. But we would need a hair from another woman, and it couldn’t be mine. Peter and I both looked at Angelica.
“I want to help,” she said again.
“A strand of hair,” Peter said. “Would you be willing?”
“Yes,” Angelica said, and looked at him with love.
“Thank you,” I told her, and meant it.
As Peter found some scissors and carefully cut a few strands of Angelica’s hair, my mind started to wander.
What if this wasn’t enough? What if Gideon continued the hunt, even with the switch?
Perhaps I needed to truly consider if I should stay here.
I wanted to protect Leo, but I needed to consider the needs of both of my children. If Gideon were to learn the truth, he could attempt to take custody of Nova, and I would lose both of my children.
I couldn’t risk that.
I didn’t know what to do.
Gideon’s POV
I was in my office at the end of the day, as Xavier came in carrying a piece of paper with two bits of tape attached. Under those bits of tape dangled two different strands of hair. One from Leo, and one from Nova.
Xavier handed me the piece of paper.
They were simple strands of hair, but in their DNA they held the answers to all the questions I had about Claire.
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Chapter 117
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If there was a match, if Nova was Leo’s half–sibling, then I would finally have some resolution. I could speak with Raven, present her with the evidence, and then maybe I would learn what really happened.
From there, perhaps we could sort things out once and for all.
But it all started with this.
“Should I take it to the hospital?” Xavier asked.
I trusted Xavier, but this was something I felt like I had to do myself. “I will take it.”
I folded the paper and slipped it into an envelope to protect the airs until the moment of their testing.
Xavier bowed slightly in acknowledgement.
“I’m going right now,” I said, standing. Everything else could wait. This was the most important thing in my life.
“I’ll ready the car,” Xavier said and walked out of the room.
I clutched the envelope in both hands, and turned it over again and again.
I had waited so long to find out the truth. Now, I would only have to wait a few days more. A week perhaps. Maybe two, no longer.
The results, I was sure, were going to change everything. I was both nervous and excited.
Once Raven was proved to be Claire… maybe I could finally fix things.
Maybe this time could be different.
