Chapter 55

"Why are you so certain I have children?" Evelyn's voice was sharp, cutting through the tense silence.

Vivian hesitated, her fingers tightening around her phone. "Because six years ago, you—" She stopped abruptly, realization dawning on her face. Her expression shifted to one of guilt. Damn it. If she said any more, Evelyn would figure out who the man from that night really was.

Evelyn leaned back in the car seat, her gaze unnervingly steady. "What happened six years ago?"

"Nothing." Vivian forced a laugh, brittle and unconvincing. "Those kids better not be yours."

Evelyn caught the subtle shift in Vivian's tone. Her eyes gleamed with sudden understanding. "Oh? You saw the news and realized you're not as untouchable as you thought. So now you're targeting my children?"

"If they're not yours, it's none of your concern." Vivian ended the call abruptly, her face hardening. She still refused to believe Evelyn didn’t have kids. She was the one who had slept with Nathan Goldmann that night!

The timing was too perfect. Those two children had appeared right around the time Evelyn returned to Cornelia. It couldn’t be a coincidence. And if Evelyn was this defensive, Vivian would use those brats to expose the truth.

She dialed another number, her voice low and urgent. "It's me. Same arrangement. I'll pay you $80,000 upfront. Another $80,000 when the job is done."

At the Judicial Appraisal Center, a doctor in a surgical mask strode into an office.

The middle-aged man inside glanced up and smiled. "Ah, Dr. Watson. What brings you here?"

"An urgent case." Joel Watson slid a sealed folder across the desk. "Blood traces from the suspect. I need this analyzed immediately."

The man nodded, standing. "Of course. I’ll have someone handle it right away."

Once alone, the man’s gaze flicked to another sealed document on his desk—a DNA report. He quickly snapped photos with his phone, swapped the files, and slipped the original into his coat.

Moments later, at a stairwell trash bin, he shredded the incriminating papers and tossed them away.

Sophia’s phone buzzed. She paled as she opened the message.

Evelyn frowned. "What’s wrong?"

Wordlessly, Sophia handed over her phone. The screen displayed damning images—DNA results Joel had captured.

Nathan Goldmann was their father.

"Zoe," Sophia whispered, stunned. "How did you know Nathan would run a paternity test?"

Evelyn’s jaw tightened. "Because he tested me first." She exhaled sharply. "I knew he’d get close to Liam and Daisy. And if he did, he’d eventually test them too."

Thank God Joel worked in forensics. Without him, Nathan would’ve uncovered the truth.

Sophia hesitated. "Aren’t you… relieved? You finally know who their father is."

Evelyn’s voice turned icy. "A man who might’ve conspired with Vivian six years ago. Do you really think someone like that deserves to be in their lives?"