Chapter 8: The Truth About Jacob
I drove home faster than I should have.
Not because I was angry.
Because I was scared.
The person who changed the DNA samples wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone close.
Someone who had access.
Someone who knew enough about my family to manipulate everything.
When I arrived, Emily was sitting on the front steps.
She stood immediately.
“You’re okay.””
I looked at her.
“That’s your first concern?””
She swallowed.
“Yes.””
I wanted to stay angry.
I really did.
But seeing the fear in her eyes made it harder.
We walked inside.
The house was silent.
Too silent.
“Where’s your mother?””
“Gone.””
“Good.””
Emily looked down.
“She said she was trying to protect me.””
I shook my head.
“Protect you?””
“She thought she was saving my marriage.””
“By hiding things?””
“I know.””
I looked at her.
“Tell me everything.””
Emily nodded.
This time, she didn’t hesitate.
“When I was pregnant, my mother became obsessed with Jacob.””
I frowned.
“Why?””
“Because she thought he was still important to me.””
“And was he?””
Emily looked at me.
“No.””
The answer came without hesitation.
“Jacob was part of my past. You were my future.””
I stayed quiet.
She continued.
“When my mother found out about the name, she thought I was replacing you with him.””
“Were you?””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“The name wasn’t for him.””
I waited.
“It was for the baby I lost.””
I sat down.
Emily wiped her tears.
“When I was engaged to Jacob, we had a son’s name picked out.””
“Jacob.””
She nodded.
“After the accident, I lost the baby and I lost Jacob too. I spent years blaming myself.””
She looked toward the nursery.
“When I became pregnant again, I wanted to use that name because I wanted to believe something beautiful could come after something painful.””
I understood more now.
But the pain was still there.
“You should have told me.””
“I know.””
“Before I found out from a hat.””
“I know.””
She looked at me.
“I was wrong.””
Those words were different.
Not defensive.
Not angry.
Just honest.
Then she reached for her phone.
“I need to show you something.””
She opened a message.
A conversation.
Between her and Michael.
I read it.
Michael had been helping her investigate the DNA issue.
Not hide it.
Then I saw another message.
From Linda.
*You don’t understand what happens if Daniel finds out everything.*
Below it:
*Jacob cannot take this child away from us.*
I looked at Emily.
“Us?””
Emily shook her head.
“I don’t know what she meant.””
My phone buzzed.
A new email.
From Dr. Mitchell.
Attached was a document.
The subject line:
*Final DNA Investigation Report.*
I opened it.
The first page explained the sample changes.
The second page showed the timeline.
The third page showed something that made my hands shake.
The original DNA sample belonged to me.
The second sample belonged to Jacob.
But neither sample was submitted by Emily.
Or Linda.
The person who delivered them was listed clearly.
I read the name once.
Then again.
I couldn’t believe it.
Michael.
I looked up.
Emily saw my expression.
“What?””
I couldn’t speak.
Because the man who spent the last few days helping me uncover the truth…
Was also the man who brought the samples to the clinic.
My brother.
My closest friend.
The person I trusted more than anyone.
Then my phone rang.
Michael.
I answered.
“Daniel…”
His voice sounded broken.
“Before you hear anything else, I need you to know something.””
I didn’t say a word.
“I never betrayed you.””
My grip tightened.
“Then explain why your name is on the report.””
Silence.
Then Michael whispered:
“Because I was trying to protect your son.””
I froze.
“From who?””
His answer came quietly.
May you like
And it changed everything.
“From Jacob.””
