Chapter 163 The Father-Son Relationship
Ethan and Emma racked their brains but couldn’t come up with a good way to prevent their identities from being exposed. Ethan considered hacking into the hospital's computer system to alter data and results, but doing so could likely affect other patients.
However, Ethan couldn't justify affecting others' medical outcomes just to achieve his own goals, as that wouldn’t make him any different from the bad guys.
"Ethan, what should we do now?" Emma tugged at Ethan's clothes, visibly scared and worried.
Ethan was also very concerned, but worry wasn't helpful; he had to stay calm to come up with a perfect solution.
"Great-Grandma loves us so much; we can try to get her on our side, to keep the secret from Daddy."
It seemed like the only option left.
Sam watched the two whispering anxiously, approaching slowly, patted Ethan's shoulder, and spoke in a low voice audible only to the three of them.
"You're keeping something from me."
Ethan and Emma exchanged glances. Should they tell Sam and bring him into their side?
But Sam's illness hadn't improved yet, and he still hadn't fully accepted Mommy.
The two kids quickly decided to keep it a secret for now.
Ethan said with a troubled frown, "Mommy's birthday is coming up, and we're discussing what to give her as a birthday gift."
"Aunt Kelly’s birthday?" Sam's eyes widened in surprise.
When it was his birthday, Great-Grandma and Daddy would give him gifts, and he had also given Great-Grandma birthday presents.
Should he give Aunt Kelly a birthday gift too?
"I have an idea!" Emma exclaimed mischievously, pulling the others with her. "For Mommy's birthday, how about we bake a cake ourselves for mommy?
Ethan thought it was a good idea, and Sam asked, "Can I join too?"
"Of course! My mommy treats you just like her own son; you're our brother, and we should definitely do this for mommy together," Emma said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
In their everyday actions and words, Ethan and Emma naturally treated Sam as their brother, often mentioning how mommy treated him like her own child. They worked hard to integrate Sam into their little family.
Under this subtle influence, Sam's mindset had already begun to change. Every time he stayed at Aunt Kelly's house, it felt like visiting another home, and his affection for Aunt Kelly grew stronger.
He even began to grow fond of Caroline.
Ethan and Emma kept their worries well hidden and even approached Caroline for help, asking her to cover for them while they visited the Lancaster family.
Knowing what they were planning to do, Caroline was happy to assist. That afternoon, she sent a message to Sophia saying she would take the kids out for some delicious food, so they wouldn't be coming back for dinner.
Caroline often took the children out for gourmet food, so Sophia was no longer surprised by such outings.
At the Lancaster family's estate, Mrs. Lancaster couldn't sit still; she paced back and forth in the living room, leaning on her cane. Servants tried to persuade her to rest, but Mrs. Lancaster waved them off.
"Mind your own business, leave me be."
Mrs. Lancaster had difficulty walking and was pacing so restlessly that everyone feared she might fall. They were all distracted while working, worried that something might happen to Mrs. Lancaster and that Mr. Lancaster would hold them accountable upon his return.
Finally, under Mrs. Lancaster's hopeful gaze, Betty returned. As soon as Mrs. Lancaster heard the commotion outside, she staggered to meet her, with a servant quickly coming up to assist.
"Madam," Betty called out, stepping down from the car. Seeing Mrs. Lancaster rushing out to greet her, she didn't even catch her breath before hurrying over to support Mrs. Lancaster on the other side.
"Did you get the results?" Mrs. Lancaster's voice trembled.
"I got them, it's cold outside, let's go in and take a look."
Mrs. Lancaster was helped inside and seated on the sofa. Betty quickly took out the document bag and handed it to Mrs. Lancaster.
In that moment, Mrs. Lancaster hesitated to take it.
She was afraid it might be a false hope.
Thus, with Betty's hand outstretched for several minutes, her arm growing sore, Mrs. Lancaster finally sighed and took it.
Mrs. Lancaster's hands shook as she opened the file, and Betty also grew nervous, rubbing her thighs anxiously.
A thin sheet of white paper bore many incomprehensible numbers; Mrs. Lancaster scanned from top to bottom, her eyes going straight to the last line.
She thought she had read it wrong, took off her glasses, wiped them with her clothing, and looked again. Mrs. Lancaster's already pale complexion turned even paler, the wrinkles seeming to tremble slightly, and her body swayed as if she were about to faint.
"Is this... good news or bad news?"
Mrs. Lancaster extended her hand: "I'm a bit tired, help me to rest."
The thin sheet of paper fluttered to the ground, and Betty, too preoccupied to pick it up, saw how terrifyingly pale Mrs. Lancaster's face had become and quickly assisted her into the bedroom.
After sitting down, Mrs. Lancaster sent Betty out; she covered her mouth and coughed lightly, feeling as though something was blocking her lungs and throat, wishing to cough it out.
Mrs. Lancaster hastily grabbed tissues from the bedside table and held them to her mouth.
When the coughing stopped, there was a spot of blood on the tissue.
Mrs. Lancaster had coughed up blood.
Tears streamed from those dry eyes.
" It can't be…" Mrs. Lancaster muttered to herself, unable to accept that such similar individuals could not have a biological father-son relationship.
This blow left Mrs. Lancaster physically and emotionally exhausted, all the joy turning into disappointment.
Betty picked up the paper and also found the results unbelievable.
But the truth lay before her, an authoritative testing institution's report couldn't be false.
Betty felt a deep sense of disappointment in her heart.
"How is it? Did they get the report?"
Inside office of the counselling room, Tiffany was seated on a genuine leather office chair adorned with a pink seat cushion. The entire office was styled in warm, girlish tones, which contrasted starkly with Tiffany's calculating expression at that moment.
She was holding her phone, engaged in conversation.
"They got it, don’t worry. The sample was switched long ago, and the words 'direct relative' won't appear on the report."
Tiffany expressed her gratitude: "Thank you so much. I'll treat you to dinner sometime."
"No worries; I'm glad I could help you."
After exchanging a few more words, Tiffany ended the call, her face brimming with smugness.
Her counselling room had a partnership with the mental health department of the central hospital. She happened to see Betty at the testing institution's department while there on business. Initially, she suspected that the old lady might be critically ill, but then she thought if it were serious, she should be in the ICU. Sensing something was amiss, she had someone inquire and found out that the Lancaster family was conducting DNA testing.
Why would they conduct DNA testing out of the blue?
At first, she wondered if Gabriel had fathered an illegitimate child outside, but she immediately dismissed the idea.
Betty represented Mrs. Lancaster.
Could it be... the Mrs. Lancaster doubted the father-son relationship between Sam Lancaster and Gabriel?
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