Chapter 739 Mr. Phoebe Really Knows How to Joke
"What else could it be?"
Daisy's eyes blazed with anger as she snatched the report from Oliver's hand. "Molly wasn't Mom and Dad's biological daughter, so Adeline must be? Molly being their real daughter is a fact. This so-called DNA test you're waving around is just to confuse everyone!"
She opened the folder with a flourish.
The documents inside were exactly what she expected: proof of Molly's biological relationship with her, and evidence that Howard, Zara, and Molly had no blood ties.
A cold glint passed through Daisy's eyes.
She was ready to tear the papers apart. "Molly is dead, and you still want to slander her with this? How could you do this to her?"
Before Daisy could rip the documents, Oliver snatched them back.
Oliver sneered, "Daisy, if you claim I'm faking this, why are you so eager to destroy the report? Afraid Mom and Dad will see it?"
He shoved the folder into Howard's hands. "It's okay, I get it. You think I'm slandering Molly. You're her sister, of course you'd defend her. Just like I would defend Adeline, because she's my sister."
Oliver pulled out a clear plastic bag containing a few strands of hair. "I just pulled these from Adeline's head. Molly's body has been cremated. You can't say this is her hair, right? If you don't believe me, I can go pull a few more right now."
He yanked a hair from his own head and another from Howard's, tossing them into the bag. "With today's technology, we'll know the results soon enough. Daisy, do you dare to bet?"
Daisy's face turned pale at his words.
Her pale face and her desperate attempt to destroy the DNA report. If Howard couldn't see Molly's intentions now, he'd be a fool!
Howard frowned and opened the folder.
The words inside made his blood pressure spike.
Oliver handed him some photos he had found at Radiance Springs. "These are pictures of Adeline before any cosmetic surgery. And this one, with Jasper, is pretty convincing."
Howard's hands trembled as he held the documents and photos.
That fac was identical to Zara's when she was young!
Since marrying him, Zara had to take care of the Phoebe family, him, and find time to make the drugs that controlled his uncontrollable emotions. She had aged so much from all the stress. He hadn't had the chance to appreciate her youthful beauty before it faded. Now, looking at Adeline's old photos, Howard felt a pang of sorrow.
To ease his emotions, he glared at Daisy. "Molly is your sister?"
Daisy knew she couldn't hide the truth any longer. Tears streaming down her face, she grabbed Howard's arm. "Dad, I... I didn't know... We've always been told Molly was your daughter... Adeline is my sister. I... I didn't know anything."
Daisy cried, biting her lip. "Maybe, like you, I was deceived by Molly... I thought she was your daughter because she said so."
She looked up at Howard with a pitiful expression. "Dad, you and Mom didn't realize it either, did you?"
Daisy's words struck Howard deeply.
He narrowed his eyes and pushed Daisy away from the floor-to-ceiling window.
Inside the room, Zara was talking to Adeline with a heartfelt smile.
Through the glass, Howard saw the weak smile on Zara's face.
She hadn't smiled like that in years.
Since marrying him, she had endured endless malice and insults.
Mistress, whore, opportunist. She had borne it all.
Though she always said it didn't matter, she hadn't smiled like this in years.
Unconsciously, Howard opened the door to the room.
As the door opened, Adeline's voice drifted in. "Blake is a hacker, Bennett is a sweetheart, and Lauren is a designer. They're all wonderful. If you can hold on, you'll meet them someday."
Hearing the voice behind her, Adeline gently pulled her hand from Zara's grasp.
She stood up, carefully wiped her tears, and took a deep breath. "Mrs. Phoebe, it's time for me to rest. If I stay up too late, my three little ones will worry. Let's meet again if fate allows."
She bowed to Zara and turned to leave.
"Adeline... Adeline!"
Seeing her leave, Zara tried to get out of bed to stop her.
The IV needle and various tubes and electrodes were yanked out, and the equipment clattered to the floor. The IV bottle even shattered on the ground.
But Zara, usually so gentle and careful, seemed oblivious as she rushed to the door and grabbed Adeline's arm.
Hearing the commotion, Adeline turned around.
She saw Zara standing on broken glass, blood starting to pool around her feet.
But the weak Zara seemed not to notice, her eyes fixed on Adeline's face. "You... you remember to come back and see me. I'll stay alive. No matter what you choose, I hope you'll come back to see me!"
Adeline bit her lip, her heart in turmoil, but her face remained expressionless.
She looked at Zara's bare feet and the blood beneath them. "I will. Mrs. Phoebe, please go back and rest."
With that, Adeline turned and left.
"Mom!" Oliver rushed in, lifting Zara and placing her back on the bed.
Adeline was left.
Howard glanced at Oliver, then at Daisy standing expressionless by the door.
Finally, he couldn't hold back and ran to the elevator, grabbing the woman waiting there.
"Adeline! As your dad, I want to talk to you."
Adeline turned her head slightly, giving him a cold look. "Dad? Mr. Phoebe, you must be joking."
Adeline's words cut deep into Howard's heart.
He slowly released her, lowering his voice. "I know I don't deserve to be your dad. Back then I shouldn't have denied my relationship with Zara, shouldn't have denied my betrayal of Esther and abandoned you in the orphanage."
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