Chapter 505 Paternity Test
Ashley believed that with this letter and her previous relationship with Martin, she could probably persuade him to accept Natalia.
There was a long silence, and no one spoke.
Finally, the head of the family, Dorian, spoke, "But my current status doesn't allow me to return to the country. As soon as I enter customs, I'll be arrested, this..."
Ashley didn't hesitate, "I'll take Natalia back."
Dorian immediately objected, "You just managed to leave Rochester City, no, we can't let you go back."
Blair also shook her head, "Ashley, don't take the risk. Once you return to Rochester City, our family might be separated again. I can't sacrifice you for my daughter."
Ashley made up her mind, "Are you not going to treat Natalia's illness? Mr. Collins can't come to Evercrest City. I love Natalia as much as you do. For her to grow up healthy, this price is worth it."
After becoming a mother, she could deeply understand the weight of a child in a mother's heart. If something happened to Natalia, what would Blair do? She might collapse.
Then Dorian would collapse too.
Wouldn't this family fall apart?
Blair said, "I'll go back with you! I'll ask my parents for help!"
Dorian grabbed her, "Blair, don't be foolish, I don't agree!"
Back then, Blair was kicked out of the Ember family to be with him. All the harsh words were directed at her, and the Ember family even threatened to break her legs if she returned.
Dorian couldn't bear to let Blair go back and be humiliated.
Blair still wanted to fight for it, but Dorian held her hand and said, "You're pregnant, you can't help much if you go back. Leave it to Ashley."
Ashley was stunned, "Blair, you're pregnant??"
How could they not have mentioned such a big thing?
Blair shushed her, "When I was pregnant with Natalia, I didn't get proper prenatal care because we were hiding. That's why the child was born sick. We don't know if this child is healthy, so we wanted to wait until after the prenatal checkup to tell our parents. If the child isn't healthy, we'll secretly abort it. Please keep this secret, I don't want to give our parents hope only to disappoint them again."
Ashley's heart ached, and for a moment, she almost couldn't breathe.
Who did Dorian save in his past life to meet such a good wife in this one?
Blair was truly the best wife in the world, bar none.
For such a good Blair, it was worth it for her to return to Rochester City and face all the troubles again.
After calming down for a while, Ashley started to arrange for the return procedures.
Dorian specifically instructed her, "To avoid being hunted, we left very little information about Natalia. The hospital and sanatorium didn't even store blood samples, fearing they would be traced. When you take her back, you must be careful not to leave too many traces. Those people might still use Natalia to threaten me."
Ashley agreed, "Dorian, do you have any idea who kidnapped Natalia?"
Dorian could only shake his head regretfully, "No, they used virtual numbers. Natalia was returned to the amusement park, and I didn't see anyone."
The hidden enemy was always a threat.
If they wanted to use Natalia to threaten Dorian again, Natalia would always be Dorian's weakness.
Ashley made a bold decision, "Dorian, if Natalia weren't your child, would they stop using her to threaten you?"
"Not my child? What are you planning to do?"
Blair protected her belly, "Ashley, you mean..."
Ashley nodded, "Natalia can be my daughter, then they won't keep targeting her. Those people want to use Natalia to threaten Dorian. Once they find out Natalia isn't Dorian's daughter, the threat will be gone."
Dorian couldn't be at ease, "What if Damian finds out, how will you explain? Can you make it clear?"
Ashley had considered this.
That day at the restaurant, Damian might have already suspected.
If Damian found out Natalia was her daughter, what would he do? Fight for custody?
Before fighting, wouldn't he first ensure the child's safety?
Ashley said, "Dorian, in Rochester City, who has the most power and influence?"
Dorian replied unhappily, "You know."
Ashley would try to avoid any interaction between Natalia and Damian. She would take the child to Coastal City, deep in the mountains, where Damian wouldn't think to look.
Even if he found out, with Damian's ability, he would quickly discover through a paternity test that Natalia wasn't his child.
To reassure Dorian and Blair, she had to give a sufficient reason, "Yes, I know it's Damian. If he thinks Natalia is his child, wouldn't he be more motivated to protect her, find the best doctors, and provide the best medical conditions? Anyone trying to threaten Natalia would be his enemy. Damian hates me, but he wouldn't ignore his child."
In times of sadness, people might be especially soft-hearted. Ashley managed to persuade everyone.
Then, Ashley replaced the blood sample left at the hospital with happy's, made a paternity test, and specifically archived it at the hospital. In the worst-case scenario, if those people had bad intentions again, they might fear Damian's identity and not dare to harm Natalia.
It was ironic that she had to use Damian's name as a shield.
So be it, she would be the bad guy.
Little happy knew Ashley was leaving, his little face drooping, lips pressed together without speaking.
Ashley kissed happy's pitiful cheek and coaxed, "Happy, you're mommy's little hero. Protect grandpa and grandma for mommy, okay?"
Happy was still unhappy but nodded sensibly, "Mommy, will Natalia be okay?"
"She will! We will all be fine!"
"You promise?"
"I promise!"
Blair held her hand, tears streaming down, "Ashley, you're our family's benefactor. I'll always remember your kindness. Thank you, Ashley, no matter the outcome, I'm grateful to you."
Ashley hugged her back, "Take care of yourself and the baby, wait for me to come back."
Two days later, Ashley boarded a flight back to Rochester City.
Natalia sat obediently by the window, looking at the city below the sky, "Auntie, is our homeland beautiful?"
She only had imagined pictures of the homeland, never seen it with her own eyes.
Ashley recalled the beautiful landscapes of the homeland, "We have a long history, various spectacular sights, beautiful scenery, delicious food, and kind people."
"Grandma said there's a big flower tree in our yard, can I see it?" Natalia asked innocently, her eyes wide.
Ashley's nose tingled, home, did they even have a home anymore?
"I'll take you to see the flower trees in the park, they're even bigger there."
After more than ten hours, the plane landed smoothly at Coastal City International Airport. Then, Ashley checked into a hotel, preparing to rest before heading to Martin's old house at the foot of the mountain.
Almost at the same time, in Evercrest City, at a hotel.
The phone rang, and Damian picked it up.
"Mr. Hearst, we found Natalia's paternity test at the hospital. She is Ms. Astor's biological daughter."
Damian was stunned, frozen in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his fingers tightly gripping the wheelchair armrest. The surrounding sounds seemed to be vacuumed away, leaving no echo.
Ashley's daughter.
Was that their child?!
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