Chapter 445 Shane's Suspicions, the Secret Paternity Test
Patricia's immediate response was firm, "My mother is Isabella Laurent."
Shane's mind churned as he repeated the name, "Isabella Laurent, Isabella Laurent... It can't be... It must be a coincidence."
Patricia detected a nuance in his voice and lifted her gaze, inquiring, "And what's your daughter's name?"
"Elise," he said simply.
A tinge of disappointment flickered across Patricia's eyes as she cast her gaze downward. It was as though the fleeting notion that had crossed her mind had just melted away.
Her mother had never spoken of her family, and her parents had always maintained that she was a true Ivara City native, never venturing beyond its borders. The pieces just didn't fit.
Martin had meticulously compared Grace's DNA with that of the Koch family for a paternity test, leaving no room for error.
Grace had been silent throughout their exchange, but now, a sense of unease welled up, causing her to narrow her eyes. Then it hit her like a lightning bolt, her pupils dilating in shock.
It couldn't be. But the pieces were falling into place.
The reason her DNA matched the Koch family wasn't some manipulation by Hunter. It was because she had received a bone marrow transplant from Patricia. If they used a blood test for the DNA match, she would have been a perfect fit for the Koch family.
So, could Patricia be the real Grace?
As the possibility dawned on Grace, an involuntary shiver coursed through her. The thought of Shane discovering Patricia was his true granddaughter sent waves of fear through her.
No. She couldn't allow them to find out.
Initially oblivious, Shane had been captivated by the similarities between Patricia and her mother during their conversation. The fondness he felt for Patricia was growing with each passing moment.
With reluctance, Patricia set down the picture frame and exchanged a few more words with Shane before departing. As she vanished through the door, Shane's gaze lingered on her silhouette.
Grace remained with Shane a while longer, sensing his distraction and deep contemplation. It was evident that he was grappling with thoughts that weighed heavily on his mind.
Grace discreetly excused herself after some casual conversation with Shane, leaving him alone in the study, his thoughts in turmoil.
Restlessness had replaced his earlier writing aspirations. He sat aimlessly for a while before eventually deciding to leave his seat. With the support of his cane, he embarked on an unsteady journey toward Patricia's room.
Coincidentally, Patricia had just concluded her packing and was preparing to depart when she encountered Shane right at her door. His gaze lingered on her face, lost in contemplation.
Slightly bewildered by his scrutiny, Patricia instinctively touched her face and inquired, "Grandpa, is there something on my face?"
Suppressing the turmoil within, Shane questioned with a trembling voice, "Patricia, you mentioned your mother resembles my daughter. Do you have a photo of her?"
Patricia shook her head, regret in her eyes, "I have some photos at home, but none with me right now. I used to have them on my old phone, but it broke, and I lost the photos when I switched to a new one."
"I see..." Shane said, a wave of disappointment washing over him as he looked down.
A sense of unease lingered as he pondered the situation. There were too many puzzling coincidences at play, not only in their striking physical resemblance but also in Patricia's innate talent for jewelry design and even her personality. All these similarities were reminiscent of his late daughter, Elise.
Patricia, thinking that Shane was merely reluctant to bid her farewell, smiled and said, "Grandpa, I really have to go! Please take good care of yourself, and I promise to visit whenever I can."
Shane replied with genuine reluctance, "Of course! I won't see you off since walking is a bit of a challenge for me."
While the reluctance might not have been as pronounced before, it now weighed heavily on his heart.
"It's alright, Grandpa! I'm heading out now! Goodbye!"
With her luggage in tow, Patricia waved farewell to Shane and departed. He remained in the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the immaculate room, devoid of any signs of occupancy, his emotions swirling within him.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a strange pull toward the bathroom. Upon entering, he noticed that it, too, was spotless. Not a single strand of hair or a droplet of water marred its pristine condition.
After a thorough search, Shane discovered a neatly folded strand of long hair concealed within a towel, and his heart sank.
The room had been vacant. The towel in the bathroom had been provided brand new for Patricia when she moved in, so the strand of hair hidden within had to belong to her. Shane's thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, and on instinct, he carefully placed the hair strand into his pocket. He reached for his phone and dialed his driver.
"I'm going out. Get the car ready and pick me up at the entrance."
After ending the call, he took his cane and proceeded outside, deliberately leaving behind any accompanying staff. Typically, Ariel, his constant aide, was ever-present during outings, assisting him as needed, but today he chose solitude.
He wasn't entirely sure what he intended to achieve, and it all felt rather absurd, but an overpowering feeling pushed him forward. He couldn't shake the notion that he stood on the brink of discovering a hidden truth.
Unbeknownst to him, as he disappeared around the corridor's corner, Grace emerged from another, watching silently as Shane vanished. Her gaze grew colder.
Shane proceeded directly to the paternity testing center, declining the driver's offer to accompany him. It was an impulsive move, possibly a mistake, maybe even an overreaction, but he intended to involve no one until he had definitive answers.
Trembling, he handed over Patricia's hair strand along with a sample of his own, requesting an expedited analysis. The technician informed him, "Please take a seat; you can return for the results in three hours."
"Alright."
Shane, feeling the weight of his years and the burden of failing health, couldn't bear the sterile scent of disinfectants in the testing center. Instead, he opted to wait at a coffee shop across the street.
Shortly after Shane's departure, Grace arrived at the center incognito, her face concealed by a hat and mask. Without uttering a word, she placed another ten million dollars on the counter.
Three hours later, the results were ready.
Grace obtained the DNA test results before Shane did. The paternity test confirmed a 95% match between Patricia and Shane, verifying a direct blood relationship.
When Grace laid eyes on the results, her complexion paled, and she felt an icy chill running through her veins, chilling her to the bone. Her suspicions had been accurate all along.
Patricia was indeed the real Grace.
What was even more terrifying was that Shane appeared to be growing suspicious. If these test results fell into his hands, Grace's days of comfort were numbered. Everything she had could be snatched away by Patricia.
No, she couldn't allow that to happen.
As time passed, Shane returned, relying heavily on his cane. A staff member handed him an envelope containing the test results. He wasted no time, tearing open the manila envelope and swiftly scanning through the data until his eyes landed on the final line of the last page.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
