What Blood Reveals

Before my wife went into labor, a nurse handed me a stack of consent forms. Buried among them was an optional prenatal paternity screening offered through St. Briar Medical Center's new genetic-services program. I'd barely started signing when my mother-in-law, Margaret, charged at me and slapped me across the face. "You monster! My daughter is risking her life to give you a child, and you want a DNA test?" Before I could explain, the hospital-room door flew open. Vanessa pressed a pair of medical scissors against her neck, her eyes bloodshot. "Daniel, I've given you seven years of my life. You know who this baby's father is. Why would you humiliate me like this?" When I saw the thin line of blood on her throat, my heart broke, and I dropped to my knees. I tore up the testing form and ordered my attorney to draft an unconditional agreement transferring assets to the baby. To comfort her, I drove across Aldercrest searching for her favorite honey-lavender shortbread. But when I returned to the hospital room, I heard laughter inside. "Vanessa, thank God we reacted quickly. If he'd signed that testing form, everything would've been over." "Why worry? Daniel's an idiot. I only have to cry, and he believes me." Then a familiar male voice said, "Once the birth certificate gives the child the Raleigh name, everything Daniel owns will belong to the three of us." The words froze me outside the door. I turned away and called my attorney. "Cancel the agreement. Then hire an investigator and uncover everything." At the baby's welcome reception, I would personally present Vanessa with the gift she deserved. Chapter 1 I crushed the honey-lavender shortbread in my fist and dropped it into the trash. I took several slow breaths before walking into the room. The moment I saw the man's face, my heart jolted. No wonder the voice had sounded so familiar. It was Caleb Price, the scholarship student I'd supported for four years and personally mentored from an intern into a key member of Raleigh Industries' flagship project team. I'd never imagined he and Vanessa knew each other. My wife had always looked down on almost everyone. Yet here he was, comfortably inside her hospital room. "What are you doing here?" Caleb went pale and stumbled over his explanation. "Everyone at the company heard Mrs. Raleigh was about to deliver, and they were worried. Since I work closely with you, I came on their behalf." I nodded, walked to the bed, and sat down. Vanessa was propped against the pillows, a faint trace of milk at the corner of her mouth. There was milk around Caleb's lips too. When he noticed me looking, he hurriedly wiped it away. Had they been kissing over a glass of milk? Nausea rolled through me, but I kept my expression calm. "Is that so?" I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Good thing my assistant called a moment ago. Otherwise, with how attentive you are, I might've mistaken you for the baby's father." Every last bit of color drained from Caleb's face. Vanessa immediately raised her voice to divert attention. "Where's the shortbread I asked for? Briarwood Bakery is nearly two hours away. How did you get back so quickly?" "They were sold out." She bit her lip, and tears appeared on command. "You came back empty-handed, and now you're making jokes like that in front of a guest!" "Don't you love me anymore?" My mother-in-law, Margaret, rushed forward and pointed a finger in my face. "Childbirth can kill a woman! Instead of caring for your wife, you stand there making cruel little remarks!" "Vanessa, maybe you shouldn't have this baby at all. He doesn't deserve to be a father!" I watched them perform their rehearsed duet and laughed bitterly to myself. Vanessa's sudden craving for pastries from a bakery two hours away had never been about the food. It was simply a way to send me out so Caleb could visit. She wanted to tell him in person that I planned to transfer a substantial part of my estate to the baby without conditions. They'd probably already decided that everything my family built would eventually belong to a Price. Did a man who'd climbed out of poverty only because I funded his education honestly think he deserved it? I lowered my gaze, hiding the coldness in my eyes, and softened my voice. "Vanessa, don't overthink it. I was only teasing." I tucked the blanket around her as gently as I always had. "I already explained the paternity-test form. St. Briar Medical Center includes the optional screening in its new genetic-services program. Why would I ever suspect you?" I took her hand. Her palm was warm, and my voice sounded completely sincere. "We've been together for seven years. If I can't trust you, who can I trust?" Only then did the tension slowly leave her face. Margaret gave a cold snort. "At least you still have some decency." Caleb relaxed too and quickly forced a flattering smile. "You and Mrs. Raleigh are so devoted to each other, Mr. Raleigh. It's honestly enviable." "The office still needs me, so I should probably go." "Why the hurry?" Caleb stopped midstep. I leaned back in the chair and spoke at an unhurried pace. "Caleb, I funded your education and helped you build your career. I've always treated you like a younger brother. "You've eaten at my table, lived in an apartment I arranged, and built your career at my company. At this point, you're practically family." The smile froze on Caleb's face. "Mr. Raleigh, what are you getting at?" I glanced at Vanessa's swollen belly and answered casually. "Since you care so much, why not organize the baby celebration? I'm counting on you to make it unforgettable." Chapter 2 The baby was born shortly after midnight. A nurse emerged carrying a tiny, wrinkled newborn. "Family of Vanessa Raleigh? Mother and son are both stable." I stood frozen, as though my feet had been nailed to the floor. The nurse placed the child in my arms. When I remained stiff, she frowned. "Sir, your son was just born. Aren't you even going to hold him?" I accepted the baby with rigid arms. He was impossibly small, with a weak cry and a face scrunched tight. I'd heard enough outside that hospital room to know the truth, yet the moment I held him, one ridiculous hope still rose inside me. What if? What if he really was mine? I used the newborn screening as an excuse to get away from Margaret and contacted a physician I trusted. A short while later, the preliminary results appeared on my phone. My friend's voice was grave. "Daniel, the relationship test confirms what you suspected. The child isn't biologically yours." I closed my eyes. There was a pause on the other end. "There's something else you need to prepare yourself for. "Your bloodwork shows signs of long-term exposure to a prescription hormone suppressant. It wasn't acutely toxic, but the repeated doses have seriously damaged your reproductive system. "It may be extremely difficult for you to father a child in the future." A loud hum filled my head. For years, Vanessa had insisted restaurant food was unhealthy. While we were supposedly trying to conceive, she made me drink one of her homemade wellness tonics every single day. Whenever I finished a cup, she smiled at me with such tenderness and concern. All that time, she'd been feeding me poison one careful spoonful at a time. I gripped the phone so hard that nausea surged into my throat. Seven years together, and she'd cheated on me and carried another man's child. Worse, she'd deliberately tried to make sure I could never have one of my own. It took a long time before I could carry the baby back to the room. The moment I entered, Margaret snatched him from me and clutched him protectively to her chest. "Where did you take my precious grandson? Why were you gone so long?" Her words sounded concerned, but the suspicion in her eyes was impossible to hide. To them, the baby wasn't a grandson. He was leverage. I answered evenly. "The newborn unit was backed up. We had to wait for the routine screening." Vanessa lay against the pillows, her face pale. Once, the sight would've broken my heart. Now it only made my stomach turn. Her eyes reddened as she held out a hand to me, her voice trembling with grievance. "Daniel, are you disgusted by me now?" I stayed where I was and replied without emotion. "You just gave birth. Stop upsetting yourself." She stared at me, and panic flashed unmistakably through her eyes. Margaret immediately exploded and pointed at me. "Daniel, who are you punishing with that funeral face?" I looked at her and suddenly smiled. "Mrs. Cole, there's no need to get worked up. "I reserved Meadowcrest Postpartum Retreat's most expensive private suite for Vanessa. She can move in tomorrow." Only then did Margaret's expression improve. I said nothing more. I sat in the visitor's chair and closed my eyes as though I intended to rest. The room gradually fell silent. It was well past midnight when Margaret began to snore and I heard a phone vibrate. I opened my eyes to a narrow slit. Vanessa had turned her back to me and was typing a message from the hospital bed. The words on her screen were unmistakable. [Don't worry, sweetheart. The baby is healthy.] [Daniel even booked Meadowcrest's private suite. Tomorrow I'll make him sign the birth certificate and give the baby the Raleigh name.] Chapter 3 The next day, I moved Vanessa and her mother into Meadowcrest Postpartum Retreat. As soon as they settled into the private suite, Margaret slapped a stack of forms onto the table in front of me. "I already found out which documents Aldercrest County needs. "The moment the hospital issues the birth certificate, you need to file everything and add him to the Raleigh family records." Vanessa leaned against the headboard and nodded weakly. "Daniel, the baby's already here. We'll all feel better once the paperwork is finished." I looked at her and answered calmly. "There's no hurry." The room fell silent. Margaret frowned. "What do you mean, no hurry? Registering a child's birth is important!" I picked up the forms and flipped through them. "We haven't settled on his name." Vanessa blinked, then stared at me with a crease between her brows. "We chose the name months ago." Her voice softened, as though she were gently reminding me. "Noah Raleigh." Something sharp seemed to pierce my chest. I'd chosen that name long before the birth. To me, it had meant peace, safety, and a lifetime protected from harm. Back then, I'd truly longed for this child and for the home I thought I was building with the woman I loved. Hearing the name now only made the betrayal more bitter. I set the paperwork down. "I don't want to use it anymore." Vanessa's face went white. "Why not?" "I don't think he deserves it." Vanessa's pupils contracted. "Daniel, this is your own son, and you're saying he doesn't deserve your name?" The raised voices drew people into the doorway. "What's happening in there?" "She just gave birth, and he's already fighting with her?" "What kind of husband behaves like that?" Vanessa lowered her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. She looked exactly like a woman who'd suffered every possible cruelty. Standing in the middle of the gathering crowd, I gave a quiet laugh. "Mrs. Cole, Vanessa, aren't you being a little too sensitive? "I said the name might not be right. When did I say I'd reject the child?" Margaret choked on her response. I continued. "He'll carry that name for the rest of his life. What's wrong with being careful? "The two of you are acting so desperate that anyone might think you're afraid I'll discover something." The expressions around the doorway changed. Someone murmured nearby. "Choosing a name is a serious decision. "The family is acting strangely frantic about it." Vanessa's fingers tightened visibly around the blanket. "What do any of you know? We're only thinking about the baby!" I gathered the documents and softened my tone. "Vanessa, your only responsibility right now is to recover. "The name, the county filing, and every public acknowledgment the child is due will be handled properly. "Caleb's already arranging the welcome reception, isn't he? "When the day comes, in front of our relatives, employees, and business partners, I'll give out everything that ought to be given." The anger in Margaret's eyes was instantly smothered by greed. "Everything?" I nodded. "Of course." I looked at Vanessa with the faintest smile. "And while I'm at it, I'll give my wife a very special gift." Chapter 4 After that, Margaret behaved herself for a while. Because I'd paid for Meadowcrest's premium package, she treated the retreat as though she owned it. When the director called to complain, I gave only one instruction. "Whatever they ask for, do your best to accommodate it." After ending the call, I continued reviewing the files my attorney and investigator had delivered. Caleb had appeared hardworking after joining Raleigh Industries, but behind the scenes, he'd been helping himself. He'd interfered with project funds, copied confidential documents, and accessed client information without authorization. More absurdly, the supplementary card I'd given Vanessa showed multiple transfers into Caleb's account. The security records also showed that whenever I traveled for work, Caleb entered my home as though he belonged there. He keyed in the door code and walked straight to the primary bedroom. Our wedding portrait still hung on the wall inside that room. On those same nights, Vanessa would call me and whisper, "Daniel, I'm scared being here alone. Please come home early." Watching the bedroom door close behind Caleb on the footage made my stomach churn. How had she managed it? She slept with another man in my house. Then she called me and used the sweetest voice in the world to say, "I love you." Over the following weeks, I barely visited Meadowcrest. Whenever Vanessa called, I claimed the company was keeping me busy. I gave her all the freedom she could want. And I gave Caleb every opportunity to expose himself. Sure enough, his visits became more frequent. At first, he brought menus, guest lists, and decorating proposals, pretending every visit was related to the baby's welcome reception. Before long, he stopped bothering with excuses. He sometimes stayed for two or three hours, while Margaret personally guarded the hallway and covered for them. They met so openly that even families in the neighboring suites began whispering that I was being made a fool of. I didn't care. The bolder they became, the stronger my case grew. On the day of the welcome reception, the Grand Laurel Hotel ballroom looked beautiful. There were flowers, balloons, a wall of newborn photographs, and a massive video screen. Margaret wore an especially festive dress and carried the baby from table to table. "Look at my grandson. You can tell he was born lucky!" Her pride was almost impossible to conceal. Vanessa and Caleb had dressed carefully too. Standing together, they looked more like the family everyone had gathered to celebrate than I did. The guest list was enormous, and I greeted everyone personally. When the program was about to begin, Vanessa disappeared. I checked my phone and found a message from my assistant, Timothy. [Mr. Raleigh, they're inside the private lounge.] A moment later, the secured camera feed appeared on my screen. Inside the lounge, Vanessa locked the door. Caleb stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. "You only finished your recovery program today. Why are you in such a hurry?" Vanessa playfully struck his shoulder. "Stop teasing. I missed you. "I've been waiting for weeks. It's been miserable. "My breasts are painfully full. Will you help me?" She opened her blouse and pressed herself toward his mouth. I had no interest in watching any more. I lowered my phone and told Timothy to begin the presentation. At that moment, the baby started crying in his stroller. The sound wasn't loud, but it cut sharply through the crowded ballroom. Margaret fumbled with him, yet nothing she did settled him. A relative asked with a laugh, "Where's the baby's mother? "The reception is about to start. Has anyone seen Vanessa?" Margaret's expression changed, and sweat appeared along her forehead. "She was here a moment ago. She must be touching up her makeup." The host turned to me awkwardly. "Mr. Raleigh, should we wait a few more minutes for your wife?" More and more guests began looking toward us. The baby kept crying. "Daniel, call Vanessa and tell her to hurry." I didn't move. Instead, I walked slowly onto the stage and accepted the microphone from the host. "There's no need to worry, everyone. "The baby's mother is right here." The enormous screen in the center of the ballroom suddenly came alive.