Chapter 4 Marcus plans a fake DNA test

After hours of talking and his convincing act of vulnerability, Helen relented-not out of trust, but exhaustion. She let him back into her life... as a friend.

But she still hadn't spoken to Gabriel.

Scene: Gabriel's Penthouse – Evening

Gabriel stood by the window of his skyscraper apartment, staring out at a city that used to inspire him. Now it only reminded him of Helen.

His empire was thriving. His tech startup had just been valued at 3.2 billion. Everyone called him "The Young King."

But his heart?

Still with her.

His parents had begun to pressure him. "There are women of your status who'd kill to be your wife," his mother had said.

But he wasn't interested. Not when Helen's laugh still echoed in his ears.

Scene: Café with Helen's Friends – Afternoon

Helen sat across from Anita, Elizabeth, and Vivian. The three women sipped on iced lattes, each with their own opinions.

"I'm just saying," Anita shrugged, "Marcus made mistakes, but he's trying now."

"Yeah," Elizabeth chimed in, "he's here. He stayed. That says something."

Vivian, quiet until now, finally leaned in.

"I don't trust him."

The table fell silent.

Vivian continued, "I think he faked the photo of Gabriel. I've worked in media-I know a Photoshop job when I see one."

Helen blinked. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying," Vivian said gently, "you need to look at everything again. Really look. Marcus played you once. What if he's still playing you?"

---

Scene: Helen's Office – That Night

Helen sat alone again. She pulled out the photo Marcus had shown her-the one of Gabriel with another woman, smiling, holding hands. She scanned it closely this time, zooming in.

Something was... off.

The shadow angles didn't match.

And the woman's face looked oddly blurred.

Her chest tightened. "Vivian might be right."

She opened her laptop, heart racing, and started digging.But something convince her that she was wrong.

Marcus have been noticing that Helen have been thinking about Gabriel despite the false evidences.This time he made an edited video with the help of a media specialist .He made a video of Gabriel having an affair with another woman.

The video was stored in a flash and was given to helen to play in her laptop.

MARCUS PLANS TO HIRE A NURSE TO PRESENT A FAKE DNA TEST RESULTS

Helen's Office – Late Night

The boutique was dark, save for the dim desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. Helen sat motionless, the flash drive in her trembling hand. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, her mind warring with fear and suspicion.

She hesitated... then inserted it into her laptop.The video began.

It was grainy-security footage, maybe. A bar or restaurant. Gabriel... and that same woman from the photo. He was laughing. Her hand touched his cheek. They leaned in. Kissed.

Helen covered her mouth with her hand, choking back a sob. Another video played. A series of text screenshots followed. Her name absent. Only "baby," "miss you," "soon," and a location tagged in a hotel.

Her heart shattered all over again.She began to regret ever seeing Gabriel.

Scene: A Month Later – Helen's Apartment

Helen had stopped returning Gabriel's calls. Her silence was final. Cold. Unforgiving.Marcus, however, had become a constant. Quietly supportive. Always present.

When Helen had gone into labor, it was Marcus who drove her to the hospital. Who waited outside the delivery room. Who held her hand when she cried for someone who wasn't there.The baby-Liam-was healthy. Perfect. And Marcus had smiled when Helen told him the name.

"I'm here," Marcus said, softly. "For both of you."Helen, exhausted, allowed his hand to stay on hers.

Scene: Helen's Boutique – Weeks Later

The business was booming again. Thanks to Marcus's "help." His strategies brought in more customers, more orders, more reach. He stayed late. Took on shifts. Handled suppliers.

"You're incredible," he'd say, eyes full of admiration.

Helen smiled weakly, her heart still fragile. Her baby boy slept peacefully in a carrier behind the desk.

"You don't have to do all this," she told him once.

"I want to," Marcus replied. "I love him. Like he's mine."

Helen froze.

Marcus noticed. "I mean... I'd raise him like he's mine. If you let me."

She said nothing. But her silence wasn't a no.

Gabriel's Apartment – Night

He stared at a photo of the baby Helen had posted. Just a glimpse. A small, perfect face.

Gabriel whispered, "He looks like me."

He would fight. Not just for the truth-but for his son. For Helen. For everything Marcus tried to take.

Marcus sister Smith noticed that Helen has posted the picture of the baby on social media which might one be seen by Gabriel.She suggested that Marcus should hire a nurse that will go to Gabriel's house and present a fake DNA test results of the baby.

out of wickedness she suggested that the nurse should lie by saying that she was sent by Helen to deliver the message.Smith's interest in the relationship of Helen and her brother Marcus was to be able to get more money from Helen's million dollar business when they become friends and in-laws in the future.

Marcus seeing it as a good idea,he begins to plan for it.

Gabriel's Apartment – Rainy Morning

The rain beat against the windows like it had something to prove. Gabriel hadn't left the apartment in days. His once-sharp beard was now unkempt, his eyes shadowed with sleepless nights. The report lay on the table in front of him - again.

The truth was there. But it didn't matter.

Helen wouldn't answer. Wouldn't listen.

She believes I betrayed her.

He ran his hands through his hair, dragging out a sigh that felt like it tore from his soul.

A knock at the door.

He opened it to find a woman in scrubs - soft-spoken, gentle-eyed.

"Mr. Gabriel?" she asked. "I'm Nurse Lydia. I was at the hospital during Helen's delivery. I... I thought you should know something."

Gabriel tensed. "What is it?"

She handed him an envelope. "The baby... I shouldn't be saying this, but there was a paternity test done quietly. The father... isn't you.I was sent by Helen to tell you".

Gabriel's chest clenched. "What?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "The report was hidden. I thought you deserved to know."

She left before he could ask more.

He opened the envelope with shaking fingers. A hospital letterhead. A fake seal. And one line that shattered the last of his hope:

Paternity: Negative.

He sank to the floor.

Scene: Helen's Apartment – Same Time

Marcus made dinner while Helen rocked Liam gently by the window.

"You're doing amazing," Marcus said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Really. I don't know how you do it all."

Helen gave a tired smile. "I don't know either."

He leaned in and kissed her forehead.She didn't flinch.But later that night, when Liam had fallen asleep and Marcus was in the kitchen, Helen sat alone on the couch, staring at her phone.

Gabriel's contact was still pinned.

She ran her fingers over the screen... then locked it again.

Scene: Marcus's Condo – Later

Marcus poured himself a drink, staring at a file on his laptop.Doctor's seal. Digital signatures. The fake paternity report.

He smirked. "Almost too easy."

He'd paid Lydia handsomely. Enough to disappear after delivering the lie.Now Helen was his. She trusted him. Needed him. soon, he thought, Gabriel will finally give up.

Scene: Gabriel's Apartment – That Night

Gabriel stood at the edge of his balcony, soaked from the rain, eyes vacant.He clutched the paternity letter in one hand, a glass of untouched whiskey in the other.

Everything in him screamed this wasn't right. But he was tired. So damn tired.

Scene: Helen's Boutique – One Week Later

Business was steady. Marcus had helped revamp the layout, rebrand their social media, and bring in more suppliers. Customers smiled. Sales increased.

But Helen felt... off.

Every time Marcus held Liam, something in her stomach twisted. He was good. Gentle. Supportive.

But he wasn't Gabriel.

Late at night, she'd dream of Gabriel's arms. His voice. The way he looked at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

Her heart still knew. Still ached.

But she pushed the feelings down, not knowing the full truth was still locked away.

Scene: A Park – Afternoon

Marcus pushed the stroller while Helen sat on the bench, watching children play.

"You ever think about the future?" Marcus asked.

Helen nodded slowly. "All the time."

"With me?"

She hesitated.

Marcus reached over, took her hand. "I love you, Helen. And Liam. Let's build something... real."

Helen smiled, but her eyes betrayed her.

Because deep down... she still loved Gabriel.

And Marcus knew it.