Chapter 4

"Years ago, when Brenda first tried this stunt," Mom said, her voice calm but firm, "I had a DNA test done. A secure one, at a highly reputable lab."

She pulled out an old, sealed envelope from her safe.

"This confirms you are my daughter, Ashley. My only biological daughter."

Relief washed over me, so potent it almost buckled my knees. But the "leaked" test...

"Brenda must have bribed someone at that cheap clinic," Mom continued, her eyes narrowed. "She's desperate."

She didn't waste any time.

"We're going to do another test," Mom declared. "Today. All three of us. At the best lab in the city, with full transparency. No more shadows, no more lies."

Brittany protested, suddenly looking scared. "I... I don't want to! The other test was clear!"

Brenda, who had conveniently shown up "to support Brittany," also objected. "This is harassment! My poor girl has been through enough!"

Mom just gave them a cool look. "If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear."

The new tests were done under strict protocols. Lawyers present, samples taken by multiple nurses.

We waited. It felt like an eternity.

Then the results came.

Delivered by a stern-faced lab director directly to Mom.

She opened the report, her face unreadable for a moment.

Then, she smiled, a genuine, relieved smile.

She handed copies to me, then to a stunned Brittany and a pale Brenda.

The truth, in stark black and white.

I was Katherine's biological daughter.

Brittany was Brenda's.

No doubt. No ambiguity.

The lie was finally, officially, dead.

Or so I hoped.

Brittany stared at the paper, her face crumbling.

Brenda snatched it, her eyes darting across the page, disbelief warring with dawning horror.