Chapter 5 - The Truth in the Genes
The independent DNA laboratory we used was entirely outside of the Vanderbilt system, handled by a private forensic firm that Madeline’s money couldn't touch. On Monday morning, the courier delivered the sealed envelope directly to Luke’s hospital room.
Luke was sitting up in bed, happily eating a bowl of oatmeal and watching cartoons. His heart rate had stabilized, and the doctors were preparing him for discharge with a mild, manageable medication regimen for his SVT.
Brandon’s hands shook as he took the envelope. He looked at me, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
"Open it," I said softly.
He tore the paper. His eyes scanned the legal document, reading past the scientific jargon down to the bottom line.
Probability of Paternity: 99.999% It is genetically concluded that Brandon Carter is the biological father of Luke Carter.
Brandon let out a ragged sob, dropping to his knees by my chair. He buried his face in my lap, weeping openly. "He's mine. He's my boy. I'm so sorry, Chloe. I'm so, so sorry."
I ruffled his hair, letting my own tears fall, but my eyes remained fixed on the second page of the report—the maternity comparison. I had asked the lab to run it just to be thorough. But as my eyes scanned the data, my brow furrowed.
Probability of Maternity (Chloe Carter): 99.999%
But there was an additional genetic profiling comparison that Sarah had requested using a publicly available DNA profile of Madeline Carter, which had been uploaded years ago to a genealogical database for a high-profile historical preservation project she chaired.
I looked at the genetic markers comparing Brandon to his mother, Madeline.
My breath caught in my throat. I tapped Brandon on the shoulder. "Brandon... look at this. Look at the maternal match between you and Madeline."
Brandon wiped his eyes and looked at the paper. His confusion turned into utter bewilderment.
The report read:
Relationship Probability (Madeline Carter to Brandon Carter): 0.00% The genetic markers indicate zero maternal relationship. Madeline Carter is not the biological mother of Brandon Carter.
The room fell completely silent. The television hummed in the background, but the world had stopped spinning.
"This... this is a mistake," Brandon whispered, shaking his head. "I grew up with her. She has photos of her pregnant with me. She... she is my mother."
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"Is she?" I asked, a chilling realization dawning on me. "Or is this the real reason she was so desperate to prevent any genetic testing from ever happening in this family? The reason she fought so hard to keep us away from labs and doctors?"
We had wanted to clear my name. But instead, we had just pulled the thread on a lie that would unravel the entire Carter dynasty.
