A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 10

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Chapter 10

Fiona returned to Lowell Group half an hour later to report back to Cora.

Cora set aside what she was working on and asked, “So, did you manage to talk Joseph out of his ridiculous idea?”

Fiona gave a small shake of her head and carefully pulled out the paternity test report she’d gotten from Joseph. “It’s going to be hard to do if he has this.”

“Again with that thing? It’s obviously fake.” One glance at the report, and Cora could already guess Joseph was still obsessing over his conclusion.

She said irritably, “He’s been driven to insanity by this result. How could he just run off and get a DNA test done on his own? He didn’t get my consent at all. Doesn’t acting on his own like that count as breaking the law?”

“Mr. Hart is also a legal guardian. He was acting within his rights when he requested the test, so it’s not illegal,” Fiona explained.

“Then what if I countersue him for slandering me? Can I have him thrown in jail? I mean, it’s not really to lock him up for good. I just want him to understand that he can’t go around accusing me like this.”

Fiona understood what Cora was getting at and chose her words carefully. “If the test result is fake, then yes, you’d definitely win that lawsuit. Even if he doesn’t end up behind bars, you can at least force him to apologize and back down. But if things go that far and the authorities get involved, it might make things even messier.”

Cora frowned. “Natalie is my daughter. I know exactly who her father is. Are you saying I should arrange for another DNA test? Should I use the new results to overturn Joseph’s?”

Fiona nodded. “Yes, you should. Facts speak louder than any argument. I can go set up things right now if you want.”

Cora didn’t rush into a decision. She called Joseph first. When she realized how vicious and unyielding he still was, with no signs of backing down, she finally agreed to Fiona’s suggestion.

Fiona then went to Joseph again and asked him to provide the necessary samples. After getting what she needed, she didn’t hurry to leave. Instead, she sat down on the edge of the bed and said, “Joseph, this is now a private conversation. I’m leaving your relationship with Cora out of this.”

Joseph said, “You don’t need to plead her case with me. She did what she did, and she lied to me for 16 years. Anyone in my position would find it impossible to just forgive and forget. If she thinks I only want a divorce for the money, then fine-I don’t want a cent. I just want to get away from her as soon as possible.”