The Wrong Girl and the Wronged Girl (Stella and Ethan) novel Chapter 864

864 When Trust Begins to Crumble

“What on earth are you implying?” Dale snapped sharply, his voice edged with disbelief.

Raising someone else’s children? What was Dan trying to say? Was he seriously suggesting that none of the kids were Dale’s own blood?

Dan’s smile remained steady, unfazed. “You’ll understand the truth once the test results come back.”

“Dale—” Artemis’s voice wavered, trembling with a mix of fear and desperation.

She was losing her composure. The tension between the two men was thick, like a storm about to break. In Dale’s eyes, she caught a flicker of doubt—a hesitation that could very well tip into agreement at any moment.

“Dale, if you go through with this, it won’t just be you who ends up looking like a fool,” she pleaded earnestly. “I’ll—”

Her words faltered, breaking off before she could finish. Because deep down, she knew the truth would ruin more than just him.

Dale’s gaze remained locked on Dan, unwavering and intense.

“I’ll do it too,” Dan said coldly, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. “All of us will.”

“Dale…” Artemis whispered again, her voice barely audible.

Her resentment, long buried beneath a fragile calm, finally burst through. She could no longer hide the hatred burning in her eyes as she glared at Dan, every ounce of fury etched across her face.

But Dale’s feelings had evolved beyond mere suspicion.

It was anger now—raw and fierce—a desperate, reckless need to uncover the truth, no matter what it cost.

His eyes darkened with determination as he spoke the one word that shattered Artemis’s heart completely.

“Fine.”

“Dale!” Artemis’s cry pierced the air, a desperate, broken sound that echoed and faded as he nodded in resolve.

But it was already too late.

Meanwhile, across town, Victor ended his phone call and glanced over at Tessa, who was happily munching on fruit.

She’d been under the weather recently, her appetite diminished by the fever that had sapped her strength. But now, with the fever gone, her hunger had returned in full force.

During her illness, she’d craved oranges, but now, with her strength returning, she was devouring strawberries and cherries one after another.

Her bowl was filled with the bright red fruits, and she popped them into her mouth with a childlike delight.

Victor turned just in time to see her cheeks puff out before she spit a cherry pit onto the table.

The simple sight made him smile warmly. She was so easy to please, so innocent in her joy.

“Sweet?” he asked softly.

Tessa nodded enthusiastically. “Mm-hmm. Really sweet.”

The fruit truly was delicious. Victor stepped closer, and without hesitation, she held out a strawberry toward him.

“You eat it,” she said with a playful grin.

Victor chuckled. He wasn’t exactly the type to enjoy sweet treats.

“Come on, try it. It’s really good,” she insisted, her eyes sparkling.

“It’s that good, huh?” he teased.

She nodded eagerly, “Mm-hmm. Super sweet.”

Especially about Dale—after all these years, would he finally stand up and fight?

“Dan went back,” Victor said evenly. “He wants everyone to take a DNA test.”

“Everyone?” She blinked, stunned. She stared at Victor, disbelief written all over her face. “What do you mean, everyone?”

“Yeah,” Victor confirmed. “Manny, himself—everyone.”

Tessa froze. Everyone?

“All of them?” she repeated, eyes wide. “If none of them turn out to be his, he’s going to lose his mind!”

Seriously—five kids, and not a single one his? He’d go completely insane.

Victor watched her amused expression and smiled. “You sound pretty sure none of them are his.”

“Of course I am!” she said without hesitation.

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“Think about it,” she continued quickly. “The twins aren’t his, and neither am I! That’s already three out of five. You know what that means?”

Victor smirked. “Infertility?”

“Exactly!” she said proudly, as if she’d just cracked the case wide open.

She was absolutely convinced—none of those children belonged to Dale.

But then she paused for a moment. “Still… I didn’t think he’d actually have the guts to go after Artemis like that.”