You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family! novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

My parents and Jake grabbed the DNA report and scanned it frantically.

The second they hit the line reading “Biological relationship excluded,” the room temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.

My mother found her voice first. “There’s been a mistake! I’m her mother-someone switched the samples!”

My father’s face went dark red as he turned on the technicians.

“You people botched this or she paid you off! I’ll have your licenses revoked for malpractice!”

The head technician pulled out a notarized certificate without breaking eye contact.

“We’re the highest-rated forensic lab in the state. This document validates every step of our methodology. Continue making false accusations and we’ll file defamation charges.”

My parents’ mouths snapped shut.

Jake rushed in trying to salvage things.

“Hey, nobody’s blaming anyone! Maybe something just got mixed up with the samples?”

The technician’s expression turned to stone.

“The blood was drawn with all of you present and went directly from collection to analysis under strict chain of custody protocols. Zero possibility of contamination. You want to question our credibility? Call law enforcement-we’ll cooperate with any investigation.”

Jake stood there struggling to form words before finally managing,

“Getting police involved seems excessive-what if we just run another test-”

“Excessive?”

I cut him off cold. “The results are right there in black and white! How much longer are you going to keep up this scam? If you won’t call the

cops, I will!”

I pulled out my phone. Jake’s face drained of color and he lunged for it.

“Lily don’t! They really are your family-you can’t involve the police!”

I let him take the phone. Half the room had already seen enough to involve authorities without my help anyway.

The board members weren’t going to let three con artists disrupt a major corporate event and just walk away.

I looked at Jake with pure disgust.

“Jake, those results couldn’t be clearer-these people share zero DNA with me. You’re still trying to sell them as my family? What’s your angle

here?”

“I’m not lying!”

I laughed in his face.

“You’ve done nothing but lie! Seven years you played devoted fiancé while screwing my supposed sister behind iny back! You’re pathetic!”

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You Faked Your Deaths to Punish Me?! That’s Illegal, Family!

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Chapter 8

My voice went deadly quiet.

“You’ve been so desperate to pass these frauds off as my family that honestly? I’m starting to think you murdered my real parents and sister!”

He flinched violently and started waving his hands in denial.

“No! They’re alive-they’re standing right here! They faked their deaths to test whether you-”

“Jake, shut your mouth!”

My father’s voice cracked across the room as he shot Jake a look that could kill.

“Let me handle this.”

My father turned to me with an expression he probably thought looked fatherly.

“Everything we did was designed to test your integrity and leadership. You passed! You proved yourself capable of running Davidson Industries without compromising your values. Now that we’re back, you’ve earned your rest-hand over control and let your sister and me take it from

here.”

My mother’s face softened.

“Your father’s right. We needed to know you could handle the pressure without cracking or getting corrupted by power. You demonstrated exactly what we hoped you would. Transfer the company and we’ll forget this entire scene ever happened.”

Candy slipped seamlessly back into her innocent act.

“Lily, we’re blood! Family is everything! Mom and Dad were only trying to make you stronger, and just look at what you’ve accomplished!”

“Make me stronger?”

Their nerve was absolutely staggering.

“Was stealing my fiancé seven years ago part of the character-building program?”

Candy’s sweet expression flickered and she looked to Jake for backup.

Jake jumped in without missing a beat.

“What Candy and I have is real-that wasn’t part of any test!”

His voice turned aggressive.

“I’m proposing to her today and marrying her! Nobody changes my mind!”

I nodded slowly.

“Impressive coordination on the story-really committed performances all around! I almost bought it!”

My voice hardened. “But I trust forensic science over anything you people say, so save the rest of your script for my lawyers. Right now I’ve got a memorial to conduct for my actual family.”

I picked up the eulogy pages.

Jake completely snapped. He grabbed the papers from my hands and tore them apart.

“Lily listen! A negative parent-child result doesn’t mean they’re not your family! Your parents and Candy have medical records-blood work and

Chapter 8

genetic markers from annual physicals! We can pull those files and match them to these people and prove everything!”

I shrugged.

“Then go ahead and try.”

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