Chapter 6 - THE DNA THREATBy late afternoon, Victoria had lost every argument she had prepared.
So she chose the cruelest one.
Marcus stood beside the study fireplace.
Naomi was packing files.
Security waited outside.
Victoria looked at him.
“That child isn't even yours.”
Silence.
Naomi stopped.
Marcus did not.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me.”
Victoria smiled.
Weakly.
Desperately.
“You were in London.”
Marcus stared.
“October.”
“You were gone two weeks.”
“Victoria.”
“Count the months.”
Naomi looked away.
This was no longer legal strategy.
It was marital destruction.
Victoria stepped closer.
“You want to destroy me for Leo?”
She laughed.
“He may not even be a Vance.”
Marcus’s face remained unreadable.
“You think this helps you?”
“It changes everything.”
“No.”
“If you aren't his biological father, you have no right to take him from me.”
Naomi immediately said:
“That is legally inaccurate.”
Victoria snapped:
“Stay out of this.”
Naomi smiled without warmth.
“I literally cannot.”
Marcus reached inside his jacket.
Victoria watched.
He removed a folded laboratory report.
Her smile faded.
“What is that?”
“You started making comments three months ago.”
“I don't know what you mean.”
“You said Leo didn't look like me.”
“A joke.”
“You asked what would happen to the trust if paternity changed.”
“I was curious.”
“You became extremely interested in whether a non-biological child remained a beneficiary.”
Victoria swallowed.
“So?”
“So I ran a test.”
Her face changed.
“You couldn't.”
“I did.”
“Without me?”
“I’m listed as his father.”
“You had no right!”
Marcus unfolded the page.
Victoria stepped forward.
“What does it say?”
He looked at her.
“It says Leo is my biological son.”
She stopped.
“No.”
“Probability exceeds 99.99 percent.”
“No.”
Marcus watched the reaction.
Not relief.
Not:
Thank God our child is ours.
Panic.
Because she had expected uncertainty to become leverage.
He continued:
“You knew he was mine.”
Victoria said nothing.
“You knew.”
She looked away.
“Then why say otherwise?”
“To hurt you?”
Her face tightened.
Marcus felt the answer.
Yes.
When control failed financially, she attacked identity.
He folded the report.
“Thank you.”
Victoria stared.
“For what?”
“For making this easy.”
“What?”
“The decision.”
Her voice became quiet.
“Divorce?”
“Yes.”
For the first time, genuine grief crossed her face.
“Marcus.”
“No.”
“You said you loved me.”
“I did.”
“Then how can you stop?”
“I didn't say I stopped.”
That shocked her.
Marcus’s voice broke slightly.
“Love is not enough to make someone safe.”
Victoria stared.
Naomi looked down.
Marcus continued:
“I can love who you were.”
“I can miss our marriage.”
“And still not allow you near Leo unsupervised.”
Victoria’s eyes filled.
“So Elena wins.”
“This isn't a competition.”
“It always is.”
“No.”
Marcus shook his head.
“That may be the saddest thing you’ve said all day.”
Outside, heavy doors opened.
Police officers entered with security.
Victoria turned.
“No.”
Marcus remained still.
Naomi stepped back.
One officer approached.
“Victoria Vance?”
She looked at Marcus.
“You called them.”
“Yes.”
“You would arrest Leo’s mother?”
“I reported evidence.”
“You did this.”
Marcus answered quietly:
“No.”
“You did.”
The officers read the warrant.
Financial fraud.
Attempted transfer of protected funds.
Additional investigation into child endangerment and assault-related conduct.
Victoria screamed when the cuffs closed.
Leo cried upstairs at the sound.
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
His son.
That was where he wanted to be.
Not here.
Not winning.
Not watching Victoria lose.
With Leo.
He turned away before the officers reached the door.
Victoria shouted:
“Marcus!”
He stopped.
“If I walk out that door, you’ll regret this.”
Marcus looked back.
“No.”
His face broke.
May you like
“I already regret everything that brought us here.”
Then she was gone.
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