The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 118

That afternoon, as Liliane returned to the old Holt estate with Winnie supporting her arm, the butler hurried over, his face drawn with anxiety.

“Madam, we’ve just received a— a fax!” he stammered.

Winnie, already on edge, shot him an impatient look. “It’s just a fax. Why are you so flustered? Just take it to the study.”

“It’s not that, ma’am. The contents of the fax…” The butler glanced uneasily at Liliane, unsure if he should continue.

Liliane’s gaze was icy. “There are no outsiders here. Speak.”

Swallowing hard, the butler managed to go on, “The fax is about young Master Milo. It’s a DNA paternity report. The sender’s info is just a string of gibberish—no way to tell who sent it.”

Both women’s faces changed instantly.

“What paternity report? He’s just an adopted child!” Winnie snapped, snatching the envelope from the butler’s hands and tearing it open in a frenzy.

Liliane gripped her cane tightly, eyes fixed on the sheets of paper as Winnie pulled them out.

When the names on the report came into view, both women stared, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Liliane lunged for the report, clutching it so tightly she nearly stopped breathing.

Winnie quickly steadied her, easing her down onto the sofa. “Mom, please! Calm down! Breathe! Deep breaths!”

The report slipped from Liliane’s trembling hands and fell to the floor. The butler hurried over to pick it up.

The words on the page were unmistakable, black and white:

[Findings: Based on the provided data and DNA analysis, the results support that Brianna Prescott is Milo Holt’s biological mother.]

Liliane sat on the couch, struggling for air, while Winnie’s hands shook so badly she could barely dial the family doctor.

After a moment, Liliane finally regained her composure, her eyes wide with shock, then burning with a fury she could barely contain.

“Brianna… That wretched woman! How dare she! How dare she trick Jotham into adopting her bastard child? What was she thinking?”

“So Milo is her illegitimate son. No wonder Jotham’s always doting on him… Of course! They never really broke it off. Jotham must have known all along!”

Winnie was too angry to bother defending Jotham now. Thank goodness Griffin wasn’t home. If he saw this, he’d probably kill Jotham on the spot.

Once she’d calmed herself, Liliane wasted no time in contacting the lab to confirm the authenticity of the report.

“If it’s impossible, then bring Brianna here and take another DNA test. Simple as that. Or are you just making excuses because you already know the truth? Still can’t let her go, even willing to take in her bastard child?”

Winnie was doing her best to rein in her emotions, but her voice trembled with fury by the end.

Jotham had always been the golden child—handsome, accomplished, filial—so how had he lost his head over Brianna? A woman six years his senior, his former advisor, scandal clinging to her—what could possibly be so special about her that he still pined for her, even after she’d had a child with someone else?

“I swear, there’s absolutely nothing between Brianna and Milo!”

The words burst from Jotham’s mouth, almost desperately. But the vehemence of his denial only made him seem more rattled.

Winnie knew her son too well; she could tell when he was lying, and this was exactly how he behaved when hiding something.

“On what grounds do you swear?” Winnie’s voice rose sharply, slicing through the air. “Jotham, if you’re so sure, then swear on Brianna’s and Milo’s lives! If they really are mother and son, may you never know peace!”

“Mom, that’s enough!”

Jotham’s face changed completely. He cut her off with a shout, voice trembling with anger and fear.

At that moment, there was no need for any test. The truth was already written all over his face.