A close male relative.
Michael suddenly remembered someone.
His father.
But his father had been gone for years.
Then Esther noticed something strange about the report.
The sample used for the family comparison had not come from Michael’s father.
It had come from someone who was still alive.
Someone who had secretly provided DNA for the test.
Michael looked at his sister.
Who gave them the sample?
She started crying.
Then she whispered:
Our mother.
Michael’s face changed.
Because his mother had never been involved in the test.
So why had she secretly given a sample?
And what was she trying to prove?
That night, Michael drove to his mother’s house.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the DNA report.
His sister followed him.
When they arrived, their mother was sitting alone at the kitchen table.
She looked up.
And the moment she saw them, her face went pale.
Michael placed the DNA report in front of her.
Mom, why did you give the laboratory your DNA?
His mother didn’t answer.
Michael’s voice became sharper.
Why?
Finally, she whispered:
Because I already knew the baby was connected to this family.
Michael stared at her.
How?
His mother looked toward the window.
