Nora listened.
At end:
“So she’s really my birth mom.”
Ethan nodded.
“Yes.”
Nora looked at Alexandra.
“And Dad is still Dad.”
“Yes.”
Alexandra answered immediately.
Nora looked at Ethan.
“And Mom is still Mom?”
Ethan’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Hannah will always be your mom.”
Nora frowned.
“How many moms am I supposed to have?”
Alexandra laughed softly.
“As many as love you, apparently.”
Nora considered.
“That’s weird.”
“Yes.”
Ethan said.
“Extremely.”
Nora touched locket.
Then asked Alexandra:
“Can I call you Alex?”
Alexandra’s heart cracked.
Not Mom.
Not yet.
Maybe never.
She smiled.
“Absolutely.”
“Okay.”
Then Nora leaned against Ethan.
Alexandra accepted it.
The second DNA result confirmed two days later.
Then the real war began.
Victor Vale called an emergency board meeting.
He did not know Rachel had already frozen records.
He did not know Alexandra had hired former federal investigator Daniel Cross.
He did not know Ethan had Hannah’s notebook locked in a bank deposit box.
Victor’s first move was not toward Alexandra.
It was toward Ethan.
A man arrived at Ethan’s workshop on Monday morning.
Gray suit.
Black SUV.
Expensive shoes that looked ridiculous in gravel.
“Mr. Cole?”
Ethan straightened beneath an old Jeep.
“Yes.”
“My name is Robert Ames.”
“I represent Vale Family Holdings.”
Ethan wiped his hands.
“I have lawyer.”
“You may want to hear offer first.”
“No.”
“Five million dollars.”
Ethan stopped.
Ames smiled.
“For what?”
“For cooperation.”
“With what?”
“Transition.”
“What transition?”
“Ms. Vale’s daughter belongs with biological family.”
Ethan’s face hardened.
“She belongs with herself.”
Ames continued:
“You have provided admirable care.”
“Family wishes to recognize that.”
“Five million.”
“A new house.”
“Education trust.”
“And continued visitation under mutually agreed terms.”
Ethan stared.
“You want me to sell my daughter.”
“No.”
“We want to avoid litigation.”
“Get off my property.”
Ames sighed.
“Mr. Cole.”
“You're a mechanic.”
“Ms. Vale has resources you cannot imagine.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“So does she.”
Ames frowned.
“What?”
“Integrity.”
“You should ask whether she knows you're here.”
Ames’s expression flickered.
Ethan smiled without humor.
“She doesn’t, does she?”
No answer.
“Get out.”
Ames left.
What he did not know was that Ethan’s workshop security camera had recorded audio.
Ethan sent footage to Alexandra.
She watched once.
Then again.
Her hands began shaking.
Not because Ethan refused money.