Sophia froze, her smile turning rigid. “I understand.”

“Leave,” Ethan commanded without looking up from his screen. Biting her lip, Sophia turned and exited the office.

Inside her car, Sophia’s pleasant expression twisted into pure malice.

She pulled out the DNA report again. This could never reach Isabella. Not ever.

Sophia dialed a number. “I need a forged paternity test. Results must show negative.”

“Consider it done, Miss Reed,” a deep male voice replied.

She ended the call and tore the report to shreds. Then she rolled down the window and scattered the pieces outside.

Just then, Benjamin happened to exit the building. He spotted Sophia’s car parked nearby and saw her tossing paper scraps onto the pavement.

Curious, he waited until she drove off. He picked up a handful of scraps and made out the words “paternity test.”

A cold dread shot through him. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. He immediately called security. “Collect every scrap and bring them to my office.”

“Right away, Mr. Clark,” a guard responded, already gathering the fragments.

That afternoon, Sophia placed the forged paternity test into a crisp manila envelope. She traced the flap with a manicured nail, a triumphant smile curling her lips.

Then she drove to Blackwood Estate.

Isabella was in the garden, trimming rose bushes. She brightened upon seeing the younger woman. “Sophia! Come join me.”

“Victoria,” Sophia greeted politely, handing over the envelope. “This is… well…”

Puzzled, Victoria took the envelope and pulled out the contents. Her face went pale as she read the words: “The alleged father is excluded as the biological father.” The garden shears slipped from her grasp, clattering loudly on the stone path.

“How… How can this be?” Victoria’s voice trembled, her eyes wide with shock. She scanned the report again and again, but the result remained unchanged.

“Please, don’t upset yourself,” Sophia said, feigning concern. “Here, sit down.”

She guided Victoria to a wicker chair and gently rubbed her back. “To be honest, I’ve had my suspicions for a while now.”

“Suspicions? What do you mean?” Victoria clutched Sophia’s hand tightly.

Sophia bit her lip, pretending to hesitate. “Well, just think. That child is nearly three years old.”

Victoria stared blankly for a moment before understanding dawned. Her eyes widened, all color draining from her face. If the boy was almost three, that meant Isabella had been pregnant three years ago!

“That means when she was still with Ethan, she—she was…” Victoria choked, unable to finish.

“It’s only my speculation,” Sophia murmured, lowering her gaze as if holding back more.

“That shameless woman!” Victoria shot to her feet, trembling with fury. “How dare she make a cuckold of my son! How dare she!”

“Please, calm down, Victoria,” Sophia said soothingly. “We must focus on how to handle this.”