Chapter 12

Denise froze as if stunned.

After a long pause, she suddenly tore the paternity test into pieces, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself into William’s arms.

"Dad, I’m your child! Don’t listen to these lies!"

But Denise didn’t notice the ashen-faced woman standing beside her, whose trembling hand gave her away. I placed a small recording device on the table, and under the woman’s shocked gaze, I pressed play.

"Are you saying Denise is my child?"

"When we broke up, I was already pregnant. I worked so hard to keep it hidden from William.

"I didn’t want Denise to grow up without a father, but William has another child now. There’s no way he can give all his attention to my Denise."

"So, what’s your plan now?"

"I’m going to squeeze everything I can out of William and then move abroad with Denise to live the good life."

The voice on the recording was unmistakably Denise’s mother.

William gasped, clutching his chest, his finger trembling as he pointed at the woman. Realizing sh