Chapter 8 - Claire Chooses a Side.
Claire arrived at Luca's office without an appointment and placed a small flash drive on his desk.
Luca had not seen her since the restaurant.
She looked tired, composed, and colder than usual.
My father wants me to end our relationship publicly before your family scandal reaches his company.
Luca stood.
Claire, I am sorry.
Don't apologize yet.
She pushed the flash drive toward him.
Ask me why I'm here first.
Luca sat again.
Why are you here?
Because your mother called me this morning and made a mistake.
Claire explained that Evelyn had asked her to repeat a simple statement if reporters contacted her.
Nia had allegedly contacted Luca repeatedly during their relationship, and Luca had consistently rejected her attempts.
Claire knew this was false because Luca had never mentioned hearing from Nia at all.
When Claire questioned the wording, Evelyn told her not to be naive.
Then she emailed Claire a set of talking points.
The attachment metadata showed it had been created six years earlier.
Luca stared at her.
Six years?
Claire nodded.
Someone updated the file yesterday, but the original creation date is still there.
Luca opened the drive.
The document title was NIA RESPONSE PLAN.
It contained prepared answers for media questions that had never been asked because the story had never become public.
One section described Nia as an unstable former partner seeking financial leverage.
Another advised that any children associated with her should not be acknowledged without independent testing.
The final page contained a line that made Luca sit back.
If needed, reference prior exclusion result obtained through third-party representative.
Claire folded her arms.
Your mother prepared the story before she knew whether anyone would ever hear it.
Luca felt sick.
Why give this to me?
Claire looked at him for a long moment.
Because I am angry with you for still being in love with Nia.
Luca opened his mouth, but Claire raised a hand.
Don't insult me by denying what I saw in that restaurant.
She continued before he could speak.
But being angry with you does not mean I will help your mother bury two children under a public relations strategy.
Luca looked at the flash drive.
Thank you.
Claire's expression softened slightly.
Do not make me regret it.
She left ten minutes later after telling him their engagement announcement was canceled.
Luca did not ask her to reconsider.
That afternoon, Maya called with news from the current paternity test.
The laboratory could release preliminary results by six o'clock if both parties agreed to electronic delivery.
Nia agreed.
Luca spent the next three hours unable to read the same paragraph of a contract twice.
At 5:48 p.m., he drove to Nia's house because she had reluctantly agreed they should receive the result together.
Noah and Lily were with Nia's sister upstairs watching a movie.
Nia and Luca sat at opposite ends of the kitchen table.
The laptop between them felt larger than it was.
At 6:03 p.m., the email arrived.
Nia did not touch the computer.
You open it.
Luca's fingers hovered over the trackpad.
He clicked.
The report loaded slowly enough to feel cruel.
Luca read the conclusion first.
Probability of paternity: greater than 99.99 percent.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Nia covered her mouth with one hand.
Luca stared at the screen until the words blurred.
He had expected the result by then, but expecting it did not prepare him for knowing.
They are mine.
Nia looked at him.
Yes.
Luca stood, sat again, then pressed both hands against his face.
Six years.
Nia's eyes filled, but she did not look away.
Six years.
A small sound came from the hallway.
Noah stood there in dinosaur pajamas, holding the paper boat Luca had seen at the restaurant.
He looked at the laptop, then at Luca.
Did you find out?
Nia went still.
Luca looked at her for permission.
After a long moment, she nodded.
Luca turned to Noah.
Yes.
Noah swallowed.
Are you my dad?
Luca's voice almost failed him.
Yes.
May you like
Noah stared at him with an expression far too serious for a six-year-old.
Then why weren't you here?
