Chapter 52: The DNA Confirmation
"What’s going on?" someone exclaimed, scrambling to avoid a car that was speeding through the area.
Too late to escape fully, they stumbled and fell to the ground, only to rise and glare at the vehicle. "Who the hell is driving that thing?"
Onlookers exchanged worried glances, realizing the driver could have seriously injured several people with such reckless speed.
The tires screeched violently as the car came to an abrupt stop, drawing curious gazes from bystanders who wondered about the identity of the driver.
Ezra emerged from the vehicle, entirely unfazed, his cold, hardened gaze immediately signaling he meant business as he shut the door with authority and strode toward the hospital entrance.
Inside, the hospital buzzed with its usual chaos, groups of nurses glancing at Ezra and instantly recognizing his foul mood. Their eyes followed him as he navigated through the orderly chaos of patients checking in for appointments amidst the unmistakable scent of disinfectant that permeated the immaculate, white surroundings.
Without hesitation, Ezra made a sharp turn and thrust the door open without knocking.
Dr. Martins, caught off guard, nearly dropped his phone as he scrambled to regain his composure while shooting Ezra a nervous smile. Ezra fixed him with a dispassionate stare.
"What brings you here, Ezra?" Dr. Martins asked, clearing his throat.
"I need a DNA test—now," Ezra commanded, tossing the clear bag Dawn had given him onto the table.
"A DNA test? Why would you need that?" Dr. Martins questioned, his skepticism evident as he scrutinized Ezra.
"Someone’s claiming that I have a child, and I know for a fact I don’t. There’s something fishy going on... Just run the test, Martins," Ezra snapped, frustration creeping into his voice. He was already on edge, and he had no intention of elaborating further.
"Understood, Ezra," Dr. Martins replied, quickly grabbing the bag containing the child’s hair.
"I’ll be back in a moment—" Dr. Martins said, as Ezra firmly seated himself, pulling the chair out sharply. Though he appeared calm, inside he was seething.
All he wanted was for the DNA results to come back negative so he could return to his normal life. The possibility of a positive result was unacceptable. No, it had to be Dawn trying to pass off someone else’s child as his own—if that were true, she would live to regret re-entering his life.
As Dr. Martins left the office, he glanced back through the glass at Ezra, weighing the gravity of what was unfolding.
Fishing for his phone, he typed a message: "As you suspected, Ezra is here and has requested the DNA test." And the recipient was none other than Dawn.
"Remember what we discussed," Dawn’s response came through, "if you do this right, the reward could be substantial." She sought to entice him with promises of financial gain.
Dr. Martins pondered the ethics of the situation but quickly shelved those thoughts. He needed the funding for his research project and had no choice but to comply. "I’m truly sorry, Ezra," he thought, feeling the weight of his decision pressing down on him.
"Yes, I’ll do it. You will not be disappointed," he replied to her.
"Good." That was the last message from Dawn before she went offline.
Martins was Ezra’s personal doctor—you know how wealthy individuals prefer cozy arrangements with their own physicians for personal care. Being the chosen doctor for Ezra meant Dawn had strategically approached Martins, knowing Ezra would resort to him for help. Unfortunately, Martins found himself in a financial bind, forced to make a choice that could jeopardize everything.
As he stepped away, he began to dread what the future would hold. If this deception came to light, he knew he wouldn’t last in the hospital, and Ezra would not tolerate being betrayed without retaliation.
Martins swallowed hard. He should focus on the task at hand rather than the consequences that could arise. He would leave that for a later date.
"Doctor Martins" A nurse called from behind, and he jumped, startled—he had been lost in thought.
He turned to face Rebecca, dressed in her blue scrubs, file in hand. "What is it, Rebecca?" he snapped, irritation bubbling up due to her sudden appearance.
"The patient in ward 410 wants to see you," she informed him.
"Is it critical?" Martins questioned bluntly, knowing full well the patient was battling cancer and struggling to find funding. Did they really need to relay their troubles yet again? He shot a glare at Rebecca.
Rebecca hesitated, and he seized the moment. "Clearly, it’s not urgent," he declared, "I have significant work to do. I’ll visit later." With that, he turned sharply and strode away, leaving Rebecca blinking in his wake. She noted his foul mood and the way he had seemed spooked; it was as if he had something to hide.
The DNA test results were completed, and Martins returned to the office where Ezra awaited him. He handed over the report in a pristine white envelope.
Ezra took the envelope, itching to open it immediately but deciding against it—he didn’t want Martins to see his reaction.
Once alone in his car, he ripped open the report. As his eyes scanned the letters, they finally locked onto the stark message: "99.9% match."
Noah was undeniably his son.
It was impossible. Ezra clenched the report tightly, his jaw set in disbelief. How could he have a child he was unaware of until this moment? The reality seemed absurd...
"I passed him the reports. He didn’t say a word and just left," Doctor Martins said, standing by the window, watching Ezra’s car. It remained there, the tint masking Ezra’s presence.
"You handled it well, Martins. I’ll wire the money to your account," Dawn said with a smirk.
Martins nodded, his voice wavering. "Um..."
Dawn’s expression hardened. "What’s wrong?"
"You know how Ezra is. I doubt he’ll just accept this report. He might pursue another DNA test elsewhere. If he uncovers any foul play, it could get messy," Doctor Martins warned, anxiety creeping in.
"You think I haven’t considered that?" Dawn shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Martins swallowed.
"Don’t fret. You’ve done your part, and I’ll take care of the rest. Nothing will go awry, understood?" Martins nodded, watching as Ezra’s car now sped away from the hospital grounds.
When Ezra returned home, he stepped inside, gaze steely. "Welcome, master," the butler greeted, but Ezra was too consumed by his thoughts to reply. He clutched the DNA reports from three different hospitals, confirming what he now knew: he had a son—Noah, whom he had only just learned about.
"Daddy!" The little boy came running, wrapping his arms around Ezra’s leg. He gazed down, taking in the boy’s black hair.
Then his eyes met Dawn’s as she approached, her heels clicking on the tiles. "How did it go?" she asked, arms crossed.
Ezra remained silent. The situation favored her; he had a child tied to this woman. Instead, he crouched down to meet Noah’s gaze.
"Noah, right?" he inquired firmly, and the boy nodded, eyes shining. Ezra smiled slightly and ruffled his hair, eliciting a wide grin from the boy.
Dawn looked on, satisfied with the outcome.