Chapter 5 Blood Draw and Paternity Test

Three days for results.

Alexander clearly didn't have that kind of patience. "I'm giving you one day at most."

"Yes, we'll expedite it."

Alexander said, "You're dismissed."

"Yes."

Liam lay on the bed, his innocent eyes blinking softly, suddenly reaching out toward Alexander, wanting to be held.

Alexander walked to the bedside and bent down, scooping Liam into his arms.

The nanny cooed, "Liam loves daddy the most—he's closest to daddy."

Liam never liked being held by anyone, except Alexander.

"Liam, give daddy a kiss." Alexander lowered his head, bringing his face close to Liam's mouth.

Liam kissed his cheek.

Alexander gently kissed his forehead, a tenderness flickering in his eyes that no one had ever seen before.

Everyone in the Hayes family believed Liam had intellectual disabilities—after all, at seven years old, he still couldn't speak. His IQ must have issues.

But Alexander felt that since the child had been born and was his son, he had to take responsibility.

"Liam, will you be good and go to sleep?" Alexander coaxed gently.

Liam nodded.

Alexander helped him settle down to sleep, walked to the doorway, saw Liam close his eyes, turned off the lights, and left the room.

...

Dawn.

The first light of morning appeared on the horizon.

In the room, Grace weakly pounded on the door.

"Open the door! Someone open this door!!"

The room door was locked from the outside.

Grace tried to break the lock, but it was incredibly sturdy. She kicked at the door—the door itself was even more solid than the lock.

Undeterred, she walked to the window and pushed it open. The room was on the fourth floor—a seventy-foot drop that was terrifying to look at.

A servant's voice came from outside the door, "Miss Foster, I suggest you conserve your energy. Unless you explain about the child, Mr. Hayes won't let you go!"

Grace was completely frustrated.

Explain what exactly?

She thought of Liam, whom Alexander had been holding.

Back when Alexander was in a vegetative state, bedridden and unresponsive, the Hayes family had arranged three IVF procedures for her to ensure an heir. When her belly showed no signs of pregnancy, Alexander's grandmother Mary Hayes certainly wouldn't have given up—she wouldn't waste all her efforts on Grace.

Liam was probably born to another woman Mary had found for Alexander. After all, Mary couldn't bear the thought of the Hayes bloodline ending on her watch.

Now they were pinning it on her.

If he were her son, even with intellectual disabilities, he would still be her child, and she would never abandon him!

But now Alexander had trapped her here. She couldn't get out—what would happen to Max alone at home?

Grace was frantic with worry, exhausted and sleepy, emotionally and physically drained.

Without realizing it, she'd stayed awake all night until dawn.

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

Grace rushed to the door, knocking urgently, "Is anyone there?"

The door opened.

Grace looked carefully at the person in the doorway and jumped in shock. "Mrs. Mary Hayes?"

The nanny supported Mary as she slowly walked in.

Two bodyguards blocked the doorway, staring coldly at Grace, silently warning her not to try escaping.

Grace felt like a prisoner under heavy guard.

"Grace, it's been seven years, and you haven't changed a bit!" Mary sat down on the bed.

Grace said, "Mrs. Hayes."

Mary asked, "The Hayes family treated you well. Tell me the truth—with the IVF procedures I arranged for you back then, did you actually get pregnant?"

Grace bit her lip and shook her head. "No... really, no." She couldn't admit it. Otherwise, how could she compete with the Hayes family for Max's custody?

Mary said, "Three years ago, one of Alexander's men brought Liam back from an orphanage. This child looks exactly like Alexander—such a pity that Liam seems to have intellectual disabilities. Who knows if he'll ever be able to speak in his lifetime. The doctors suspect that during pregnancy, malnutrition caused underdevelopment of the cerebellum."

She suddenly narrowed her eyes, glaring at Grace. "Don't think I don't know what you're scheming. Seven years ago, did you think Alexander would never wake up? You wanted to use Alexander's son to inherit the fortune, but when the child was born with disabilities, you abandoned him without a care?"

Grace replied, "Mrs. Hayes, you don't need to make such assumptions about me. I don't have such malicious intentions. If he were my child, I would definitely claim him."

"That's for the best! I heard Alexander drew your blood for a paternity test! Let's see how you'll argue when the results come out! If Alexander finds out you abandoned the child, he won't go easy on you!"

She stood to leave. Grace asked, "When can I go?"

"After we get to the bottom of this!"

Mary left the room.

Grace was frantic with worry, watching helplessly as the door closed, and collapsed onto the bed.

...

"Alexander Hayes, CEO of Crest Corporation."

The online introduction about Alexander was just one simple line—extremely brief.

The Hayes family, which monopolized Novaria's economic lifeline, had always been the most mysterious wealthy family in Novaria.

There was precious little information about Alexander online—not even a single photograph.

Max tilted his small face, his fingertips rhythmically tapping the desk, suspicion flashing in his eyes.

He had set up surveillance around their neighborhood complex. Through the footage, he saw Grace being dragged into a car and taken away.

Using the license plate number, he'd traced it back—that car belonged to Crest Corporation.

Crest Corporation. Alexander Hayes.

He was certain now—it was Alexander's people who had kidnapped Grace.

But what was his motive?

Grace had no money. Could this Alexander be another old pervert lusting after Grace's beauty?

Max suddenly felt nervous.

The doorbell rang.

Max walked to the door and asked alertly, "Who is it?"

"Max, it's me." A woman's gentle voice came from outside.

Max recognized the voice—Grace's good friend, Zara White.

He opened the door. Zara walked in, asking curiously, "Max, is your mommy still not up? She and I had agreed to go to interviews together today."

Max suddenly grabbed Zara's hand. "Zara, take me to Crest Corporation!"

Zara was startled. "What's wrong?"

Max said, "My mommy was kidnapped by Crest Corporation!"

...

Crest Corporation.

Zara stood at the reception desk holding Max's hand, her mind full of doubts.

She actually believed the words of a seven-year-old child.

Zara couldn't understand how Grace could possibly be connected to the CEO of Crest Corporation. Although little was known about Alexander Hayes, he was the CEO of Crest Corporation with billionaire status—how could he possibly be a kidnapper?

But in Zara's mind, Max was a genius.

Grace and Zara had met because of Max.

Zara used to be a daycare teacher at Max's preschool. Through their interactions, she became friends with Grace.

Although Max acted cute and innocent around Grace, no different from any ordinary six or seven-year-old, never showing off, Zara had accidentally discovered Max's extraordinary gifts.

Zara knew one of Max's identities—though not yet seven, he was already the youngest member of the Cerebra Society, code name MIO!