The Billionaire's Hidden Heiress!

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Chapter 3 Proof

Victor's expression did not change as he asked, "Why?"

"Because I don't know you."

His gaze sharpened ever so slightly.

"I just told you who I am."

"You told me," she corrected quietly. "That doesn't make it true."

Silence settled over the office. Sister Agnes shifted uneasily behind her, but Emily didn't look away.

She'd spent too many years wishing for this moment but she refused to let hope make her foolish now.

"You show up after twenty-two years," she continued, her voice trembling despite herself, "and expect me to believe everything you say? To pack my things and leave with a complete stranger just because he says he's my father?"

"I have documents."

"So?"

"They prove my claim."

Emily shook her head. "They prove someone filled out paperwork."

Victor's jaw tightened. "The records have already been verified."

"By people who met you yesterday."

The words escaped before she could soften them. She wasn't trying to be rude. She was just trying to protect herself.

"You could be lying," she whispered.

"But I am not."

"And how do I know that?"

Her eyes burned. "How do I know you didn't find my name somewhere and decide to pretend?"

"I gain nothing from deception."

Emily let out a hollow laugh. "Who said so? You gain me, don't you think?"

For the first time, Victor didn't answer immediately.

She swallowed hard.

"The last thing I want..." she began, forcing herself to keep talking, "...is to believe this."

Her voice cracked but she continued. "To believe I finally have a father, only to discover tomorrow that I was foolish enough to believe another lie."

The room became painfully quiet. Victor watched her for several long seconds.

When he finally spoke, his voice was as composed as ever.

"So you require proof."

"Yes," she replied and lifted her chin. "A DNA test."

His expression remained unreadable. "If you're really my father, you'll prove it."

Another silence followed. Emily almost expected him to refuse but instead, he gave a single nod.

"Very well."

The answer came so easily that it unsettled her.

"I anticipated you might ask."

He reached inside his jacket and produced a business card.

"A private laboratory has already been arranged."

Emily blinked. "You... already planned this?"

"I prefer to prepare for every outcome."

His confidence made her stomach twist. He had never doubted himself, not even once.

"We can have the samples collected immediately," he continued.

"The results will be ready within twenty-four hours."

Twenty-four hours. That was just one day. One day before everything she knew about herself could disappear forever.

She drew a slow breath.

"Fine."

The nurse from the local clinic, who had been waiting outside to complete paperwork for the orphanage, was called inside.

Emily barely noticed the procedure but she knew they took her swab and just like that, twenty-two years of questions had been reduced to a laboratory report.

Victor accepted the envelope and slipped it into his jacket.

"I'll return tomorrow."

He looked directly at her.

"And you should begin preparing."

Emily frowned. "For what?"

"To leave."

She folded her arms.

"You're assuming the test will prove you right."

"I don't make assumptions." His voice remained calm. "I know the outcome."

The certainty unsettled her more than anger would have.

"You're very confident."

"I don't deal in uncertainty."

He turned toward the door and walked away not even bothering with a single word of apology or a question about how she'd grown up or even an hesitant attempt to bridge the twenty-two years between them.

He simply walked away. Moments later, the engine of the black car faded into the distance.

Emily remained exactly where she was. Her knees suddenly felt weak. The room seemed strangely empty.

"Emily."

Clara hurried inside as soon as the hallway cleared and wrapped both arms around her.

Only then did Emily realize she was shaking.

"Are you okay?" Clara asked softly.

Emily stared at the closed door. "He's coming back tomorrow."

"With the results?"

Emily nodded. The word father echoed through her mind. It didn't sound comforting. It just sounded unfamiliar.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to feel."

Clara frowned. "Maybe... happy?"

Emily looked at her in disbelief. "Happy?"

"Someone came looking for you, Em."

She smiled gently. "You know how many children here dream about hearing those words? You remember how badly I wanted a family before I was adopted."

Emily smiled faintly. "I remember."

"I used to pray someone would come for you too."

Emily looked down. "I stopped praying."

The confession hung heavily between them.

"When?"

"The day you left." Her voice barely rose above a whisper. "I realized wishes don't always come true."

Clara's eyes filled with sadness. "Oh, Emily..."

"But what if he's telling the truth?" Emily asked suddenly. "What if he really is my father?"

"Then maybe you'll finally get the family you've always wanted."

Emily laughed softly but it wasn't a happy laugh.

"You saw him. He didn't even hug me." Emily's voice trembled. "He didn't ask me if I was happy or if I'd eaten. He didn't ask if I'd been treated well. He looked at me like..."

She struggled to find the words. "...like he'd collected something he'd misplaced years ago."

A tear escaped before she could stop it. "What if that's all I am to him?"

Clara gently wiped it away. "And what if you're wrong?"

Emily looked at her. "What if he's simply terrible at showing how he feels?"

Emily wasn't convinced. "What if he isn't?"

The tears came more freely now. "What if I let myself believe him... and tomorrow everything falls apart again?"

She pressed a trembling hand against her chest. "I don't think I can survive hoping like that again."

Clara held both of her hands.

"Listen to me." Her voice was firm. "If that man is lying, then we'll expose him and if he's telling the truth? Then we'll figure out why he stayed away."

Emily searched her friend's face. "You'd help me?"

"Always."

Clara smiled. "My father can help us look into Victor Hale. If he's as wealthy as he seems, there'll be newspaper articles, business records or something."

Emily nodded slowly. For the first time since Victor had walked into her life, she felt she wasn't facing him alone.

She looked toward the orphanage gate where the black car had disappeared.

For twenty-two years, she'd believed no one wanted her. Now someone claimed she belonged to him but nlrught now, she just wasn't sure which possibility frightened her more.

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