Chapter 3: The Ghost in the Machine
Elena knew she couldn't fight Seraphina with money—she had none. She had to fight with truth. She discovered that Seraphina had been orchestrating a hostile takeover of the Sterling assets for months. The only way she could succeed was by eliminating the "heir" (the baby) and discrediting Daniel, who was the current CEO.
Elena reached out to the only person who would listen: Daniel’s estranged sister, Sarah, a human rights attorney in Chicago.
"He's been gaslit his whole life, Elena," Sarah said over a secure line. "The 'Emerald' family—Seraphina’s clan—has been feeding the Sterlings information for decades. They knew the patriarch was infertile. They knew Daniel was adopted from a private placement, but they kept it hidden to control him."
Elena felt a surge of rage. "They used his heritage to blackmail him. And now they're using our baby to frame him."
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"If you want to clear your name," Sarah continued, "you need to prove that the DNA report Seraphina showed was forged. She didn't use your baby’s DNA. She used hers."
Elena’s heart pounded. She hadn't noticed the sample collection times. Seraphina had visited the lab two days before the birth. She had pre-written the results.
