Chapter 4

He flipped open the very first page.

My breath hitched.

In the photo, it was my sixth birthday. I was sitting in front of a cake, laughing.

The man holding me in the photo... was the stranger standing in front of me.

The second photo showed my middle school graduation. He was standing right next to me.

The third was from my high school graduation, where he was holding a bouquet of flowers, his eyes red with pride.

In every single photo, it was this unfamiliar face.

"No..."

My knees buckled.

"This is impossible..."

I remembered so clearly that my dad did not look like this!

A blinding pain ripped through my skull, as if my brain was being torn in two.

Detective Kane looked down at me, his eyes turning cold and stern. "Kid, do you realize that making a false police report is a serious federal offense?"

"I didn't make a false report!"

I cried out desperately. "He is really not my father!"

The younger officer couldn't help but chime in. "If he isn't your dad, how does he know everything about you? How does he have photos of you growing up? Why does everyone in this neighborhood recognize you?"

"I..."

I was on the verge of a total breakdown.

But my deep love for my father kept a tiny flame of sanity alive in my chest. I took a deep breath. "I want a DNA test! Science doesn't lie! He is not my father. Our DNA will not match!"

Detective Kane looked at the man.

The man's eyes welled with tears. He looked at me with heartbreaking tenderness. "If that's what my girl wants... then let's do it..."

Mrs. Gable shook her head in disapproval. "Chloe, he’s your own father! If you force him into this, you’re going to destroy this family!"

But I grit my teeth, hardening my heart. "Do it!"

To put the matter to rest once and for all, Detective Kane agreed.

A forensic tech brought in a rapid mobile DNA testing kit. He took swab samples from both the man and me and loaded them into the machine.

The thirty minutes we spent waiting for the results were the longest, most agonizing moments of my life.

I stood by the doorway, my face pale, my body trembling uncontrollably.

The neighbors gathered around the man, offering him soft words of comfort.

Finally, the machine beeped. The printout came out.

Detective Kane's face was incredibly grim. "The results are in. It's a perfect familial match. You and Arthur Miller are father and daughter. What else do you have to say for yourself?!"

I grabbed the report, my fingers shaking so violently I almost tore the paper.

How could this be?

Even the DNA matched?

"You're coming with us to the station," Detective Kane said coldly, grabbing my arm to lead me out.

The man stepped forward, tears streaming down his face. "Detective Kane, please! She's just confused. Don't charge her, she's still just a kid!"

"She went off to the big city for college and saw how successful people live. She's ashamed of her poor, useless dad. It's my fault. I couldn't give her a better life."

"Don't take her. Take me instead!"

I screamed in absolute fury, "Shut up! You are not my father!"

Detective Kane couldn't stand it anymore. He barked at me, "Your father is doing everything to protect you, and this is how you treat him?!"

"Let's go!"

"You need to learn your lesson!"

With that, he pushed me toward the door.

My wrists hurt, and my body felt completely trapped.

But in that split second of despair, a memory flashed in my mind. I struggled against his grip, desperately pulling out my phone. "Wait! Detective Kane! Look at this!"

Kane's face was hard. "What now?"

With everything I had, I shoved the phone screen in front of his face.

The moment Detective Kane looked at the screen, his eyes froze.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the man in the dining room, then over the neighbors standing in the yard. His eyes turned razor-sharp.

"Everyone, draw your weapons!"

The veins on his forehead bulged, his voice trembling with a sudden, icy panic.

"We have a major crisis in Oakridge! Call for immediate tactical backup!"