Chapter 3 — The DNA That Destroyed the Sterling Empire
Victoria stepped forward.
"This is ridiculous."
She pointed directly at Maya.
"She's manipulating all of you."
Colonel Vance slowly reached inside his briefcase.
He removed a sealed military archive.
The envelope still carried federal evidence seals.
"I anticipated this day."
He placed several documents across the banquet table.
A DNA collection request.
Original police photographs.
A tiny hospital footprint card.
And one final page.
A blood sample preserved from General Jonathan Hale before his final mission.
"We only need one DNA test."
Victoria laughed again.
"Impossible."
Maya silently handed Vance her baby's blanket.
A single strand of her hair rested on the fabric.
Within hours, a military laboratory rushed the analysis.
No guest dared leave.
At 2:13 a.m., the chief forensic scientist entered the ballroom.
He handed Vance the results.
The old colonel read them once.
Then twice.
Finally, he looked directly at Maya.
"Probability of biological relationship..."
He paused.
"...99.99998 percent."
Gasps echoed through the ballroom.
Maya wasn't an abandoned orphan.
She was the only surviving heir of one of America's greatest military heroes.
Victoria staggered backward.
Her champagne glass slipped from her fingers.
It shattered across the marble floor.
May you like
For the first time in decades...
The most feared woman in the city looked terrified.
