“What are you going to do?”
“Confront Anna. With her parents present.”
“Why the parents?”
“Because this affects the entire arrangement. Viktor signed his daughter over to me as part of our deal. He needs to know she’s been lying about my children living under my roof.”
Pavel nods. “I’ll make the calls. Anything else?”
“Yes. Have the staff bring Anna to my study at the estate. Tell her it’s not optional. And make sure the twins are with their nanny. I don’t want them anywhere near this conversation.”
“When?”
“Nine o’clock. That gives Viktor and Svetlana time to get there.”
Pavel leaves to make the arrangements.
I pick up the DNA report and read it again. 99.97%. No room for doubt. No margin for error. Mila and Alexei are mine. My children. And Anna kept them from me while sleeping in my bed, taking my money, and living in my house.
I put the report back in the envelope and walk out of my office.
The drive back to the estate takes thirty minutes. Pavel follows in a separate car. When we arrive, the staff is already moving according to the instructions he sent ahead. I go directly to my study and wait.
At nine o’clock, footsteps approach. The door opens.
Anna walks in. She sees me behind the desk and stops. “What’s this about?” she asks.
“Close the door.”
She does. “Luca, what’s going on?”
“Sit down.”
“I’d rather stand.”
“Sit. Down.”
She sits slowly, eyes never leaving my face.
I open the envelope and pull out the DNA report. Place it on the desk facing her.
“Read it,” I say.
14
ANNA
The paper feelsthin between my fingers.
DNA paternity test results. My name at the top. Mila and Alexei’s names are below it. And at the bottom, highlighted in yellow:Probability of Paternity: 99.97%
The room tilts.
I read it again. The genetic markers, the medical terminology, the cold clinical language that says exactly what I’ve been terrified of for six weeks.
He knows.
“When were you planning to tell me?” Luca’s voice is calm. Too calm.
