Part 4

Chapter 1: The Seeds of Betrayal

The courtroom buzzed with tension. Wooden benches groaned under the weight of an audience that had come to witness the unraveling of secrets. The air was heavy with whispers—people speculating, others exchanging knowing glances. Nathan sat at the plaintiff’s table, his jaw clenched, his fingers curled around a pen as if it were the only thing tethering him to reality. Across the aisle, Albert leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk playing on his lips, radiating an infuriating confidence.

The bailiff called for order, but Nathan couldn’t hold back. He rose abruptly, pointing an accusing finger at Albert. “You forged those results, Albert! You ruined lives with your lies. You manipulated everything!” His voice cracked, but his resolve didn’t.

Albert leaned forward, his expression unflinching. “I manipulated the truth, Nathan. There’s a difference.” His words, calm yet cutting, drew murmurs from the crowd.

The judge banged her gavel, silencing the room. “Mr. Nathan and Mr. Albert, this is not a barroom brawl. If you cannot respect this court, I will not hesitate to hold both of you in contempt.”

Nathan sank back into his seat, breathing heavily. His lawyer placed a hand on his arm, whispering, “Let’s stick to the plan.” But Nathan’s mind raced. He replayed the countless nights of doubt, the lies Gloria spun, and now this betrayal by Albert—a man he had once considered a friend.

As the judge addressed procedural matters, Nathan’s thoughts spiraled into the past. A flashback swept him away.

Flashback: It was the night Gloria stormed into his study, her eyes wild, her face flushed.
“You don’t get to dictate my life, Nathan!” she had yelled. “You think you’re a saint, don’t you? But you’re nothing but a coward hiding behind your rules.”

Nathan had stood his ground, but her words stung. “And you’re a liar, Gloria. You’ve lied about Joanna, about Samuel, about everything. What are you so afraid of?”

She laughed bitterly, tears pooling in her eyes. “Afraid? You think I’m afraid? You took everything from me, Nathan. You and your sanctimonious righteousness. Even Joanna… even her…” Her voice broke, but she didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, she stormed out, leaving Nathan staring after her, haunted by what she had left unsaid.

Back in the courtroom, Nathan was pulled from his reverie by Albert’s voice.
“You act like you’re the victim, Nathan,” Albert said, standing now. “But if we’re being honest, you’ve always been the problem. The truth isn’t as neat as you want it to be. And if you think dragging me here will fix anything, you’re mistaken.”

The judge ordered a recess, giving everyone a moment to breathe. As people filed out of the courtroom, Nathan approached Albert.

“You think you can just walk away from this?” Nathan growled.

Albert smirked again. “I already have. You’re just too blind to see it.”

A Private Confrontation
Nathan’s lawyer pulled him aside into a quiet corner of the courthouse. “We need to focus on facts, Nathan. Not emotions. Albert is playing you, and the more you react, the more you lose credibility.”

Nathan rubbed his temples. “He’s hiding something bigger. I know it.”

The lawyer hesitated. “It’s possible. His confidence doesn’t come from thin air. But we need hard evidence, not hunches. Leave the emotions at the door tomorrow. We’ll summon the clinic records to verify everything he’s done.”

As Nathan nodded reluctantly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was an anonymous text:
“Joanna’s truth isn’t what you think. Ask Gloria’s mother.”

Nathan’s heart sank. The message was short, but it carried the weight of a wrecking ball. He stared at the screen, the words blurring as questions flooded his mind. Could it be true? Could Ruth, Gloria’s cunning and secretive mother, be the key to unraveling everything?

He tightened his grip on the phone, muttering to himself, “This isn’t over.”

Chapter 2: Ruth’s Dark Secrets

The next morning, Nathan sat in his car outside Ruth’s modest home, gripping the steering wheel as if it could stop the surge of emotions coursing through him. Ruth had always been a shadowy figure—manipulative, calculating, and fiercely protective of Gloria. Over the years, Nathan had learned to tread lightly around her, but now, he had no choice.

He knocked on the door, and Ruth answered, her face immediately hardening when she saw him.
“What do you want, Nathan?” she asked coldly, her voice laced with suspicion.

Nathan pushed the door open slightly, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. “I’m not here for pleasantries, Ruth. I need answers, and I’m done waiting.”

Ruth rolled her eyes, walking toward the living room. “Answers? About what? Gloria’s gone, Nathan. What more do you want from me?”

Nathan followed her, his gaze sharp. “Don’t play coy with me. I got a message—anonymous, but clear enough. It said you know the truth about Joanna, about everything Gloria tried to hide. I need to know what you’re covering up.”

Ruth laughed bitterly, sinking into an old armchair. “You think I owe you anything? Gloria was my daughter. My blood. And look what you did to her.”

Nathan’s patience snapped. “What I did to her? She lied to me, Ruth! She lied about Joanna, about Samuel, and God knows what else. And now Albert’s lies have made everything worse. If you don’t start talking, I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Ruth’s face darkened, her eyes narrowing. “You have no idea what you’re meddling with, Nathan. You think Gloria was innocent? Fine, she wasn’t. But neither are you. You’re just as much to blame for how things turned out.”

Nathan clenched his fists, his voice trembling with frustration. “I’m not leaving until you tell me the truth.”

Ruth sighed heavily, leaning back in her chair. “You want the truth? Fine. Joanna isn’t your daughter.”

Flashback: Ruth’s Web of Deception

Ruth’s voice became softer, more calculated. “Gloria was young, stupid, and desperate. When Samuel came back into her life, she saw a way out of the mess she’d made with you. He was wealthy, charming, everything she thought she wanted. But there was a problem—Joanna. She knew Samuel wouldn’t accept her if he thought Joanna was someone else’s child. So she lied. She told Samuel that Joanna was his.”

Nathan’s breath caught. “But… the DNA test—”

Ruth cut him off. “Faked. Albert helped her do it. You’re so naïve, Nathan. You’ve always believed in people too much, and Gloria used that against you. She played both you and Samuel, and when it all started falling apart, she ran to me. I told her to fix it before it ruined everything, but Gloria never listened.”

Nathan’s mind reeled. “You mean to tell me that all these years, Joanna—”

“She isn’t yours, Nathan. She never was,” Ruth said bluntly. “But here’s the kicker: I don’t think she’s Samuel’s either.”

Nathan staggered back, his thoughts spinning. “What are you saying, Ruth? Who’s Joanna’s father?”

Ruth shrugged, a faint smirk on her lips. “Gloria didn’t tell me everything. She had her secrets, even from me. But one thing’s for sure—she made sure you and Samuel would never know the whole truth. She wanted to keep you both on a leash, and it worked.”

Present Day: The Realization

Nathan stumbled out of Ruth’s house, his legs shaky, his mind clouded. The weight of her words pressed down on him. Joanna wasn’t his daughter. The life he had built around her, the sacrifices he had made—all of it was based on a lie.

As he drove back home, Nathan’s thoughts turned to Albert. If Albert had helped forge the DNA results, how deep did his involvement go? Was this about revenge for what Gloria had done to him in the past? And if Joanna wasn’t his or Samuel’s, who was she?

The questions gnawed at him, and his phone buzzed again. Another anonymous text:
“Gloria isn’t the only one with secrets. Ask Albert what happened in high school.”

Nathan pulled over to the side of the road, his hands trembling as he reread the message. High school? What did that have to do with any of this? And why was Albert at the center of it all?

Determined to get to the bottom of everything, Nathan made a decision. He would confront Albert, but not in court. This needed to happen face-to-face, away from lawyers and judges. The truth, whatever it was, needed to come out.

Chapter 3: The Confrontation

Nathan sat in his office, staring at his phone, debating whether to call Albert or show up at his clinic unannounced. The anonymous text replayed in his mind: “Ask Albert what happened in high school.” What could have happened decades ago that tied Albert to Gloria’s deception?

Unable to wait any longer, Nathan grabbed his car keys and headed to Albert’s clinic. The air was thick with tension as he walked into the sleek, modern building. The receptionist greeted him politely, but Nathan brushed past her, heading straight for Albert’s office.

He found Albert sitting behind his desk, reviewing a stack of patient files. Albert looked up, surprised, and then smirked.
“Nathan,” he said coolly. “To what do I owe the pleasure? Come to threaten me again?”

Nathan closed the door behind him, his jaw tight. “Cut the smug act, Albert. I’m not here to play games. I know what you did, and I know it started long before Gloria came into my life.”

Albert’s expression faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he said, leaning back in his chair.

Nathan stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t lie to me. I know you helped Gloria fake the DNA test results. And now, I’m hearing whispers about high school. What happened, Albert? What did Gloria do to you?”

Albert’s smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, hard glare. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. High school has nothing to do with this.”

“Doesn’t it?” Nathan shot back. “Because from what I’ve been told, you and Gloria go way back. You were in love with her, weren’t you? You sacrificed everything for her. And she betrayed you, just like she betrayed me. So tell me, Albert—why are you still protecting the dead?”

Flashback: Albert and Gloria’s High School Years

Albert’s mind raced as memories of high school flooded back. Gloria had been everything to him back then—beautiful, intelligent, and ambitious. She was struggling financially, and Albert, coming from a wealthy family, had stepped in to help her.

His father owned a thriving clinic at the time, and Albert had access to money that Gloria desperately needed. He stole from his father’s business to pay for her school fees, lying to cover his tracks. But one day, he stole a large sum that belonged to a client. When the money went missing, suspicion fell on his father, who couldn’t prove his innocence.

Albert had stood silently as his father was arrested and sent to prison. The clinic went bankrupt, and Albert’s once-privileged life fell apart. Through it all, he kept supporting Gloria, convinced she would stand by him. But in their third year at university, everything changed.

Albert had rented a hostel room for Gloria, only to walk in one day and find her with Samuel, the charming friend from abroad. The betrayal crushed him, but the humiliation that followed was worse. Gloria accused him of trying to steal and assault her, turning everyone against him.

Present Day: Albert’s Confession

Albert stood up from his desk, his hands trembling. “You want to know the truth, Nathan? Fine. Gloria ruined my life long before she ruined yours. I gave her everything—money, love, loyalty. And what did I get in return? Lies. Betrayal. She destroyed my family, and I spent years cleaning up the mess she made.”

Nathan stared at him, stunned. “Then why help her? Why fake the DNA results? Why keep covering for her?”

Albert laughed bitterly. “You think I did it for her? No, Nathan. I did it for me. Faking the results gave me control. Gloria owed me, and for once, I held the power. Watching you and Samuel chase after her lies—it was poetic justice.”

Nathan’s fists clenched. “This isn’t a game, Albert. Joanna is an innocent child in all of this. You’ve turned her life into a mess because of your vendetta against Gloria.”

Albert’s gaze softened for a moment. “Joanna… Joanna’s the only reason I didn’t destroy Gloria completely. She doesn’t deserve this. But you’re right, Nathan. This isn’t a game. It’s a nightmare—one that Gloria created.”

The Anonymous Text

As Nathan left the clinic, his phone buzzed again. Another anonymous text appeared on the screen:
“Albert isn’t the only one with secrets. Dig deeper, Nathan. Ruth knows more than she’s telling.”

Nathan stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding. Ruth had already revealed that Joanna wasn’t his or Samuel’s daughter. But if she knew even more, why hadn’t she come clean?

And then another thought struck him—a chilling realization. If Ruth had been lying about Joanna, what else had she lied about? Was Gloria’s death truly what it seemed?

Chapter 4: Ruth’s Confession

Nathan stood before Ruth, his emotions tangled in confusion and frustration. The courtroom drama still loomed in his mind, and now he was facing Ruth, desperate for answers.

“Ruth, I need to understand the truth,” Nathan began, his voice steady but laced with urgency. “About everything—about Albert, about Gloria… About what’s been going on.”

Ruth sighed deeply, her eyes filled with an old, unspoken pain. She gestured for Nathan to sit. “It’s time you knew, Nathan. You’ve been fighting a battle without knowing the real enemy.”

Nathan frowned, unable to comprehend. “What are you talking about?”

“Albert,” Ruth said softly. “Albert is your stepbrother.”

Nathan’s world seemed to shift. “Stepbrother? What do you mean?”

Ruth’s gaze faltered as she spoke. “Albert’s father, George—he was Mercy’s lover. Your mother. The two of them… they had an affair. When Mercy found out she was pregnant with you, George did everything he could to hide the truth. He promised Mercy that no one would ever know about you or the affair. But he also promised to take care of his child—you, Nathan.”

Nathan’s heart raced as the pieces of his past began to fall into place. “But what does that have to do with Albert?”

Ruth took a deep breath. “After you were born, George stopped supporting Albert and his mother. He shifted his attention to you, paying for your education and needs. Albert’mother never understood why his husband stopped taking care of her and his son. He knew George was financially supporting someone, but she never knew who it was… until recently.”

Nathan sat back, stunned. “So, Albert has been in the dark this whole time?”

“Yes,” Ruth confirmed. “For years, Albert struggled. When he needed money, his father was too busy paying for your school fees and other expenses. He didn’t know where the money was going. But when you and Gloria were about to get married, that’s when the truth came out. Albert found out that the person George had been financially supporting was none other than his stepbrother—you.”

Nathan clenched his fists. “And that’s when he became angry. When he realized the truth, when he found out I was the one receiving the money?”

Ruth nodded. “Yes. Albert felt betrayed, hurt. He never knew who you were until then. And that’s when everything changed. He thought you’d been extorting money from your mother, all these years.”

Nathan took in the harsh reality. “And Gloria, she didn’t know?”

“No,” Ruth said, her voice softening. “But there’s more. Mercy was my childhood friend. When she passed, she made me promise to look after you. And I did, Nathan. But marrying you into the family, it was more than just about you and Gloria. It was about keeping that promise to Mercy. You were like my son.”

Nathan’s heart pounded. Ruth had accepted him into the family, not just because of Gloria, but because of a deeper, unspoken bond with his mother. A bond that had been kept hidden for so long.

“This is all too much,” Nathan whispered, his voice faltering.

Ruth reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I know. But now, you know the truth. You have a choice ahead of you—how you deal with Albert, with Gloria, with everything.”

Nathan nodded, his mind racing. He had always believed in his father’s actions, in the love and support George had given him. But now, everything had been turned upside down. His stepbrother, Albert, had been living a life of neglect, all because of the choices made by their fathers.

And now, it was up to Nathan to decide how to make things right—or whether to keep fighting.

Chapter 5: The Unspoken Truth

The courtroom was eerily silent, save for the shuffle of papers and the occasional cough. Nathan stood in the defendant’s seat, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the culmination of years of hidden truths, betrayals, and family secrets. His hands trembled, but his face remained an unreadable mask.

Albert’s eyes bore into him from across the room. There was a quiet rage in Albert’s gaze, a simmering resentment that had been building for years. But now, it wasn’t just the truth about their fathers that separated them—it was the twisted path they had each chosen to walk.

The judge cleared his throat, calling the room to order. “This court is here to hear the matter at hand. Albert, you claim that Nathan owes you a significant sum for damages related to the recent events. You also state that Nathan has been unfairly benefiting from the wealth and resources that were meant for both of you, given the circumstances of your shared paternity. Do you wish to continue with this claim?”

Albert stood up, his voice steady but laced with venom. “Yes, Your Honor. For years, I have lived in the shadow of a lie, forced to suffer while Nathan was pampered with everything my father had worked for. This court can’t ignore the injustice done to me.”

Nathan’s jaw tightened. Injustice. The word echoed in his head. He hadn’t asked for any of this. He hadn’t asked for a father who had kept secrets or for a stepbrother who had been denied a father’s love. But as the truth unraveled, so too did the consequences.

The judge nodded, looking at Nathan. “And you, Nathan. You’ve heard the accusations. What is your defense?”

Nathan took a deep breath, stepping forward. “Your Honor, I never asked for any of this. I never knew about Albert’s existence until recently. I was just a child when my father made the choices he did. I wasn’t responsible for his decisions. And I’ve tried my best to move forward, to build my own life. If Albert feels wronged, I understand, but I don’t see how I am to blame for the choices my father made.”

Albert scoffed from across the room. “Your father’s choices were your choices. You benefited from what was stolen from me.”

Nathan’s hands clenched into fists. Stolen? His mind raced. He could feel the weight of Albert’s words pressing down on him. Was it really stealing if Nathan had no knowledge of the theft? If he had been an innocent bystander in a family drama that had played out far above his head?

But then there was Gloria. Nathan’s heart twisted as he thought about her. How had everything gotten so tangled? He had been so focused on Albert’s accusations, on defending himself, that he hadn’t stopped to wonder where Gloria stood in all of this.

Gloria, who had always been the light of his life, now felt like a distant memory. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see her—her smile, her touch. But that had been before. Before the lies. Before everything had crumbled.

Suddenly, he stood up, his voice firm, determined. “Gloria deserves the truth. She deserves to know who she’s been married to, who her family is. And I will not let Albert’s bitterness cloud what we have. If there’s anything to be resolved here, it’s the truth, and nothing more.”

The courtroom was dead quiet. Albert’s eyes widened, and Ruth, who had been sitting silently beside Nathan, exchanged a look with him—one that spoke of an unspoken understanding.

“Gloria is dead and gone but she deserves the truth,” Nathan repeated, his voice unwavering.

The judge nodded solemnly. “We will reconvene tomorrow. There are still many questions to be answered. This case is far from over.”

As the gavel fell, signaling the end of the session, Nathan felt the weight of the moment crash down on him. There was no turning back now. The truth would come out, whether he was ready for it or not.

But in his gut, Nathan could already feel it—the gnawing feeling that nothing would ever be the same again. Not for him. Not for Albert. Not for Gloria.

Chapter 6: The Ties That Bind

The courtroom was tense as the session resumed. Nathan sat quietly, Albert across from him, both waiting for what was to come. Ruth, sitting in the back, felt the weight of the situation on her shoulders as the judge called for the next witness—her.

Ruth stood, her voice calm but strained as she spoke about her lifelong friendship with Mercy, Nathan’s mother. “Mercy asked me, before she passed, to look after Nathan. She wanted him to live a life without the pain of knowing the truth.”

Albert’s voice broke through, sharp and accusatory. “You kept it a secret from him? For all these years? I’ve suffered because of that.”

Ruth’s expression softened, her eyes meeting Albert’s. “It wasn’t just my secret. Mercy wanted to protect Nathan from the truth, but I failed to protect you, Albert. I failed you both.”

Albert’s anger flared. “You failed me! And now, Nathan gets to pretend he’s the victim while I’ve been left with nothing!”

Nathan sat still, his thoughts racing. He had been a part of this tangled web for far too long, but now it was becoming too much to bear.

Ruth continued, her voice trembling. “I promised Mercy I would look after Nathan, but it was never meant to be this way. The lies, the betrayal… it was all too complicated to untangle.”

The room fell silent as Ruth’s words lingered in the air. But before anyone could respond, Albert stood up abruptly, his voice filled with resentment. “I don’t need your pity,” he spat, storming out of the courtroom.

Ruth’s gaze turned to Nathan. “You’ve been hurt too, Nathan. But you still have a choice. The truth is out, but it’s what you do with it now that matters.”

Nathan’s chest tightened. He could feel the weight of Ruth’s words, but he wasn’t ready to face them yet.

Just then, a voice interrupted from the back of the room. “Nathan, do you really think you have all the answers?” It was Joanna, standing tall with a defiant look on her face.

Joanna stepped forward. “This isn’t just about you, Nathan. We’ve all been affected by these lies. You’re not the only one who’s been wronged.”

Nathan stared at her, anger bubbling up inside him. “Joanna, what are you saying?”

Joanna met his gaze firmly. “I’m saying it’s time to stop playing the victim. We all need to face the truth together.”

Before the tension could escalate further, Nathan turned to the judge. “Enough of the family drama,” he said, his voice cold. “We’re here for the DNA results. That’s the only thing that matters now. I demand we proceed.”

The judge nodded, a sense of finality in the air. “Very well,” he said. “We’ll proceed with the DNA results.”

Nathan’s heart raced. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for. The truth would finally come out.

Chapter 7: The Verdict

The courtroom fell silent as everyone waited for the judge’s decision. Albert had just finished recounting his painful story—how his father, George, had concealed the affair with Mercy, Nathan’s mother, how he had struggled through life, and how it had all led to this moment. The emotional weight of his words hung in the air, making it clear why he had done what he did, why he had forged the results, and how deep the wounds ran in this complicated family.

Nathan sat with his hands clenched, his jaw tight. He had spent the last few hours listening to Albert’s version of the story, but he wasn’t ready to accept it. He wasn’t sure how to feel—betrayed, angry, or maybe even sympathetic. But deep down, something was telling him that no matter the pain, there was a larger question at hand. The truth about the DNA, the legal claims… that’s what he cared about now.

Ruth had spoken too, sharing her side of the story, her voice filled with sorrow and regret. She had been caught in the web of lies, forced to hide the truth for years, and now everything was coming out in the open.

The judge, a stern woman who had listened patiently through every twist and turn, finally raised her hand, signaling for silence. She glanced at both Nathan and Albert before turning to the courtroom, her eyes steady, authoritative.

“After hearing all the evidence and emotional testimonies,” the judge began, her voice cutting through the tension, “this court is prepared to make its ruling. First, I want to address the legal claims filed by Nathan against Albert.”

Nathan shifted in his seat, his mind racing. This was it. He had filed the claim for damages caused by Albert’s actions—everything from the financial losses to the emotional distress it had caused. He had made a case, and now it was time to see if it would hold up in the face of everything that had been revealed.

The judge continued, “While the actions of Albert, including the forging of results and his past grievances, cannot be overlooked, we must also consider the complexity of this family situation. Albert’s decisions, though wrong, were driven by circumstances beyond his control. He felt abandoned, betrayed, and lost. However, this does not absolve him of the legal consequences.”

Albert’s heart skipped a beat. He had known there would be consequences, but hearing it spoken out loud hit differently.

“But,” the judge added, “Nathan, your actions have not been without fault either. The way you approached this family conflict, bringing in legal claims to settle personal grievances, only deepened the divide. Your claim for damages, although justified in part, is based on assumptions rather than solid evidence.”

Nathan clenched his fists. The judge wasn’t letting him off the hook either.

“Therefore,” she concluded, “the court cannot award the full damages that Nathan has claimed. However, both parties will be required to undergo mediation to address their grievances and attempt to come to a resolution outside of the courtroom. This is a family matter, and it deserves a chance for healing, not further destruction.”

A murmur spread through the room as the judge’s words sank in. Albert and Nathan exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable.

“But what about the DNA results?” Nathan spoke up, his voice shaking with urgency. “We need to know—who is the father of Joanna’s child?”

The judge raised her eyebrows, a slight pause before responding. “The DNA results will be made public shortly. However, I must remind you all that the results do not change the truth of your lives. They do not erase the years of pain or the complicated web of your relationships.”

Everyone in the courtroom turned their attention to the final piece of the puzzle—the DNA results. The moment they had all been waiting for.

The judge continued, “Regardless of the outcome of the DNA test, it’s clear that the real damage here is not from biological connections, but from the years of mistrust, secrecy, and betrayal that have shaped your lives. I advise all of you to consider that as you move forward.”

Nathan’s heart was pounding. He had been so sure of his own truth, but now everything felt uncertain. Would the DNA test change everything? Or would it only make the family drama worse?

A lab technician stepped forward from a South Africa, holding the results in a sealed envelope. The judge took it from him and opened it slowly, scanning the contents with a stoic expression.

The room held its breath as the judge read the final lines. She looked up, her gaze sweeping across the courtroom before speaking.

“The results are clear,” she said. “Nathan, you are not the father of Joanna. Albert, you are not the father of Gloria’s daughter Joanna.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. Albert’s knees went weak, and he almost stumbled. Nathan’s face went pale, his mouth opening and closing in disbelief. Ruth stared at the floor, her eyes wide with shock. And Joanna, who had been sitting quietly at the back, stood up slowly, her face unreadable.

The judge’s voice broke through the silence. “This decision is final. The court will issue its official ruling on the damages shortly. But for now, I urge both parties to find a way to work together, for the sake of the Joanna and her child and for your own peace of mind.”

Chapter 8: The Twist

Two weeks later, the courtroom buzzed with whispers as Nathan sat in shock, the confession was still fresh in his hands. He had expected some fallout from the drama, but not like this. His entire world was shifting beneath him. The question he had asked for years—who was her father?—had been answered. Albert wasn’t the father of Joanna, not Nathan. But what had Gloria been hiding? Why had she lied?

Nathan stood there, his face twisted in disbelief. His entire existence had been built on lies. He had accused Albert of tampering with the DNA results, but Albert had never altered them. It was the truth, the undeniable truth. Nathan’s mind raced, his anger growing with each passing second. He was about to lose control, and there was nothing anyone could do to stop him.

Gloria’s betrayal hit him hardest. He had spent years thinking she was the one who loved him, the woman who had supported him through thick and thin. But now, it seemed, she had played him. She had deceived everyone, even in death. And worse, Albert had been the one who had been there for her all along.

His fist clenched. He needed answers. He needed closure.

Nathan didn’t wait another second. He stormed out of the courtroom, past the stunned onlookers and down the empty hallway. His footsteps echoed in the silence. His mind was consumed with rage, questions swirling, but all he could think of was confronting the woman who had ruined him. Gloria.

She wasn’t supposed to be dead now. She had taken her own life, or so they thought. The funeral had been held, the casket sealed, and her death had marked the end of the tragedy.

Nathan paced back and forth in his living room, the weight of new DNA results heavy on his shoulders. He couldn’t make sense of the sudden revelations. His mind spiraled into a vortex of anger, confusion, and betrayal. The web of lies and hidden truths seemed to grow thicker with every passing moment.

As he sat down, his phone buzzed. Another anonymous message. He hesitated for a moment before opening it.

“Did you really confirm that Gloria was dead, or were your eyes too blurry with tears and pain to see the truth?”

The words hit Nathan like a lightning bolt. His heart raced as the memories flooded back—the frantic rush to the hospital, the sight of Gloria’s lifeless body, and the funeral preparations. But had he truly seen her, or had he simply been blinded by his grief? Doubt began to creep into his mind, insidious and unrelenting.

Nathan’s breathing quickened as he replayed the events in his mind. The voice inside him grew louder: What if? What if Gloria wasn’t dead? What if this is all connected?

Fueled by a desperate need for answers, Nathan grabbed his car keys and drove to the cemetery. The night was quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the trees. The air was thick with an eerie stillness as he approached Gloria’s grave.

Nathan fell to his knees before the grave, his emotions a tangled mess of rage and despair. But a thought gnawed at him relentlessly. His trembling hands began digging into the soil, the urgency of his need for the truth overwhelming his rationality.

Finally, he reached the casket. With a deep breath, he pried it open. It was empty.

Nathan recoiled in shock, his mind spinning. This can’t be real. Gloria can’t be alive. Or can she? His hands shook as he slammed the casket lid shut. He stepped back, the weight of this discovery threatening to crush him.

Desperation turned into fury. He stormed back to his car, gripping the steering wheel tightly. Who had sent him that message? Who was orchestrating this nightmare?

As Nathan sat in his car, staring into the darkness, the questions poured out of him. “Who the hell knows so much about everything that I don’t know? Who is sending me these messages? Who is watching me?”

His voice echoed in the silence, and as he looked out at the shadowy landscape, he realized the nightmare wasn’t over.

“Who the hell is behind this?” Nathan whispered to himself, his voice hoarse. His mind raced with questions, his thoughts spiraling into a dark abyss. Was this some cruel game? Was I a pawn all along?

The night sky seemed to close in around him as Nathan was about to drove back to confront Ruth. But before he could reach her, his phone buzzed again.

“You’re asking the wrong questions, Nathan. It’s not about who. It’s about why.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened. The text blurred before his eyes as tears of rage and confusion filled them.

“Why? WHY?!” he screamed into the emptiness of the night.

But there was no answer, only silence. And in that silence, Nathan realized one horrifying truth:

He was utterly alone.