Victor’s demand for a DNA test silenced everyone again for a few seconds. Then slowly the whispers began. People leaned towards each other, whispering, making their own assumptions. They were taking their own guesses on who was speaking the truth and who was lying.
On the stage, Ansel’s grip on Savannah’s waist only grew tighter on hearing Victor’s words.
"You are challenging my grandmother’s word?" Ansel asked.
His voice was low but filled with warning.
"I’m not challenging my aunt’s judgement, Ansel. I’m challenging an old piece of paper because it contradicts a legal document and Rosalind Quinn’s son’s words himself," he said. "The future of this company cannot be handed over based on a letter. We need solid proof."
Before Ansel could shut Victor down, Arthur, one of Victor men’s on the Locke Group’s board of directors, stood up and began to speak.
"Victor has a valid point," he said and looked at Madame Eleanor. "Madame, we all respect the late chairman’s wishes. And to honor that we need to be completely sure before making any decision. We cannot proceed with the chairman transition nor can we formally recognize an heir while there are conflicting official records."
Several other board members nodded in agreement.
"The board demands absolute certainty before the Locke leadership changes hands," Arthur continued. "A DNA test is the only fair solution."
Ansel knew Victor’s scheme. He was ready to tear Arthur apart but Eleanor stopped him. She touched his arm and signalled him to calm down.
Eleanor glanced around the ballroom. Victor’s triumphant smirk told her everything. She knew if she refused the test, Victor’s loyalists on the board would use the confusion as an excuse to call for a vote of no confidence against Ansel.
"Fine," Eleanor said. "If the board needs modern science to verify my claim, then we shall provide it. I agree to the DNA test."
Victor’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
"Excellent. The board appreciates your cooperation, Madame," Victor said. "I hereby announce the engagement to be formally suspended until we get the results."
Eleanor nodded.
"We will reconvene in seventy two hours with the result," she announced.
During all this Savannah stood beside Ansel, barely able to keep up with everything that was happening. This wasn’t in the plan. And despite being the biological daughter, she was scared. Because Victor had bought himself three days to manipulate things behind closed doors.
Eventually, the banquet ended and chaos inside the ballroom spilled outside into the hotel’s valet area. Reporters were shouting questions at the Quinn family but no one answered. They had left Savannah in the hotel and were leaving without her.
"I can’t believe Savannah!" Richard shouted as they got inside the car. "She couldn’t let Celeste have her night! She had to steal her moment in front of the whole city!"
Celeste immediately began to sob and buried her face in her hands.
"I don’t understand why she hates me so much," Celeste cried. "I didn’t want any of this. I only want our family to be happy. Why does she always have to ruin everything I touch?"
"Stop it, Celeste," Cooper said, sitting in the backseat.
He was glaring at his father with pure disgust.
"Cooper, I am warning you, stay out of this," Richard said, pointing a finger at him.
"No," Cooper shot back. "You have gone insane, Dad. You keep screaming how Savannah ruined everything but I heard you and Victor Locke laughing about the paperwork in your study! The paperwork was to make Celeste the legal daughter of the Quinns, isn’t it?"
Richard went pale.
"Cooper..."
"You sold your own biological daughter out for Locke money," Cooper didn’t stop. "It’s sick!"
"Enough!" Richard shouted, raising his hand.
"Stop!" Diane’s voice finally broke through.
Richard stopped and turned around. Diane didn’t say or do anything. She just stared blankly out the window clutching her purse tightly in her hands.
Savannah was still in the hotel. The press was still gathered around the front gates, so she avoided the lobby and used the service staircase to reach the third floor VIP balcony.
It was empty. Cold air hit her through the thin dress she was wearing. She walked to the railing and gripped it tightly. She lowered her head and took a shaky breath.
She had done everything she was supposed to do by swallowing her pride. She had thought this would be enough and she won’t have to fight anymore. But she was wrong. Victor has found another way.
Suddenly, the balcony door opened beside her. Savannah didn’t have to turn around to know who is was. She recognized those footsteps now.
Ansel stood beside her and looked at the city lights. The wind was cold but he didn’t seem to care.
Then he took a step behind and draped his suit jacket over Savannah’s trembling shoulders. Savannah was taken aback for a second but then she wrapped it tightly around herself.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You were perfect tonight," Ansel said softly. "Victor was so distracted by your performance that he forgot about his phone. His aide missed the window and the transfer failed."
"But he still won," Savannah said bitterly, staring out at the traffic below. "He wants a DNA test. And I’m sure he already has a plan."
Ansel smiled.
"You’re a fast learner, Savannah," he said and turned to look at her. "You are right. Victor chose the lab for the testing. The board agreed because it is the most prestigious laboratory in the city. But the director of that lab is an old university friend of his."
Savannah’s body went cold. The warmth of the jacket wasn’t enough anymore.
"No..."
"A forged birth record was only his first move," Ansel said. "A forged DNA result would be the second. He isn’t just buying time. He is setting his final trap. When the result will be declared in front of the board in seventy two hours, Celeste will be proven as the biological daughter of your father. And... a certified medical document from a state lab carries more weight than my grandmother’s letter."
Savannah suddenly couldn’t feel the ground beneath her feet.
"If they forge the DNA... I’ll lose my identity forever. My parents will never admit the truth."
"And I will lose my company."