Love's Redemption (Chris and Maddie)

Keira chuckled softly. "Well, a DNA test isn't a bad idea. At least then you won't have to worry about being related to Mr. Ace if you two get together."

Lena's eyebrows shot up instantly. "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you want me to hit you?"

"Go ahead. If you break anything, you'll have to compensate me," Keira said smugly, knowing full well she had a trump card-her precious little one growing inside her. Their playful banter caught the attention of the people in the room. They exchanged amused glances.

"The things girls find joy in are beyond us," one of them said with a smile.

"Let's hope they stay happy forever," Aaron added, just as his phone began to ring.

Glancing at the caller ID, he nodded at Hayden. 'I'll take this call."

Aaron walked toward his study. Hayden also pulled out his phone, while Lena and Keira moved to the sofa.

Keira recounted Lena's gossip to him. "Hayden, do you think I could be the person the Mitchell family owes a debt to?"

"It's not entirely impossible," he replied.

Keira laughed. "So, I'm their creditor, huh? If the rumors are true, I wonder how the Mitchells plan to repay such a debt."

Though she spoke lightly, Lena's words lingered in her mind. She mentioned that the Mitchell family had committed heinous acts, which unsettled her.

If it were true, what exactly had the Mitchells done?

And what could they possibly have to do with her? The most painful event of her life was losing her parents, but that tragedy already had its culprits. It didn't seem connected to the Mitchells at all.

"Let your Hayden investigate it," Lena suggested, glancing toward the study as if noticing Aaron had been on the phone for quite a while.

"If you're worried, go check on him," Keira teased, giving her a playful wink.

She glared at Keira but still got up and headed upstairs to the study.

When she reached the door, she realized it wasn't fully closed. Through the crack, she could see Aaron's straight back. His low voice drifted out clearly.

"I'll collect the sample and send it for testing as soon as possible. How soon can we get the

1/2

425 BONUS

results? Alright... make sure no one else knows about this."

sample? Testing?

Lena froze. Was Aaron planning to do a test? Had he discovered something, too?

Oh no!

Could the ridiculous scenario she'd been joking about actually be true?

Was Aaron really her mother's illegitimate child?

She thought about her father, who had been under her mother's thumb his entire life, and suddenly felt a pang of bitterness.

Even though she'd joked about it earlier, she'd never truly believed it. But hearing Aaron's words just now made her panic..

She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice Aaron turn and see her standing at the door. It wasn't until he opened the door and spoke that she snapped out of it. "Why are you just standing there?"

"I..." Lena stammered, her tongue suddenly tied. "I heard you on the phone."

As she spoke, she met Aaron's eyes directly, unafraid of him realizing she'd overheard his conversation.

"Hmm." Aaron's expression didn't change.

"I heard you mention a test. What test? A paternity test?" Lena asked bluntly.

"Hmm." It seemed like "hmm" was the only word Aaron could say at the moment.

Lena's eyes bore into his. "What does 'hmm' mean? Who are you doing a paternity test with? Did you find your biological parents?"

It wasn't a secret, so there was no reason to hide it.

"I'm not certain yet, which is why I need to do the test," Aaron admitted without hesitation.

Lena's heart sank. She bit her lip and asked hesitantly, "Who do you suspect? Who do you think your parents are?"