Chapter 3 Paternity Test, Baby Voice Threats

# Chapter 3: Paternity Test, Baby Voice Threats

"We need to establish some boundaries," I said, pushing against Justin's chest. Despite five years apart, my body still remembered the solid wall of muscle beneath his expensive shirt. "Starting with you not breaking into my shop in the middle of the night."

Justin stepped back, but the predatory gleam remained in his eyes. "Boundaries? That's rich coming from the woman who kept my children secret for five years."

"Lower your voice," I hissed. "They're sleeping upstairs."

"My children are sleeping upstairs," he corrected, emphasizing the possessive. "And tomorrow, we're going to make it official."

A chill ran down my spine. "What does that mean?"

"DNA testing," Justin said flatly. "9 AM. I've arranged for a private lab technician to meet us at your shop. No arguments."

I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off.

"Unless you'd prefer I involve my lawyers? I'm sure a court would be very interested in why a mother would hide triplets from their billionaire father."

The threat hung between us. I knew Justin well enough to recognize when he wasn't bluffing.

"Fine," I conceded. "But I'll be present for the entire process."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." His smile didn't reach his eyes. "After all, I'd hate to miss any more of their... creative problem-solving skills."

With that parting shot, he turned and left as silently as he'd arrived, leaving me alone in the darkened shop with my racing thoughts.

The next morning arrived too quickly. I barely slept, rehearsing what I would tell the children, how I would explain the concept of DNA testing without frightening them. But when I entered their room, I found three empty beds.

Panic seized me until I heard their voices downstairs, along with another voice that made my blood run cold.

Justin was already in my kitchen, making pancakes with my children.

"Mom!" Leo called when I appeared in the doorway. "Dad's teaching us how to flip pancakes in the air!"

Dad. The word struck me like a physical blow.

Justin looked up, spatula in hand, the picture of domestic comfort in his rolled-up sleeves and casual slacks. Only the gleam in his eyes betrayed his satisfaction at outmaneuvering me.

"Good morning, Joan," he said smoothly. "The children were hungry, and you were sleeping so peacefully."

"How did you get in?" I demanded.

"We let him in," Mia announced proudly. "After he texted us."

My eyes narrowed. "You texted my children? How did you get their numbers?"

"They texted me first," Justin replied, flipping a perfect pancake. "Apparently, they've had my private number for months. Part of their 'investigation' into finding me."

I made a mental note to check their tablets later. These little hackers were getting too good.

"Mr. Sarratt says we're going to do a science experiment today," Luna said, carefully setting the table for five.

"That's right," Justin confirmed. "It's called a DNA test. It will prove that I'm your biological father."

"We already know you're our dad," Leo said, mouth full of pancake. "You look just like us."

Justin's expression softened as he looked at our son—his genetic carbon copy. "Yes, but sometimes adults need official proof for important documents."

"Like birth certificates?" Mia asked.

Justin's gaze snapped to mine. "Exactly like birth certificates. Which, strangely, don't seem to list a father at all."

The doorbell saved me from responding. The lab technician had arrived, carrying a sleek case of equipment. Justin ushered us all into the living room, where the technician efficiently set up his portable station.

"This won't hurt a bit," he assured the children as he prepared to swab their cheeks. "Just like brushing your teeth."

The triplets submitted to the procedure with curiosity rather than fear, watching intently as their samples were carefully labeled. When it was Justin's turn, they gathered around to observe, fascinated by the process.

"The results will be available in 24 hours," the technician informed Justin. "I'll deliver them personally, as requested."

"Excellent," Justin replied, handing the man an envelope that undoubtedly contained a substantial bonus for the house call and expedited service.

As the technician packed up, Luna tugged at my sleeve. "Can I go to the bathroom?" she whispered.

"Of course, sweetie."

She disappeared down the hall, returning just as the technician was leaving. Something about her innocent expression made my maternal instincts tingle.

"What did you do?" I whispered when she passed me.

"Nothing," she answered, far too quickly.

Before I could press further, Justin clapped his hands together. "Who wants to see my new helicopter?"

Three pairs of eyes widened in unison.

"You have a helicopter?" Leo gasped.

"It's parked on the school field," Justin confirmed. "I thought we could take a little tour of the coastline."

"Absolutely not," I interjected. "They have school today."

"Already handled," Justin smiled. "I spoke with Principal Morris this morning. He's granted them an educational excursion day to learn about aviation and marine biology."

Of course he had. In just 24 hours, Justin had managed to charm the entire town's educational system.

"Please, Mom?" Mia begged. "We've never been in a helicopter before!"

I looked at their excited faces and knew I was fighting a losing battle. "Fine, but I'm coming too."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Justin replied, the echo of last night's conversation carrying a different weight now.

The helicopter ride was, objectively, spectacular. Justin piloted himself, letting each child take turns sitting in the co-pilot seat with dual controls. From the air, our small coastal town looked like a postcard, nestled between rolling hills and the glittering ocean.

The children were beside themselves with excitement, pointing out landmarks and squealing when Justin dipped low over the waves. Even I had to admit it was magical, seeing their world expand before their eyes.

It was also terrifying. This was what Justin could offer them—a world of helicopters and private jets, of unlimited resources and opportunities I could never provide. How could my small bakery and modest life compete with that?

When we landed back at the school field, a small crowd had gathered. News of the famous billionaire's visit had spread, and several parents were waiting with phones raised to capture the moment.

"Mom, can Dad come over for dinner?" Leo asked as we climbed out of the helicopter.

"I'd be delighted," Justin answered before I could formulate a response. "I'll bring dessert."

That evening, our small apartment was filled with the scent of my best lasagna and the sound of children's laughter as Justin regaled them with stories of his college days—carefully edited versions that omitted our tumultuous relationship.

After dinner, as the children showed Justin their room—including their "investigation wall," which he examined with undisguised pride—my phone rang. It was the lab.

"Ms. Powers? This is Dr. Reeves from GeneTech Labs. I have the results of today's paternity test."

"Already?" I whispered, stepping into my bedroom for privacy. "I thought it would take 24 hours."

"Mr. Sarratt requested our ultra-rapid service," the doctor explained. "The results are... unusual."

My heart sank. "What do you mean, unusual?"

"According to our analysis, the children's DNA shows a 99.9% match... with the Sarratt Group AI system."

"I'm sorry, what?" I nearly dropped the phone.

"The samples indicate the children are related to some kind of artificial intelligence program," Dr. Reeves continued, sounding perplexed. "Obviously, this is impossible. We must have experienced some kind of contamination or sample mix-up."

"I see," I said faintly. "Thank you for letting me know."

I ended the call and turned to find Luna standing in my doorway, her expression far too innocent.

"Luna," I said carefully, "what did you do to those DNA samples?"

She shuffled her feet. "I might have switched Daddy's sample with something else."

"Something else?"

"A bit of code from his AI system," she admitted. "I downloaded it onto a biofilm when he wasn't looking. Leo helped me make it in science club."

I stared at my five-year-old daughter, torn between horror and reluctant admiration for her ingenuity. "Why would you do that?"

"Because Daddy was being bossy about the test," she explained with five-year-old logic. "And you looked scared."

Before I could respond, Justin appeared behind Luna, his expression thunderous.

"I just got a very interesting call from the lab," he said, his voice dangerously soft. "Care to explain why my children apparently share DNA with my artificial intelligence system?"

Luna looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "Maybe we're just really, really smart?"

Despite everything, I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Justin wasn't amused. "This isn't a game, Luna. DNA testing is serious business."

"So is barging into people's lives and making demands," I countered, stepping protectively in front of my daughter.

Justin's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't need to make demands if you had been honest from the beginning."

Our standoff was interrupted by Leo and Mia joining us in the hallway.

"Are you guys fighting?" Mia asked, her lower lip trembling.

"No, sweetheart," Justin answered, his tone instantly gentler. "Your mother and I just need to discuss a few things. Adult things."

"About the fake DNA test?" Leo asked innocently.

Justin's head snapped toward him. "You knew about that?"

"It was my idea," Leo admitted. "Luna just did the switching part."

"And I created the distraction," Mia added, not wanting to be left out.

Justin looked from one child to the next, then at me. "They really are my children, aren't they? Only my DNA could produce hackers at this level."

Despite his words, there was something like pride in his voice.

The moment was broken by the doorbell. I frowned, not expecting any visitors.

"That's probably the lab results," Justin said. "The official paper copies."

It wasn't the lab.

Standing on my doorstep was a courier holding an envelope emblazoned with the Sarratt Group logo. "Delivery for Ms. Joan Powers," he announced.

I accepted the envelope warily, opening it as Justin watched with crossed arms. Inside was a single document—a sperm donor agreement dated five years ago, bearing Justin's unmistakable signature.

"What is this?" Justin demanded, snatching the paper from my hands.

"Insurance," I replied quietly. "In case you ever found us."

His face darkened as he scanned the document. "This is a forgery. I never signed this."

"You did," I countered. "After the charity gala in New York. You'd had quite a bit to drink."

Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by fury. "You drugged me."

"I did not!" I protested. "You were drunk, Justin. Three sheets to the wind after closing that merger with Takawa Corp."

"And you took advantage of that to make me sign away my parental rights?" His voice rose dangerously.

"I did what I had to do to protect myself," I shot back. "You made it very clear what you thought about family and children. 'Liabilities,' you called them. 'Career killers.'"

The children watched our exchange with wide eyes, absorbing every word.

"That was before," Justin growled. "Before I knew I had children of my own."

"You never wanted children," I reminded him. "You told me repeatedly that kids had no place in your five-year plan."

"Plans change," he snapped.

"Do they?" I challenged. "Or are my children just another acquisition for the great Justin Sarratt? Another company to buy, another asset to control?"

The tension between us was broken by three small voices speaking in perfect unison:

"That's why we had to hack your money! To compensate Mommy for raising us alone!"

We both turned to stare at the triplets, who stood shoulder to shoulder, a united front against our adult conflict.

"You deserve nice things too, Mom," Luna said quietly. "Not just ice cream for us."

Justin looked at our children—really looked at them—and something in his expression shifted.

"You're right," he said finally. "Your mother deserves much more than she's gotten."

He turned to me, his anger replaced by something more complex. "We have a lot to work out, Joan. But one thing is non-negotiable."

"What's that?" I asked warily.

Justin pulled out his phone, tapped a few commands, and then turned the screen toward us all. On it was an official Sarratt Group press release, ready to be sent:

"Effective immediately, Sarratt Group announces new heirs—triplets Leo, Mia, and Luna Sarratt."

"My three little hackers," Justin said, his voice softer now. "My children."