Chapter 27

If you knew of such a great opportunity, why didn't you tell me? Frank sat there, nursing his beer. Benny chuckled, his confidence shining through. "This kind of chance doesn't come around often. Two hundred thousand dollars is already mine," he thought, his grin full of self-assurance.

"Oh, by the way, Frank, how's confidentiality at your DNA testing center? You've no chance of a mix-up, is there?" Benny asked.

"Seriously? You think you're some kind of prince? Who's got the time or the guts to pull off something like that, even if it's legal?," Frank scoffed.

Benny thought about it and had to admit Frank had a point. The DNA testing center he'd chosen was one of the most reputable in Nareigh, and he'd entrusted the task to a reliable friend. If the process was sound, then the results had to be accurate.

Benny whistled a cheerful tune as he started the car and left. He arrived at the dealership with the DNA test results in hand, ready to pick up his new Range Rover. He parked his Lamborghini.

The dealership staff greeted him enthusiastically. "Benny, shall we proceed with the contract? Are you paying in full or using a loan?"

"In full," Benny replied, tearing open the document folder with one hand. He pulled out his phone, ready to call Jonathan and ask for the money.

Benny's confidence stemmed from an unshakeable gut instinct that had never let him down since childhood. Whether it was guessing answers on exams, especially tricky math and chemistry multiple-choice questions, or reading people's intentions, he always had a knack for getting it right. Even in relationships, he could instantly tell if someone was interested in him for his money, his family background, or genuine affection. His instincts never failed him.

So, even though he suspected Jonathan might have used a questionable DNA testing center, Benny was absolutely certain of the outcome. His gut told him there was no way he could be wrong.

With this mindset, Benny quickly opened the document folder and pulled out the DNA test report. He flipped straight to the last page, his heart steady with confidence. In his mind, even if Jonathan and Michael weren't father and son, there had to be some blood relation. After all, the resemblance between the two was undeniable. That was Benny's firm belief.

But the final result said otherwise. There was no blood relation between the two. Benny froze, his eyes glued to the words. A dry, bitter laugh escaped his throat, his disbelief turning into anger.

"What the hell? Are you kidding me right now? No blood relation? Seriously?" Benny thought. "My gut's wrong? No way. Absolutely not."

"No way. This has to be a screw-up," Benny muttered as his jaw clenched. Scrolling past Jonathan's number, he dialed his contact at the DNA testing center directly.

"Hey, it's me. What the hell is this? The report says no match. How's that even possible?" he asked.

"It's not a parent-child relationship, which means there's no blood relation," Frank replied.

"No way. They look practically identical. How could they not be related? Did you mess up the test or something?" Benny demanded.

"Benny, cut it out," Frank said, clearly annoyed. "I've been in this business for over five years without a single mistake. I've seen all kinds of people, including hotheads like you. The results are solid. No errors. I know it's hard to swallow, but that's the truth. Deal with it."

Benny snapped, "Deal with it, my ass. It's not about my kid. I told you I was doing this test for my friend and a kid who looks like his clone. And now you're telling me they're not related? No way. This has to be a glitch, a bug in the system."

"Calm down, man. What's got you so worked up?" Frank replied. "Your friend doesn't even seem bothered."

"Of course, I'm worked up. That's 300 thousand dollars down the drain," Benny fumed. "I was at the dealership, ready to drive off in my new car. Now, not only am I not getting the car, but I owe him 300 thousand dollars instead."

"Wait. Did you actually bet 300 thousand dollars on this? That's one hell of a gamble," Frank said.

"I can't believe this…" Benny was speechless, still in disbelief. He refused to accept the result, certain that something had gone wrong somewhere in the process.

Benny racked his brain, going over every detail—the people he met, the delays, and the distractions—but he still couldn't figure out where it all went wrong. The real problem was that Michael. Jonathan allowed him to stay at Forlisle Rose Estates, but insisted Michael wasn't his son. Then Edward mentioned that Michael was Miriam's nephew.

It all seemed off, like they were just passing the kid around, as if no one really wanted him. No one was stepping up to claim Michael. If Michael had parents, he wouldn't be crashing at Jonathan's place. And he was so sharp and quick on his feet, way ahead of other kids his age. So, it was pretty obvious that his parents must be smart people, too.

"See? I told you using a toothbrush for the DNA test was a bad idea," Benny grumbled, trying to save face. "We need proper hair samples from both of them. That's the only way to get a solid result, right?"

"It's all the same. It doesn't change the final outcome," Frank replied.

"Of course, it does," Benny said.

Still on the phone, Benny turned and started walking away. "Just wait. This result doesn't count. I'll get fresh hair samples from the kid and my friend and redo the test. I just don't buy it."

After hanging up, Benny reluctantly left the car dealership. For now, he decided to treat this test as invalid.