Back at the villa, Teresa packed for the return trip tomorrow. Her phone rang–Jonathan’s number. She answered quickly. “Why call so late?” Without preamble: “The results are in. Lucas isn’t Mom’s son. The agency’s findings match the first test.”

Jonathan replied, his tone calm as ever, “I saw your text. They are finished. I’ve filed a lawsuit.”

Teresa was confused. “What are you talking about? Why sue them?”

“Like mother, like daughter,” Jonathan stated. “Jennifer forged Mike’s and my report. I let it slide for your and Donald’s sake. But Peggy pulled the same trick? Does she think I’m a pushover? If she wants jail time, I’ll make sure she retires behind bars.”

Teresa took a deep breath. “What do you mean? Are you saying Peggy faked both DNA tests? How?”

“She conspired with the hospital director to falsify the results,” Jonathan revealed. “Good thing I had Benny take the samples back to Nareigh for independent testing. Benny ran two tests. Lucas is Evelyn’s biological son. Confirmed.”

Teresa froze. “Is… is this true? You’re serious?”

“Don’t believe me? Fine.” Jonathan’s tone was flat.

“It’s not that. It’s just… sudden. I was just grieving him not being my brother!” Her emotions twisted violently.

“Details later. I got another call,” Jonathan said.

“Okay,” Teresa breathed, ending the call.

Heart pounding, Teresa burst into Evelyn’s room. “Mom, Jonathan just called. Lucas is your son!”

The suitcase handle clattered onto Evelyn’s foot. She didn’t flinch. “What?” she gasped, grabbing Teresa’s arms. “Is it true? You’re sure? Lucas is my son? How? How do you know?”

“Jonathan was careful,” Teresa rushed out. “He had Benny take your samples back to Nareigh for DNA tests. It’s confirmed. Lucas is your son. He is my brother.”

“Oh, thank God.” Evelyn broke down, tears streaming. “My Lucas. My poor boy! We can’t leave. We have to get him back.”

Teresa nodded fiercely. ‘Even if we go, we’ll tell him the truth first,’ she thought.

At the airport, Lucas sat slumped, head bowed, hands clasped loosely. Utter desolation radiated from him. He pulled out his phone, thumb hovering over Jonathan’s contact. He wanted to text Jonathan goodbye.

But before he could type, Peggy snatched it from his grasp. “I’ll hold this,” Peggy declared. “No distractions from unimportant people.”

Anger and despair warred in Lucas’s eyes. “Give it back. I’m thirty. Phone confiscation? It’s pathetic.”

Peggy ignored him, tucking the phone into her purse.

His voice turned pleading. “I just want to say goodbye. When I first came here, I knew no one. It was Jonathan who helped me. Just one message. Please.”

Peggy checked her watch, unmoved. “It’s time to board. Let’s go.” She stood up.

Defeat settled over Lucas like a shroud, extinguishing his last ember of hope. The short time he’d run away from home had been the only time he’d ever truly felt free. His future stretched before him–a prison cell built by Peggy. No escape. No freedom.

“Move!” Peggy snapped.

Chapter 779

Peggy checked her watch. “Time for the airport. Everything’s arranged. I got you a position at a major company. You’ll work there.”

“Another job bought with your body?” Lucas said coldly, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Peggy froze. Her face contorted with fury. “What did you just say?”

“Hit a nerve?” Lucas’s voice was icy. “You think I didn’t know? All these years? How many deals did you make with your body? Doesn’t shame touch you?”

Peggy’s hand flew up. “You-”

Lucas closed his eyes. “Go ahead. I’m used to it.” Since childhood, he’d been her punching bag. Her bad moods always ended with his pain.

Peggy didn’t slap him. Instead, she seized his collar, shaking him violently. “I hit you? So what? I fed you, clothed you, and kept a roof over your head. Where did it come from? Thin air?”

She screamed, spittle flying. “You call me dirty? I am your mother. How dare you speak to me that way!”

Lucas wrenched himself free. “Why shouldn’t I say it?” he shouted, voice raw. “I don’t want your filthy money. I’m ashamed to call you my mother!”

The final insult was too much. Peggy’s hand cracked across his face with brutal force. The sound echoed sharply. A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of Lucas’s mouth.

“You think I wanted this?” Peggy shrieked, her voice breaking. “I learned the hard way. Men are trash. Love you one day, toss you the next. I just took what I could before they dumped me!”

Lucas stared at her. “Then why tell Evelyn you prefer boys? You hate men so much.”

Peggy’s expression shifted. She patted his shoulder, a grotesque parody of affection in her eyes. “Men are trash. But you’re my son. Not some random man. Evelyn always outshone me. Having a son—that was my win,”

“So, having a son makes you a winner?” Lucas asked, the absurdity hitting him.

“Exactly.” Peggy crowed, a brittle laugh escaping. “I won. Did you see her face? The jealousy? The helplessness? I finally beat her!”

Lucas couldn’t comprehend her logic. Utterly adrift, he couldn’t accept this warped victory.

Peggy checked her watch impatiently. “Enough. Airport time. I’ll get a cab. Get downstairs now!”

Lucas took a shuddering breath, fists clenched white–knuckled. In that moment, the urge to escape, to leave everything behind, was overwhelming. Life felt unbearably heavy, devoid of hope.

“Restroom,” Lucas mumbled, shouldering his bag. He vanished inside for nearly twenty minutes.

“What took so long? We’re almost late. Hurry!”

Lucas trailed after her in silence.

Peggy walked to the counter, handing over her ticket and ID. Just then, the phone at the counter rang. The staff picked up, then kept staring at her name. “I’m sorry, Ms. Peggy Davis. You can’t board.”

“Why?” Peggy demanded, her voice sharp. “Can you afford this delay?”

“We’ve received a police notification,” the staff explained calmly. “You are prohibited from boarding. Please remain here. Officers are on their way.”

Peggy’s expression stiffened. Lucas, standing behind her, looked even more confused.

Peggy took a deep breath. “What crime did I commit? Who called the police?” she demanded, her voice tense.

“I did.” A deep, steady voice rang out.

Lucas and Peggy turned in unison.

“Jonathan!” A flicker of life returned to Lucas’s dull eyes. He strode towards him.

Jonathan met his gaze. “Cutting it close. If you’d left, your sister and your real mother would be heartbroken.”

Lucas was stunned, his eyes going wide. “Jonathan, what do you mean?”

“I had my friend take your samples to Nareigh,” Jonathan explained. “He had them tested at a tertiary hospital and an independent lab. Both confirmed that Evelyn is your biological mother.”

Lucas stared, disbelief warring with desperate hope. “Is… is this true? You’re serious?”

A faint, wry smile touched Jonathan’s lips. “Your sister’s exact words. Why would I lie?” He held out a report. “See for yourself.”

He turned to Peggy, slapping the second report against her chest. “Running? You had Vincent forge this. Did you think your fraud would stay buried?”

“I don’t know what you mean!” Peggy blustered.

“No matter,” Jonathan said, his voice dangerously calm. “The police will clarify everything. Thoroughly.”

“This is nonsense. Lucas, let’s go!” Peggy grabbed Lucas’s arm–and recoiled. His skin was icy, unnaturally cold.

Lucas didn’t move. He stared at the report. ‘I’m Evelyn’s son. Not hers.’ A profound, weary relief washed over him. “If this is a dream,” he whispered. “It’s a good one.” Then his legs buckled, and he crumpled to the floor.

“Lucas!” Peggy screamed, dropping beside him, shaking his limp form. As she jostled him, an empty pill bottle clattered from his pocket.

Jonathan understood instantly. He dialed emergency services. After a while, sirens wailed in the distance, growing rapidly closer.

As medics loaded Lucas into the ambulance, Peggy clawed at Jonathan’s arm. “Let me in. I’m his mother. He’s my son. Please, don’t let him die!”