Chapter 5: DNA Bombshells and Fresh Starts

Before bed, I got the DNA report on Debbie’s baby. The result was exactly what I expected.

I stared at the report, my heart pounding. The truth was finally out.

With the video of my dad and Debbie, I could help my mom get a lot more in the divorce.

I gathered all the evidence, organizing it neatly on my laptop. I was ready for whatever came next.

He needed to learn what happens when you betray my mom!

I smiled, imagining the look on his face when he saw the proof.

As for Debbie, she wouldn’t get a happy ending either!

Justice was coming for her, too. I couldn't wait to see her fall.

The next morning, as soon as I came downstairs, I heard my dad’s voice.

He was already in the kitchen, barking orders. I steeled myself for another round.

“I’ll let bygones be bygones about last night. I brought Debbie back—she’s family now.”

He said it like he was doing us a favor. I rolled my eyes, unimpressed.

My mom glanced at them, then went back to the kitchen.

She didn't say a word, just kept chopping vegetables. I saw the resolve in her eyes, and I smiled.

Debbie looked at the table full of dishes with satisfaction. “Sis, you worked so hard. Need help?”

She fluttered her hands, pretending to be concerned. My mom just shook her head, silent.

My dad stopped her. “You’re still not stable—stay out of the kitchen.”

He waved her away, his voice gentle. Debbie beamed, basking in his attention.

I came downstairs, twirling a baseball bat.

I swung it lightly, letting them know I meant business. My dad glared, but didn't say a word.

Debbie hid behind my dad. He glared at me, neck red. “If you hit anyone today, I’ll break your legs!”

He pointed the bat at me, his face twisted with anger. I just smirked, unafraid.

My mom set the last dish down and said calmly, “Let’s eat.”

Her voice was steady, her eyes clear. I took my seat beside her, ready for whatever came next.

My dad took the main seat. Debbie grabbed my mom’s usual spot, so my mom sat next to me, far from them.

The table felt divided, the air thick with tension. I reached for my mom’s hand under the table, squeezing it gently.

Our family always ate light, healthy food.

I glanced at the spread—grilled salmon, steamed veggies, brown rice. Debbie wrinkled her nose, unimpressed.

Debbie complained, “Sis, your food’s too bland. The baby doesn’t like it.”

She pushed her plate away, pouting. My dad glared at my mom, as if it were her fault.

My dad frowned at my mom. “Ask Debbie what she wants before cooking. Make more dishes. If you don’t know how, take a class.”

His words were sharp, cutting. My mom just nodded, her face expressionless.

“Haley’s grown up and never home. Her room’s wasted. We’ll remodel it into a nursery, and she can sleep in the storage room downstairs.”

He said it like it was nothing, as if my life didn't matter. I stared at him, stunned.

“And Haley, don’t come home unless you have to. You cause trouble, and it’s bad for Debbie’s baby.”

He waved his hand dismissively, as if he could erase me with a word. I clenched my fists, fighting back tears.

The shamelessness of it all made me laugh.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. They really had no shame.

Debbie shot me a smug look, then turned to my mom. “The doctor said I’m probably having a boy.”

She patted her stomach, her eyes gleaming with triumph. I almost choked on my water.

I almost burst out laughing. Her belly wasn’t even showing yet.

I bit my lip, holding back a snort. She really thought she had it all figured out.

My mom stayed silent, quietly eating and putting food in my bowl.

She ignored them, focusing on me. I smiled, grateful for her quiet strength.

My dad grew impatient. “Did you hear me?”

He slammed his fork down, glaring at us. My mom just kept eating, unfazed.

His words hit nothing but air—neither of us responded.

The silence was deafening, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

After my mom finished eating, she finally spoke. “Let’s get a divorce.”

Her voice was calm, but there was steel in it. I smiled, proud of her courage.

Words she’d held in for over twenty years came out so easily.

She looked at me, her eyes shining. I nodded, giving her a thumbs-up under the table.

Her eyes lit up.

For the first time, I saw hope in her gaze. She was ready to fight for herself.

My dad laughed like it was a joke. “Still mad? Don’t worry, after Debbie has the baby, you can raise it. But boys are precious—we have to be careful.”

He waved his hand, dismissing her words. Debbie beamed, rubbing her belly.

“You think you can survive without me? You’ve lived off me all these years. My in-laws adore me. Would they let you divorce me?”

He leaned back, smug. I rolled my eyes, unimpressed.

He knew exactly how vulnerable my mom was and used it to keep her trapped.

I clenched my fists, determined to prove him wrong.

My mom handed him the divorce papers. “I’ve signed. I just want this house and our daughter. You can have everything else.”

She slid the papers across the table, her hands steady. My dad's face turned red with anger.

He realized she was serious and glared at me. “You ungrateful brat! You talked your mom into divorcing me! I should never have had you!”

He pointed at me, his voice shaking with rage. I stared back, unflinching.

My mom stepped in front of me, sneering. “If not for Haley, I’d have left you long ago!”

Her voice was sharp, her eyes blazing. I grinned, proud of her.

My dad exploded. “Why the sudden divorce? Are you seeing someone?!”

He always had to blame someone else. I rolled my eyes, tired of his games.

He’d never look at his own faults—always blaming others.

I shook my head, refusing to engage.

Debbie chimed in, “Sis must have a man outside. Why else insist on divorce? Eddie, you’re clueless.”

She smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice. I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to slap her again.

I was a head taller than Debbie. I grabbed her hair and dragged her into the living room.

She screamed, kicking and flailing. My dad rushed after us, but I ignored him.

She screamed bloody murder. “You’re hitting me again! Eddie—”

Her voice was shrill, echoing through the house. I clamped a hand over her mouth, silencing her.

I clamped a hand over her mouth. “My mom’s making room for you. Say one more word and I can’t promise what I’ll do.”

I stared her down, daring her to test me. She cowered, her bravado gone.

Debbie cowered in the corner, too scared to speak.

She hugged her knees, her eyes wide with fear. I felt a surge of satisfaction.

My dad’s eyes were red as he stared at my mom. “Debbie had a scan—it’s a boy. My mom’s always wanted a grandson. After the baby, we’ll go back to how things were.”

He sounded desperate, clinging to the past. My mom just shook her head, her eyes clear.

My mom wiped her eyes and handed over the divorce papers again. “Let’s divorce.”

She slid them across the table, her hands steady. My dad stared at them, his face pale.

“We can never go back. After all you’ve done, I just feel disgusted.”

Her words were final, her voice steady. I smiled, proud of her strength.

My dad went berserk, ripping up the divorce papers. “Never! I’ll never divorce you! Even if I die, I’ll haunt you!”

He tore the papers to shreds, his face twisted with rage. I watched, unbothered.

I sneered. The best part was coming.

I grinned, pulling out my phone. "You might want to sit down for this, Dad."

I connected my phone to the TV and played photos of my dad sneaking into Debbie’s room—caught in every corner of the house. He was livid, shaking with rage.

The images flashed across the screen, undeniable. My dad's hands shook, his face turning white.

But I had the evidence. All he could do was smash the TV in frustration.

He hurled the remote, shattering the screen. Debbie wailed, my mom just watched, calm and steady.

Arms crossed, I stared him down. “I have plenty of backups. If you don’t divorce, I’ll post these videos in the family group chat, send them to your company, and go public in Debbie’s hometown.”

I listed every possible humiliation, letting him know I meant business. He slumped in his chair, defeated.

My dad went on a rampage, smashing everything in the house.

He swept dishes off the table, kicked over chairs, but I just watched, unimpressed.

Debbie cowered on the floor, bawling.

She sobbed, her makeup running down her face. My mom just sipped her tea, serene.

I poured my mom some tea. By the time she finished, my dad had calmed down. I handed him another set of divorce papers. He signed, hands trembling.

He scrawled his name, his hands shaking. I took the papers, tucking them into my bag.

Debbie’s face lit up. She grabbed my dad’s hand, stroking her belly. “Eddie, the doctor says the baby’s healthy. You’ll have a son soon.”

She smiled, her eyes shining with triumph. My dad reached for her hand, his face softening.

“Marry me. I’ll take good care of you.”

She leaned in, her voice sweet. My dad nodded, lost in her eyes.

My dad, eyes red, stared at her belly, gently reaching out to touch it.

He looked like he was about to cry. I almost felt sorry for him—almost.

“Yeah, I’ll have a son soon.”

He smiled, his voice full of hope. Debbie beamed, thinking she'd won.

Debbie shot me a triumphant look. “Haley, you’re an adult now. Don’t ask Eddie for child support. After the divorce, you and your mom get nothing but this house!”

She smirked, her eyes gleaming with malice. I just smiled, knowing what was coming next.

Look at her smug face. Disgusting.

I rolled my eyes, pulling out the DNA report. "You might want to take a look at this, Dad."

I slid it across the table, watching his face as he read it.

I sneered, handing it to my dad. “Don’t say I’m ungrateful. Here’s the DNA report for Debbie’s baby—I used your hair for the test.”

He stared at the paper, his hands shaking. Debbie lunged for it, but I blocked her.

Debbie panicked, trying to snatch it away, but I shoved it into my dad’s hands.

He read it, his face twisting with rage. Debbie shrank back, her eyes wide with fear.

He looked up, his eyes blazing. "You lied to me, Debbie."

Debbie stammered, “Eddie, this must be a fake report. Haley’s behind it.”

She reached for his arm, but he pulled away, his face hard.

I pulled out my phone and showed him photos of her and the blond guy at the hospital. “You can fake a report, but can you fake people?”

The photos flashed on the screen, undeniable proof. My dad's hands shook, his face pale.

My dad, furious, slapped Debbie to the floor.

She screamed, clutching her cheek. My dad towered over her, his face twisted with rage.

“Eddie, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me!”

She crawled toward him, begging. He turned away, disgusted.

She knelt, banging her head on the floor.

She sobbed, her forehead hitting the hardwood. I watched, unmoved.

My dad clenched his fists, teeth gritted. “Who is that man?”

He glared at her, his voice cold. Debbie just sobbed, refusing to answer.

Debbie was too scared to answer, just kept begging for forgiveness.

She wailed, her voice echoing through the house. My dad just shook his head, defeated.

I laughed coldly.

I crossed my arms, watching them fall apart. "Told you so."

“She used your money to support her boy toy. She even did the amniocentesis for his peace of mind. I found out she was cheating back home too, and her ex-husband was violent.”

I listed her crimes, one by one. My dad's face twisted with anger, but he said nothing.

“She just acts pitiful—you’re the only one who fell for it.”

I shook my head, pitying him for his blindness. Debbie sobbed, her world crumbling.

After that, I kicked them both out.

I dragged their suitcases to the door, tossing them onto the porch. The neighbors watched, whispering behind their curtains.

I called building staff to haul out the broken furniture, hired a renovation company to redo the house, then took a leave of absence from my advisor and booked tickets for me and my mom to fly to Asheville that night.

I packed our bags, booking a last-minute flight. My mom looked dazed, but I could see the hope in her eyes.

My mom was still dazed when we landed, clinging to my hand, eyes shining.

She looked around, taking in the mountains and fresh air. I squeezed her hand, smiling.

“Haley, people always said Asheville was beautiful. Now I see it’s true.”

She gazed out the window, her eyes wide with wonder. I grinned, happy to see her smile.

It was the weekend, and we couldn’t get a hotel, so we stayed at a small B&B.

The room was small, but cozy. My mom curled up on the bed, her face relaxed for the first time in ages.

But my mom’s eyes sparkled—she was curious about everything.

She wandered around the neighborhood, snapping photos and chatting with locals. I watched her, proud of her courage.

“Mom, have you ever been to a bar? Let’s go have fun!”

I grinned, dragging her down the street. She laughed, letting herself be swept along.

She changed into a pretty sundress and twirled in front of the mirror, delighted. I took some photos for her to post on Facebook.

She giggled, uploading them with funny captions. Her friends flooded her inbox with messages, cheering her on.

Within five minutes, her old friends were all liking and commenting, even inviting her out.

Her phone buzzed nonstop, her face lighting up with every new message.

At the bar, my mom and I sat at the counter. A handsome blond man tried to order a drink, but the bartender didn’t understand. My mom hesitated, then stepped up to translate.

She cleared her throat, switching to perfect English. The man grinned, thanking her. I beamed, proud of her confidence.

She was rusty at first, but soon became fluent. The man bought her a drink, and they chatted happily.

They laughed, swapping stories about travel and language. I sipped my soda, watching her come alive.

I watched like a proud little fan as my mom shone.

She glowed under the bar lights, her laughter bright and infectious. I snapped a few photos, sending them to her friends.

On the way back, she excitedly told me the man was funny and had invited her to breakfast.

She blushed, covering her mouth. I grinned, nudging her playfully.

I teased, “Mom, you’re divorced now—you could consider it.”

She laughed, shaking her head. "Maybe just as friends."

She blushed, then smiled.

Her cheeks were rosy, her eyes bright. I hugged her, happy to see her so free.

“I won’t remarry. I never want to be ‘someone’s wife’ again and lose my own name.”

She spoke with conviction, her voice strong. I nodded, respecting her choice.

“I want to find a translation job and start over.”

She smiled, determination in her eyes. I squeezed her hand, promising to help however I could.

I hugged her. “Great! I’m about to start my internship. Let’s see who finds a job first.”

We shook on it, laughing like kids. The future felt wide open.

She giggled like a child. “I’m really good, you know—great cook, tidy, I’ll keep you happy and healthy.”

I laughed, promising to clean up after myself for once. She grinned, her spirits high.

Her biggest regret was not raising me herself.

She told me stories of my childhood, wishing she'd been there for more of it. I promised to make new memories together.

But that’s okay. From now on, I’ll be there for her, helping her find herself again.

I squeezed her hand, vowing to always be her biggest cheerleader.