At the Fredrick residence, Thelma gathered her family for an urgent meeting. Her eyes glittered with determination.
"I have a plan," she announced. "This time, it will work. It has to."
Her mother Cindy raised a brow. "What now?"
"Mum, do you remember Arabella? The girl from the orphanage your charity supports?"
"The one with violet eyes?" Cindy asked, trying to recall.
"Yes. That's the one." Thelma leaned forward.
"What about her?" Lillian cut in curiously.
Thelma smiled coldly. "I'm going to adopt her and make her Chris's child."
The room went still.
"That's insane," Leonard, their father, snapped. "How can you pass off a child as his when you've never..."
"I did once," Thelma interrupted sharply. "Seven years ago. She's the perfect age. She'll fit."
Leonard's face darkened. "Do you have any idea what you're saying? Fooling Chris is risky enough. To bring a child into it? His family will dig until they destroy us all."
But Thelma shook her head. "I've planned it all. No one will find out. Mum just needs to help me with Cassandra. That's the key."
"What if they demand a DNA test?" Lillian asked.
"I know which hospital they'll use," Thelma replied smoothly. "I've already spoken to people there. Trust me, it's handled."
Cindy and Thelma exchanged a look. The trap was set.
The next day, six-year-old Arabella arrived at the Fredrick mansion, suitcase in hand. Her wide violet eyes sparkled as she hugged Thelma.
"You're home now," Thelma told her, voice dripping with false warmth. "You can call me Mum. That's Grandma, that's Grandpa, and this is your Aunty Lillian."
Arabella's innocent smile melted their hesitation. "Mum," she whispered shyly, earning herself a hug.
Later that afternoon, Cindy tracked Cassandra to a VVIP spa in town. Cassandra sat with her legs in a pedicure bowl, calm and elegant.
"I didn't know you came here too," Cindy greeted, sliding into the chair beside her.
Surprisingly, the two women hit it off. They spoke lightly until Cassandra lowered her voice. "Tell me about Thelma. How is her... situation with Chris?"
"She'll explain better," Cindy said with a sly smile.
Moments later, Thelma swept in, Arabella trailing behind. The child immediately ran into Cindy's arms.
"Grandma!" Arabella squealed, hugging her tightly.
Cassandra froze. Grandma? Her gaze snapped to the child's striking violet eyes the same rare shade as her own children. The resemblance hit her like a blow.
Her suspicion deepened when she noticed Cindy and Thelma watching her reaction with faint smirks.
"Why are you staring at her like that?" Cindy asked innocently.
"Her eyes..." Cassandra whispered. "They're exactly like mine. Like Chris."
Thelma took her cue. Her voice trembled with feigned guilt. "I can't keep lying, Cassandra. Chris and I... we had one night, seven years ago. Arabella is the result."
Cassandra's mouth fell open. "Does Chris know?"
"No," Thelma said, shaking her head. "He doesn't even remember me, let alone that night. But Arabella deserves her father. I can't keep them apart anymore."
"How do you expect me to believe this?" Cassandra demanded.
"There's always DNA," Thelma said with quiet confidence.
Cindy's heart skipped. She's really going to risk it.
Cassandra wasted no time. She left with Arabella almost immediately, calling Chris and Fredrick on the way to the family hospital.
By the time Chris arrived, completely clueless, his mother had already ordered the tests. Nurses were drawing blood from Arabella, then from him. He saw Thelma sitting nearby with an older woman Cindy but ignored them.
"Mum, what's going on?" he asked, irritation growing.
"You'll find out soon enough," Cassandra said coolly.
Chris clenched his jaw. He hated the secrecy, the manipulation. He checked his watch 7:30 p.m. He was supposed to be at church with Bella.
When Bella's call came in, he answered quickly. "Babe, I was just about to call you."
"Where are you? Are you still coming?"
"I can't. Family emergency. I'm at the hospital."
Bella's breath caught. "Hospital? Chris, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine. I don't even know what's going on yet, but I'll explain everything later."
"Alright. Don't worry. We have plenty of time together," Bella said gently, trying to calm herself.
"I'm sorry I couldn't pick you up."
"It's fine. Take care of yourself, darling."
"You too," he whispered before hanging up.
Thelma, watching from across the room, balled her fists. Enjoy it while you can, Bella. Soon, everything you have will be mine.
Moments later, the doctor walked out of the lab, test results in hand.
The waiting area was filled with uneasy silence. Fred looked restless, Cassandra clutched her purse too tightly, and Cindy tried to keep a mask of calm. Only Chris seemed confused, his face unreadable as he leaned back in his chair.
The doctor stepped out holding an envelope. He handed it to Cassandra, who ripped it open with trembling hands. The moment her eyes scanned the page, her knees buckled.
Chris caught her instinctively. Frowning, he pulled the paper from her hands. His eyes dropped to the bold title.
"Paternity Test," he muttered under his breath.
Fred stepped closer, trying to read over his son's shoulder. Chris's voice was low at first, then rose with every word:
"In all analysed PCR systems, Christian Hampson does show the genetic markers which have to be present for the biological father of the child, Arabella Test.
The biostatistical analysis shows the probability of Mr. Christian Hampson being the biological father of Arabella Test is >99.9999%.
Conclusion: It is practically proven that Mr. Christian Hampson is the biological father of the child Arabella Fredrick."
His hands shook. His jaw tightened. His eyes turned cold.
He turned on Cassandra, voice sharp. "What is this?"
She pointed at Thelma.
Chris's glare shifted, so fierce that Thelma flinched. "What the hell is this?" His voice thundered across the waiting area, drawing everyone's attention.
"I... I..." Thelma stammered, trembling.
"Talk to me!" Chris roared, shoving the paper in her face. "What is this crap?!"
Arabella whimpered and hid behind Cassandra, her small body trembling, tears pooling in her violet eyes.
"Mr. Hampson, calm down! You're scaring the child," Cindy snapped, holding Arabella protectively.
Chris looked at the little girl, inhaled sharply, then forced his voice down. But his glare didn't soften. He grabbed Thelma's wrist and yanked her toward the elevator.
"Chris!" Cassandra called after him, but he ignored her.
Phones were already out. Patients and visitors whispered as they snapped photos.
"Isn't that Christian Hampson?"
"And Thelma, the model?"
"Look at the child... her eyes are the same as his!"
"Did you see how furious he looked? He must have found out she's his daughter!"
Within minutes, pictures flooded social media, hashtags already trending.
Chris dragged Thelma onto the hospital rooftop, releasing her with a shove.
"Explain. Now," he snapped. His voice was low, dangerous.
Thelma's eyes brimmed with tears perfectly timed, perfectly placed. She pressed her palms to her face, sobbing.
"I didn't tell you because you don't even remember me," she began, her voice breaking. "We met at Kamreel Club seven years ago. We spent the night at River Valley Hotel, suite 1109. You were drunk. I left before you woke up."
Chris's stomach dropped. That was his old haunt, back in the days he wanted to forget. He clenched his jaw.
"I found out three months later that I was pregnant. You had just taken over Hampson International. I couldn't... I couldn't distract you. So I kept her. I raised her alone. I wanted to tell you so many times, but I was scared."
Chris paced the rooftop, fists tight, mind racing. Her story fit too perfectly.
"So why now?" His voice cracked like thunder.
Thelma wiped her tears delicately. "I didn't want to. But your mum saw us today. She looked at Arabella and knew. She demanded the test. I couldn't stop it."
Chris threw his head back and exhaled, eyes closed. The weight of it pressed on him.
"And what now? What do you want me to do?"
Thelma shrugged lightly. "Nothing, really. Just... she deserves to know her father."
Chris's jaw clenched. "You know I have a girlfriend."
"Yes," Thelma said quickly, with a soft, fake smile. "I know you love her. I don't want to come between you."
Chris studied her face for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. Let's go back."
By the time they returned to the hospital lobby, it was almost 4 a.m. Cassandra was seated, Arabella asleep in her arms, looking peaceful and innocent. Fred stood by quietly, worry etched into his features.
Chris paused, staring at the child at her small hand curled into a fist, at the soft rise and fall of her chest. She looked so much like him it made his chest tighten.
Fred walked up and placed a hand on his son's shoulder. "Let's talk at home."
Chris nodded stiffly, eyes still on the sleeping child, as the world outside exploded with headlines about Christian Hampson's "secret daughter."