Paternity Test Report

Richard gestured to the young man standing next to him. ‘Clement.’ The young man retrieved a document from his briefcase, presented it to me with both hands. It was a paternity test report. ‘This document here proves that Amiyah is the biological daughter of my brother.’ My head snapped up. I stared at Richard. So did everyone else in the ballroom. He continued, ‘She is my niece. And, as the only offspring of my brother, the inheritor of his dukedom.’ He turned to Beata. ‘This is why I say, Amiyah is not of the same class as your grandson. She is, in fact, far superior.’ The ballroom fell into pin-drop silence, but only for a second before voices erupted. I heard questions shouted at Richard, at me, at Kieran, at Beata. It felt surreal, like a lucid dream. But I read and re-read the paternity test report. It was real, signed and notarised. ‘Hello, Amiyah.’ I looked up in a daze. Richard was beaming at me, looking like a benevolent uncle. ‘I am so happy to finally meet you. Sorry about