Chapter 2 Two

• CRYSTAL
• I glance at Kai, trying to make sense of the madness unraveling before me. The maids and security are frozen on our side of the room, too afraid to move. Across the living room, the woman who caused this chaos is still holding my brother Alex hostage, a knife pressed to his neck like it’s her last stand.
• She’s smart. She’s standing close to the wall, cornered just enough that no one can sneak up behind her. Her arm is wrapped tightly around Alex’s throat, her eyes wild and determined. Beside her stands the girl, Alora. The one she claims is my parents’ real daughter.
• This has to be a nightmare.
• “Kai,” I whisper urgently, “you have to do something. She’s insane. She’s going to hurt Alex.”
• “I know,” he says calmly, his eyes locked on the woman. “But if I make a move now, she could panic. It's too risky.”
• He leans closer. “Do you see those two people at the far end of the hall?”
• I turn, squinting. Two figures stand near the staircase, dressed like staff. But now that I’m paying attention, their movements are off. Kai’s voice drops.
• “They’re reporters. I saw the cameras hidden under their aprons.”
• A sick feeling twists in my stomach. “You think… this whole thing was staged?”
• Kai nods. “To humiliate your family. To make sure it goes public before your parents can bury it.”
• I open my mouth to say something, but he quickly squeezes my hand.
• “No. Let your dad handle it. He’s already called the police. If we act too soon, she might hurt Alex. Let’s wait and see what she wants.”
• My father steps toward me and says, firmly, “Don’t worry, Crystal. I’ve called the family doctor. He’ll be here any moment. We’ll settle this once and for all.”
• I nod, but I don’t feel settled. I’m still staring at the woman. At Alora. At the knife. My heart won’t stop pounding.
• Fifteen minutes pass. The room is so silent I can hear the ticking of the antique wall clock.
• Then the doctor arrives.
• He looks confused but calm, holding his equipment bag. “We’ll need samples from the father and mother,” he says, “to run a valid DNA comparison.”
• My father scoffs. “I don’t need a test. Crystal is my only daughter.”
• The woman sneers. “That’s fine. Then test her against my niece. Let your wife’s blood speak for itself.”
• “I am not her mother!” my mom snaps, trembling with rage.
• “Then prove it,” the woman hisses. “Let’s do the test.”
• The doctor glances at my father, who nods reluctantly. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
• He draws blood from my mother and from the girl called Alora.
• “If you cheat, you’ll only be hurting your real daughter,” the woman mutters darkly.
• “We’re not like you,” my father replies coldly. “Doctor, run the test and bring me the results. Quickly.”
• As the doctor disappears, Kai and I begin pacing. My pulse hasn’t slowed since the moment this madness began.
• None of it makes sense.
• “Why do you look so uneasy?” Kai asks gently.
• “Because...” I pause. “No sane person pulls a stunt like this in someone else’s house with a knife unless they know they’re telling the truth.”
• He says nothing. But the look in his eyes tells me he’s thinking the same thing.
• My father’s voice breaks the silence. “The police are outside. The moment that test proves this woman’s lying, she’ll be arrested.”
• I let out a shaky breath.
• My mother makes me sit, grabbing my hand.
• “Don’t worry, Crystal,” she whispers. “You are my one and only daughter. That will never change.”
• I force a smile. “Thanks, Mom. She probably wants money. That’s all this is.”
• But inside, I’m unraveling.
• Then the doctor returns.
• He walks straight to my father and hands him a white envelope.
• “The results,” he says.
• My father rips it open, his eyes scanning the document.
• Then… he freezes.
• “What is it?” my mother asks.
• He doesn’t answer.
• She snatches the paper from his hand and reads it, her fingers trembling.
• “No…” she whispers. “This can’t be right.”
• The woman says. “I told you. Anya, my sister, worked here. You remember her. She swapped the babies. I didn’t want to believe it either, but I found her journal. And I couldn’t keep the truth any longer.”
• My mother shakes her head in disbelief. “No. Crystal is my daughter. I raised her. She’s mine.”
• Suddenly, my grandmother emerges, probably drawn by the noise. She looks from the crowd to the girl....Alora.
• She gasps.
• “This young lady looks exactly like you did when you were a child,” she says to my mother. “What’s your name, dear?”
• “Alora,” the girl says softly.
• My mother stiffens. “Stop it, Mom. Crystal is my daughter.”
• My grandmother frowns. “Then what’s going on? Why is everyone so tense? You, why do you have a knife to my grandson's neck.”
• My mother passes her the DNA results without a word. My grandmother’s eyes widen.
• “No wonder,” she whispers. “She looks just like you did when you were younger. The same eyes. The same chin.”
• Tears begin to fall from my mother’s eyes. “No. No. This can’t be.”
• “She’s lying,” she says again, almost to herself. “This has to be a mistake.”
• The woman steps forward. “Then test Crystal. Prove it.”
• My mother stiffens… then nods.
• “Fine. Doctor, test Crystal.”
• He approaches me. I sit still as the needle pierces my arm. My fingers are numb. My mouth is dry.
• Kai stands behind me, rubbing my shoulders.
• Something inside me is screaming.
• This isn’t going to end well.
• Thirty minutes later, the doctor returns. This time, he hands the envelope to my mother.
• She opens it, and lets out a sob.
• My father grabs it from her hand, reads it, and freezes.
• I snatch it from him.
• And the world stops.
• No biological relationship.
• Mother: Negative.
• My lips move, but no sound comes out. “How… how can this be?”
• The woman drops the knife completely. Alex collapses into a security guard’s arms, gasping for breath.
• The woman speaks again, calmer now. “I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Denzel for what I did. I had no choice. If I had told you gently, you’d never have listened. Crystal is my niece. I raised Alora when my sister abandoned her. My sister came back only when she was dying. She left behind that journal.”
• She turns to Alora. “This girl has suffered more than any child should. She was mocked. Shamed. Blamed for everything she didn’t have.”
• Then she walks over and hugs Alora.
• My mother stares for a moment… then moves toward them. She cups Alora’s face. “Alora… my child.”
• She pulls her in and begins to weep.
• I stand there… hollow.
• Auntie....that’s what she is now, walks toward me.
• She reaches for my hand. “Come on, Crystal. Let’s go. You’ve had a good life. It’s time to come back to your real family.”
• I yank my hand back. “Don’t touch me. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
• She scoffs. “You’ve lived in comfort all your life. Now you don’t want to return to your poor roots? Alora never complained.”
• “That’s enough,” my father cuts in. “Crystal is not going anywhere. Thank you for your information. Now leave.”
• The woman turns, hugs Alora again, and leaves.
• My mother is still crying when I walk over and gently reach for her hand.
• “Mom...”
• She turns, grabs my shoulders, and begins to shake me violently.
• “Why? Why did you do this to me? Why must your mother be so crue? Why...why you!”
• I try to speak, but the words die in my throat.
• Tears stream down my face.
• My dad rushes over to pull her away from me.
• And just as she lets go… she collapses.