Chapter 212

Third person pov
Christmas morning had been filled with joy, the sparkle of the tree reflecting in everyone’s eyes as the family exchanged gifts. But the moment Charles Shaw handed out the brown envelopes, the warmth in the room shifted into something jagged, raw, and unsteady. Silence had fallen when Claire unfolded the papers, her hands trembling as her eyes scanned the DNA results over and over, her lips parting as if to deny what she was reading.
Mr. and Mrs. Carrington had already burst into tears, clutching the documents against their chests as though they were holding fragments of a lost miracle. Olivia’s wide eyes darted between her parents, her brother, and Claire, while Nathan’s jaw clenched as he stared at Charles, fury and disbelief wrestling on his face.