Chapter 10 - Serena’s Signature
Serena did not deny it once shown forensic evidence.
She sat in conference room with counsel and said:
“I signed it.”
Elena stared at her.
“Why?”
“I was twenty-seven.”
Elena’s expression hardened.
“So was I.”
Serena closed eyes.
“You’re right.”
No excuse.
Then she explained.
Malcolm told her hospital needed authorization to release residual blood spots for independent paternity verification.
Victoria said Elena had verbally agreed but could not be reached to return form before samples expired.
Was that plausible?
Enough for someone wanting believe.
Serena asked:
Can I sign as witness?
Malcolm said:
Sign where Elena would sign and mark proxy.
She signed Elena’s name.
No proxy mark.
“Did you know that was false?”
“Yes.”
There.
“Did you know test sample represented as Nathan’s was actually William’s?”
“No.”
Evidence may support.
She thought Nathan’s hair had been supplied.
Then paternity came back excluded.
She believed result.
Partly.
“Did you ever question why all four children were excluded using same sample?”
“No.”
They were quadruplets; same father likely but not certainty. Fine.
Then why conceal live births from me afterward?
“Because Victoria said test proved you weren’t father.”
“But you knew Elena tried to reach me.”
“Yes.”
“So you let me believe she ended pregnancy.”
“Yes.”
That was independent wrongdoing.
Then Serena said:
“I thought telling you four children existed after negative test would only make you chase something that wasn’t yours.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You chose for me.”
“Yes.”
Everybody.
Then Elena asked:
“Did you ever see them?”
Serena looked down.
“Once.”
Room froze.
“When?”
“Hospital.”
Elena stood.
“You came to NICU?”
“I was there with hospital administrator.”
“You saw my sons?”
“Yes.”
“And then went home and told Nathan nothing?”
Tears formed.
“Yes.”
That was worse than paperwork.
She had seen four premature infants.
Known I was in London burying father? At that time father maybe dead. Yes.
And chosen silence.
Then Serena produced email.
From her father Malcolm.
After NICU visit:
Do not get sentimental. Negative paternity closes issue. Victoria understands.
Serena replied:
Elena has no one.
Malcolm:
That is not our responsibility.
Serena:
Nathan would disagree.
Malcolm:
Then Nathan cannot know.
There.
Serena had understood.
Still complied.
Then:
“Why keep this?”
“Because I hated myself.”
“Not enough to tell me.”
“No.”
We were not getting engaged.
Ever.
But Serena did one useful thing.
She agreed to cooperate fully in civil and any applicable investigations, turned over files, and resigned from Vance-Mercer restructuring matters due conflict.
Her father was furious.
He threatened inheritance.
She chose anyway.
Late accountability.
Still accountability.
Then hospital administrator Greer admitted receiving consulting payments and facilitating release based on defective paperwork.
He claimed no knowledge samples would be misused.
Evidence would determine.
Then original Halcyon laboratory archive.
Closed company records retained by bankruptcy trustee.
Our attorneys obtained records.
Sample represented as Nathan Mercer:
William Mercer.
Confirmed through old reference? How verify? Label was WM-17 and internal note “substitute paternal family specimen.” My mother’s instruction.
This was not normal paternity method.
Lab director objected in email:
Grandparent sample cannot be represented as alleged father. Result invalid for stated purpose.
Response from account manager:
Client accepts limitation. Issue standard exclusion only.
That was explosive.
Halcyon knowingly issued misleading report despite technical objection.
Why?
Payment.
Vance Capital.
Then alleged children samples.
Hospital blood spots genuine.
So boys’ DNA had always been there.
If lab had compared correctly as grandparentage, result might have suggested relationship to William.
But instead they compared William as alleged father, naturally excluding.
The false negative was engineered through sample identity.
Mother supplied wrong “father.”
Serena forged release.
Malcolm funded.
Lab management complied.
Different roles.
Then Mother’s proxy transfer challenge.
Independent court proceeding froze disputed Vance-Mercer proxy transfer pending review.
No instant reversal.
But Mother lost ability to exercise those votes temporarily.
Mercer board became divided.
Business press noticed.
We issued minimal statement:
governance dispute under review; no comment on minors.
No boys’ names.
No faces.
Good.
Then my relationship with Elena.
We fought.
Naturally.
I wanted more time with boys.
She thought I was moving too fast.
She was right.
I scheduled tutors without asking.
Mistake.
Bought four new beds.
Fine? But not asked.
She canceled delivery.
I was offended.
Then remembered Dad:
do not overwhelm them.
I apologized.
Next week, I attended parent-teacher conference and said nothing until teacher finished.
Progress.
Then one night Elena said:
“You’re doing better.”
“High praise.”
“Don’t ruin it.”
I smiled.
Then she asked:
“Why were you marrying Serena?”
“Family alignment.”
“That’s not answer.”
I thought.
“Because it was easier than wanting someone.”
She looked at me.
“Still dramatic.”
“True.”
Then our almost-kiss? Avoid rush. We did not.
Good.
Instead phone rang.
Rebecca.
“Nathan, someone tried to access boys’ trust accounts.”
“Who?”
“Not Victoria.”
“Malcolm?”
“No.”
“Serena?”
“No.”
She sounded confused.
“Authorization came from Elena.”
Elena stared at me.
“I didn’t.”
Another forged signature.
May you like
But this time request was made yesterday.
Someone was still operating.
