Chapter 6 - The Unbroken ThreadBy noon the following day, Dr. Mercer returned to the Vance estate carrying a sealed black portfolio.
Eleanor sat in the morning room, her hands folded tightly over a cup of chamomile tea she hadn't touched. Beside her sat Julian, his composure restored to a rigid, corporate sheen, though the faint dark circles under his eyes betrayed a restless night.
"The lab expedited the analysis at my request," Dr. Mercer said, pulling a official report from the folder. He placed it on the glass table between them. "The genetic markers are undeniable. The child is, without a shadow of a doubt, Leo Vance. A ninety-nine point nine percent match."
Eleanor let out a sharp, choked sob, burying her face in her hands. "I knew it... I knew my boy was alive."
Julian stared at the bold printed numbers on the page. His heart hammered against his ribs, but he forced his face into an expression of profound relief, wrapping a arm around Eleanor's trembling shoulders. "It's a miracle, sweetheart. A total miracle."
"There is one concerning detail," Dr. Mercer added, his voice dropping into a professional hush. "The physical examination revealed old, healed micro-fractures in his left wrist and evidence of prolonged exposure to industrial toxins. But more concerning are his psychological markers. He displays severe trauma responses to specific triggers—specifically the sound of heavy footsteps and men wearing silver wristwatches."
May you like
Julian’s arm froze around Eleanor’s shoulder for a fraction of a second. He subtly pulled his left hand back, sliding his own platinum watch under his suit cuff.
"He needs rest, time, and absolute quiet," Dr. Mercer concluded. "His memories are suppressed, but under the right conditions, they will return."
Related Stories
