Chapter 212 Not His Biological Daughter
Soon, a paternity test report bearing the official seal of an accredited laboratory appeared on the large screen. The words "Simon Johnson and Clara Johnson—Paternal Relationship Excluded" struck Simon's heart like a sledgehammer.
"What? Clara isn't Simon's child?"
"Celeste actually did something this despicable!"
Reporters' voices rose in a cacophony of shock, camera shutters clicking rapidly once again. This time, the focus wasn't just on Celeste, but also on Clara, who was hiding in the back.
When Clara saw the report, her mind went completely blank. She rushed forward, pointing at the screen, sobbing uncontrollably, "Impossible! This is fake! You forged the evidence! How could I not be Daddy's daughter!"
Emily watched her breakdown with no trace of sympathy, only a hint of regret in her eyes, "This report was commissioned from an accredited laboratory, with samples from Simon, you, and Celeste. The entire process was witnessed by notaries—it cannot be falsified. Celeste, do you dare deny what I'm saying?"
Celeste's psychological defenses completely crumbled. She collapsed to the floor, tears and snot mixing as she sobbed hoarsely, "Yes! It's true! Clara isn't Simon's child! But that was a mistake I made when I was young! I was forced into it!"
"Forced? I protected you for so many years, treated you and Clara like my closest family. Even after all the terrible things you did, I still wanted to give you another chance. But what did you do? You not only betrayed me, but Clara isn't even my child! What do all these years of devotion mean?"
Clara saw Simon's cold eyes, and the last shred of hope in her heart died. She threw herself at Simon's feet, clutching his pant leg tightly, crying and begging, "Daddy! I know I was wrong! It's all Mom's fault! Don't abandon me! I'm still your daughter!"
But Simon pushed her away forcefully. "I don't have a daughter like you. You're just like your mother—a liar."
Watching Clara fall to the ground, he felt no emotion whatsoever. He had even hurt Emily for Clara's sake, but now the truth was that Clara wasn't his child at all!
His years of affection meant nothing in the face of this revelation.
Lauren trembled with rage. She rushed forward and slapped Celeste hard across the face, cursing, "You shameless woman! You not only killed Erica, but betrayed my son, and Clara isn't even part of the Johnson family! What did you think our family was to you? You've destroyed the reputation of the Johnson family!"
The angrier she got, the more she wanted to attack, but nearby reporters held her back.
Celeste's lip was bleeding from the slap, but she didn't even have the strength to fight back. Looking at everything unfolding before her, her heart filled with regret—regret that she hadn't killed Emily sooner!
Emily watched the chaos with complete composure.
Charles walked to her side, gently taking her hand. "Emily, it's all over."
Emily nodded, leaning into his embrace. She had finally personally sent Celeste to prison! What awaited her now was the full punishment of the law.
Unable to reach Celeste anymore, Lauren could only continue her verbal assault. The more viciously she cursed, the more her chest heaved, until suddenly everything went black and she collapsed straight backward.
"Mom!" Simon caught her falling body with quick reflexes. "Quick! Call an ambulance! My mother fainted!"
Seeing this, the reporters all stepped back several paces, clearing a path. Simon carried Lauren, stumbling toward the exit. As he passed Emily, he paused, looking at her with complex emotions.
There was guilt, embarrassment, and a trace of something that might have been gratitude.
Emily watched his panicked figure retreat, and the last vestiges of resentment from the past finally dissipated completely. She instructed her assistant, "Have Windsor Group's head cardiologist get to the hospital immediately."
After all, Windsor Group had the best doctors.
Her assistant looked surprised for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, Ms. Johnson."
Charles squeezed her hand, asking softly, "You've really forgiven him?"
"Yes." Emily nodded. "He was just deceived by Celeste. These years haven't been easy for him either. There's no point in dwelling on the past. When Mom chose him, it meant he wasn't bad. I don't need to keep looking at him with prejudice. Besides, Mom died of illness, and whether her condition..."
Emily wasn't sure if her mother's illness was related to Simon, but at least, after Simon came to his senses and defended her repeatedly, she had felt fatherly love again. Now she was willing to trust Simon.
Meanwhile, Clara was still sitting on the ground, staring blankly at the chaos around her. Before she could recover from the shock of learning she wasn't Simon's biological daughter, two men in black suits lifted her.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!"
One of the men said expressionlessly, "Mr. Windsor asked us to take you."
Clara felt a jolt in her heart; what was there left for her to not understand? The debt of the mother must be repaid by the daughter, and Charles wouldn't let her off the hook."I won't go! I want my daddy! I want Simon!" she screamed, but the men held her firmly, forcing her into a black sedan.
The car drove away from the city center, finally stopping outside a remote abandoned factory.
Clara was dragged into the factory, which reeked of rust and dust. She was tied to a cold metal chair, looking at several men with vicious expressions, trembling all over, "Stay away from me! I'm part of the Johnson family! I used to be Charles's woman! Don't mess with me!"
One man sneered. "Pathetic."
In Emerald City, the person who most wanted Clara dead was probably Charles.
"Your mother turned the Johnson family upside down, and you still think you're some socialite? Let me tell you, Mr. Windsor said that since you're not Simon's daughter, he doesn't need to show his wife any face. Whatever you did to Ms. Emily Johnson before, now you're going to pay it all back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, one man picked up an iron rod and lightly tapped Clara's kneecap.
"Ah! I was wrong! I'll never do it again! Please let me go!" Clara's tears fell instantly from the pain.
But her begging was useless.
The men took turns stepping forward—some splashing cold water on her, others whipping her arms with leather straps, and still others shining bright flashlights in her eyes, giving her no chance to sleep.
The factory echoed continuously with her screams, but no one would come to save her.
Clara curled up on the ground, covered in injuries.
Was this dark, sunless place really where she would spend her future?