Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 146

Clara's POV:

The persistent beeping of Finley's alarm clock yanked me from sleep at seven in the morning.

I groaned and buried my face deeper into the pillow, but Finley was already up.

"Sorry to wake you," he whispered, buttoning his shirt with quick, efficient movements.

"I need to go with Ethan to the DNA testing center. "

I sat up, rubbing sleep from my eyes.

"The DNA center? Today?"

"Ethan's anxious to get the results as soon as possible."

Finley ran a comb through his hair, checking his reflection in the mirror. "He barely slept last night."

"Give me five minutes," I said, throwing back the covers. "I'm coming with you."

Finley turned to face me.

"You should continue sleeping, Clara. I'll tell you the results as soon as we get them."

"No way," I said firmly, already heading to the bathroom.

"This involves Audrey too, and I want to be there. I'm coming with you."

Twenty minutes later, after the quickest shower and makeup application of my life, I was dressed and ready.

As we drove through the morning traffic, Finley glanced over at me, noticing how I kept fidgeting with my ring.

"Try to relax, Clara," he said, reaching over to squeeze my hand.

"Whatever the results show, it won't change anything between us and Audrey."

"How can you be so calm about this?" I asked, studying his composed profile.

"Aren't you nervous at all?"

Finley's lips curved into a small smile.

"I've known Audrey for years now. If it turns out she's my sister, that would be wonderful. If not..."

He shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. In my heart, she's already like family to me. "

His words eased some of my tension, though I couldn't help wondering if Audrey would feel the same way if she knew what we were doing.

We arrived at the DNA testing center.

A receptionist with an impeccable bob haircut greeted us with practiced professionalism.

Ethan was already there, pacing near the window.

He looked like he hadn't slept at all, dark circles under his eyes contrasting with the excited energy radiating from him.

"You're late," he said, checking his watch. "I've been here for twenty minutes."

"The appointment is for eight-thirty," Finley pointed out. "It's eight twenty-five."

Ethan ran a hand through his hair. "I know, I know. I'm just... nervous."

I exchanged a quick glance with Finley but said nothing.

We checked in at the reception desk, and a technician in a crisp lab coat approached us.

"Mr. Cole?" she asked, addressing Ethan.

"Yes," Ethan replied eagerly. "How long will the results take?"

"With our premium service, approximately three hours," she explained. "We prioritize accuracy as well as speed."

"Three hours?" I echoed, surprised. "That's incredibly fast."

The technician smiled.

"We use the latest sequencing technology. If you'd like to wait, we have a comfortable lounge, or you can return later."

We nodded.

"Ethan," Then I said quietly, "have you considered what happens if the test confirms Audrey is your sister?"

He turned to me, brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, how will this affect her relationship with the Cole family? With Daisy?" I hesitated.

"Daisy might not be... welcoming."

Ethan's expression hardened.

"Daisy will accept whatever happens. She knows how important this is to me."

"Daisy's been the only daughter in your family for years," I pressed.

"She's used to being the center of attention. Having another woman—especially Audrey—suddenly become part of the family..."

"Clara's right," Finley interjected. "Daisy can be... territorial."

"I'll protect my sister," Ethan said firmly. "Both of them."

"This isn't just about protection," I argued.

"It's about belonging. Audrey's been rejected before. If she faces hostility from Daisy—"

"*She won't!*" Ethan snapped.

He immediately seemed to realize his overreaction and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to raise my voice. It's just... finding my little sister has been my lifelong dream. If she's finally coming back to us, I won't let her suffer any mistreatment or feel unwelcome."

Before I could reply, the technician cleared her throat.

"Please give me the sample now, Mr. Cole."

Ethan handed her the plastic bag, and she turned to leave.

But something caught my eye—something wrong about the strand of hair in the bag.

"Wait," I said suddenly.

The technician paused, looking back at me curiously.

"Can I... can I see that again?"

She hesitated, then held out the bag.

I examined the hair closely, then looked up at Ethan.

"This isn't Audrey's hair."

"What?" Ethan and Finley spoke in unison.

I pulled out my phone and opened my photos.

"Look," I said, finding a close-up picture of Audrey and me from lunch yesterday.

I zoomed in on her hair.

"Audrey's hair is dark brown, almost black in some lighting. This—" I pointed at the sample "—is more of a golden brown."

"Are you sure?" Ethan asked, leaning in to look.

"Positive. I notice these things," I confirmed.

"Plus, when I was putting the hair clip in her hair yesterday, I noticed a small scar on her scalp. She mentioned hitting her head as a child. I was specifically looking at her hair when I took the sample."

Finley's eyes widened in understanding.

"If that's not Audrey's hair, then whose is it?"

A tense silence fell over us as the implication settled in.

"Ethan," I said carefully, "did anyone else handle this sample after I gave it to you?"

Ethan's face drained of color.

"Daisy... I caught Daisy with my jacket last night. She said she was hanging it up, but..."

"She could have switched the hair," Finley concluded grimly.

"Why would she do that?" Ethan asked, but his voice lacked conviction.

"Because she's afraid," I answered softly. "Afraid of losing her place in your family."

Ethan sank into one of the waiting room chairs, looking devastated.

"I told her she would always be my sister. I *promised* her."

"Some people need more than words," Finley said, sitting beside his brother.

"Ethan, did you tell her exactly what you were testing?"

"No, but..." Ethan closed his eyes.

"She must have figured it out. And then she..." He couldn't finish the sentence.

"So what do we do now?" Ethan asked, sounding utterly defeated.

"We go home," Finley decided. "We regroup and figure out our next move."

As we walked back to the car, my mind raced with implications.

Daisy's desperation was understandable but deeply concerning.

My phone rang just as we reached the car.

I glanced at the screen and felt my pulse quicken.

"It's Audrey," I said, showing the screen to Finley.

We exchanged a meaningful look before I answered.

"Hello, Audrey?"