Chapter 291: Paternity Test
When Christine heard the news.
She didn’t panic. Not one bit.
It was clear she’d been prepared for this all along.
Gemma, on the other hand, felt like the Dolton family drama was about to hit a whole new level.
She couldn’t help but look forward to the show.
“Yeah, this is just something I have to go through. Dr. Kelestine, don’t worry about me.”
Gemma wanted to laugh but held back.
The situation wasn’t exactly appropriate for that, so she just nodded instead.
“Right now, the most important thing is taking care of the baby.”
Christine nodded seriously, fully aware of what was at stake.
With this child, she secured her place as the future lady of the Dolton family.
Without this child? She might as well be dead.
After she left the hospital room, Gemma finished up her work and stepped out as well.
Not that she’d admit she was here just for the gossip.
It was purely coincidence. Just doing her rounds.
Meanwhile, Kaiya, who’d just been released from detention, had nowhere to vent her anger.
First thing she did? Show up at the hospital.
Not her idea–Abigail sent her.
The Doltons were furious right now, and letting Kaiya take it out on Christine would at least ease some of that rage.
As for Ashton possibly getting upset?
Who cared?
Kaiya was just a spoiled, bratty niece. She could always apologize later.
“You had a baby. So what? That doesn’t make you some queen.”
Kaiya didn’t even bother pretending to be nice.
The moment she opened her mouth, it was pure venom.
Christine, looking as frail as ever, stepped in front of the hospital bed, her voice soft but steady.
“I never claimed to be a queen. But I do have the next heir to the Dolton family in my arms.”
“A child who hasn’t even been recognized yet doesn’t count as an heir.” This was what infuriated Kaiya the most.
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Just because she was a woman, no matter how much she achieved, she still couldn’t claim the Dolton family as her own. Her mom had worked for years, manipulating her uncles, sabotaging their arranged marriages one by one.
The elders had finally given up and were grooming her as the next successor.
Even if she couldn’t inherit everything right away, she could take her time, step by step.
And now? Christine had ruined it all.
“We have a paternity test,”
Christine smiled, slow and ‘deliberate.
“The moment he was born, I had Ash run the test. Just so no one could use bloodline as an excuse to smear my child.”
She didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t need to.
Every word cut like a knife.
Kaiya clenched her jaw, her anger burning hotter.
“Even if the test proves it, do you really think you can just waltz into the Dolton family?”
Christine’s lips curved into a smirk.
“That’s not up to you, is it?”
Kaiya was so mad she actually stomped her foot.
“Hmph! You think just because you got in, you can guarantee that child will grow up safely?”
Christine still looked as delicate as ever, but in her eyes, something cold flickered.
Setting
12:31
Chapter 291: Paternity Test
“Getting in depends on strategy. Raising the child? That’s a whole different game.”
“Besides, your mother was an outsider, not a real Dolton. She’s not even biologically related. You really think you can control how much of the Dolton family’s resources come your way?”
Kaiya’s hand shot up, about to slap her-
Then she froze.
She almost fell for it.
If she hit Christine now, that woman would milk this moment for all it was worth.
She could even report it to the police and use it to threaten her mother.
No. Endure it!
She had to endure it.
“Christine, you’re not what I expected.”
Kaiya suddenly calmed down, retreating back into her usual smug composure.
“You really have no guilt, hurting the Dolton family like this?”
Christine watched her shift gears and let out a cold chuckle.
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“My child is healthy and well. I’d appreciate it if Miss Zamora could keep the mourning to yourself.”
Kaiya had been expecting Christine to argue back and forth, but instead, she got hit with a blunt, no–nonsense response.
Her face darkened.
“You should at least apologize to my grandparents!”
Christine said in a calm voice. “Love is free. Marriage is free. This is a free country. We have a marriage certificate. It’s not a crime.”
“But if Miss Zamora thinks my marriage isn’t legal, feel free to sue me.”
Christine didn’t back down.
In fact, she doubled down, leaving Kaiya completely speechless.
Gemma, having watched the entire exchange, felt a little let down.
The two of them were still holding back.
The real fireworks hadn’t even started.
Just as she was about to leave, Kaiya suddenly snapped-
“This whole thing–your baby being sick–was a setup, wasn’t it? You and Gemma planned this together! Just to mess with the Doltons and take control of the family!”
“You two are disgusting!”
Gemma, “…” Why was she getting dragged into this?
Not that it was anything new. The Doltons accused her of so much, what was one more crime on the list?
Christine spoke up.
“Gemma is a true Dolton by blood. If she takes over one day, it’ll be rightfully hers.”
“And I? I’m the Dolton family’s legal daughter–in–law. My child is protected by law.”
“So tell me, what exactly is wrong with us taking control?”
“Or are you saying it’d be more ‘legitimate‘ to hand everything over to someone with zero blood ties?”
Inside, Gemma’s inner self was applauding.
Christine really was a master at playing this game.
No wasted words. Every line hit right where it hurt.
Kaiya looked like she was about to have a heart attack. But she couldn’t come up with a single counterargument.
She could only spit out one last threat-
“Don’t think a few clever words will make you a Dolton! I swear, you will never set foot in that house!”
With that, she spun on her heel and stormed off.
Gemma, who had been hiding in the corner, waited until Kaiya was gone before heading back to her office.
So far, she’d figured out two things:
One, the Doltons were divided on Christine’s situation.
Two, Abigail hadn’t come up with a better way to stop her yet.
Kaiya was just here to test the waters.
Setting
