Dale is devastated to learn from Dan that Dan has always known the truth about the paternity of the children, a revelation that shakes him deeply. Dale struggles with the pain of Dan’s silence, feeling betrayed and overwhelmed, which causes him to faint. Lenny finds Dale unconscious and quickly calls for medical help, while Dan calmly instructs Lenny to keep a close watch on Artemis and Manny before leaving the scene.

When Dale regains consciousness in the medical wing, he is pale and exhausted, yet his anger remains intense. He demands to know where Dan is and vents his frustration that the children who are not biologically his act more like family than the one who is. Lenny promises to contact Dan and also to send more people to find Lina and Lana, who have fled, further complicating the already chaotic situation within the Ashen Pact.

Meanwhile, Tessa receives the DNA test results from Black Mountain and is confused by the contradictions: Artemis’s three children are not Dale’s, yet Dan is supposedly his son. This inconsistency puzzles her, especially since Artemis was with Dale for years without bearing any of his biological children. Tessa suspects Dale may be infertile and that the test results might have been tampered with, though she cannot explain how.

Victor listens to Tessa’s doubts with a faint smile, teasing her about her certainty and desire for Dale to face consequences. Tessa is resolute in her belief that Dale is irredeemable, blaming him for the disappearance of her mother and the destruction of Victor’s family. Despite her suspicions, Victor expresses doubt that the DNA report was altered, leaving the truth uncertain as tensions within the Ashen Pact remain high.

875 The Aftermath

How the hell did he end up with a son like this?

“I knew,” Dan said coolly. “I’ve always known.”

The words hit Dale harder than anything. He looked like he might faint.

“You knew?” His chest tightened, the room spinning around him.

Dan shrugged. “Even if I’d told you back then, would you have believed me?”

The air went still.

For a long moment, neither of them said a word.

Of course Dale wouldn’t have believed him. No matter what Dan had said before, he’d always assumed it was jealousy–jealousy that Manny and the twins got more of their father’s affection.

Every sarcastic comment, every jab–Dale had brushed them off as bitterness.

But now…

“You knew,” Dale muttered hoarsely. “And you just stayed silent?”

That was what cut the deepest. Dan had known the truth all along–and he’d kept it to himself.

The thought made Dale’s blood pressure spike. His anger hit so hard his vision blurred, and within seconds, he passed out cold.

After Lenny locked Manny and Artemis in the basement and came back, he found Dale collapsed on the couch. His face went stiff. “Mr. Dale!” he called.

Lenny rushed forward, panic flashing across his face.

The doctors were called immediately. They worked fast, stabilizing him and carrying him to the medical wing.

Dan stood quietly to the side, calm as ever. He took one last drag from his cigarette, then turned to Lenny. “Keep a close eye on Artemis and Manny. Don’t let anyone get them out.”

The DNA mess was over–for now.

With that, he left.

Lenny had Dale carried straight to the medical wing. An hour later, he finally came to, groaning softly as his eyes fluttered open.

But even though only a few hours had passed, he already looked like he’d been through a lot–pale, drained, and worn down, the sharpness in his eyes gone.

He blinked at the unfamiliar white ceiling, then looked around the room. “Where’s that damn kid?”

1/3

“Mr. Dan left,” Lenny said quietly.

Dale’s temper flared again. “You see this? You see? The ones who aren’t mine act like family, and the one who is mine–he doesn’t even look the part!”

Lenny stood there, silent.

It was a painful truth, and there was nothing he could say.

“Call him.” Dale snapped. “Tell that ungrateful brat to get his ass back here!”

Everything was chaos. The whole Artemis and Manny situation might have been exposed, but the Ashen Pact was still in complete disarray. Someone had to deal with it–and soon.

“Yes, sir,” Lenny said immediately. “I’ll contact Mr. Dan right away.”

Dale drank a full glass of water, but the anger boiling in his chest didn’t fade.

“And send more people to find Lina and Lana,” he said sharply.

The warmth that used to fill his voice when he said their names was gone. Now, there was only venom–an icy, bitter hatred that made his words sting.

When the results from Black Mountain came through, Tessa got the news almost immediately.

She was sitting, eating a slice of melon, when she read it.

Her brows furrowed. “That makes no sense. Artemis had three kids, and not one of them is his–but somehow Dan is?”

It just didn’t add up.

If Dale’s so–called ‘beloved woman‘ never gave him a single biological child, how did another one end up being his?

Victor leaned back in his chair. “You’re saying you think Dan isn’t his either?”

“Of course not,” Tessa said, frowning. “There’s no way.”

Artemis’s three kids weren’t his. She herself wasn’t related to him. And now, suddenly, Dan was? It didn’t line up with anything she knew.

Black Mountain might’ve gone quiet on the surface, but the entire Ashen Pact was in turmoil.

Manny wasn’t Dale’s son.

Lina and Lana hadn’t taken the DNA test, but the fact that they’d run away told everyone exactly what the result would’ve been.

Which meant, as of now, only Dan was officially proven to be Dale’s biological child.

And Tessa

hadn’t taken any test either. But anyone who saw her knew she looked the most like him.

213

From appearance alone, she could easily pass as his daughter.

Of course, Tessa didn’t believe it for a second. Dan couldn’t be his. And neither could she.

After all, Artemis had been with Dale for years and never once had his child. That didn’t seem possible–at least, not scientifically.

The only explanation that made sense to her? Dale was infertile.

Maybe Dan’s report had been tampered with. Maybe someone had meddled–how, she didn’t know–but that was the only thing that made sense to her.

How? She didn’t know. But it was the only thing that made sense.

Victor smiled faintly and reached over, pinching her cheek affectionately. “You sound awfully sure about that. You just want to see him pay for what he did, huh?”

Tessa grinned. “Of course I do.”

She’d known since Rivermount that Dale wasn’t a good man. Then she’d learned her mother disappeared because of him.

And now, knowing that Dale was also responsible for destroying Victor’s family? That sealed it.

In her eyes, he was beyond redemption.

So yeah–she wanted him to pay.

Victor smiled faintly, his voice calm. “Still, I doubt the report was tampered with.”

The revelation of Dan’s true parentage has shattered the fragile bonds within the Ashen Pact, leaving Dale reeling from betrayal and confusion. His world tilts as he grapples with the painful truth that the son he thought was his is not, while the one who is his remains distant and unacknowledged. The emotional turmoil is palpable, with anger and bitterness replacing the warmth that once existed, highlighting the deep fractures in their family and the uncertain path ahead.

Meanwhile, Tessa’s skepticism and determination to uncover the truth add another layer of tension, underscoring the theme of trust and deception that permeates the chapter. As doubts swirl and loyalties are tested, the characters are left navigating a labyrinth of secrets and lies, each struggling to reconcile their perceptions with the harsh realities revealed. The chapter closes on a note of unresolved conflict, setting the stage for the difficult choices and reckonings yet to come.

The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of truth and deception surrounding Dale’s family. Emotions will run high as the characters grapple with the unsettling revelations about parentage and loyalty. Dale’s fragile state and simmering anger set the stage for confrontations that could either fracture or redefine their bonds. Meanwhile, Tessa’s skepticism about the DNA results hints at secrets yet to be uncovered, raising questions about who might be manipulating the truth behind the scenes.

As tensions mount within the Ashen Pact, the hunt for Lina and Lana adds urgency and uncertainty to the unfolding drama. Loyalties will be tested, and alliances questioned, as everyone tries to make sense of the chaos. The emotional stakes are higher than ever, and the next chapter will explore how each character copes with betrayal, suspicion, and the desperate need for answers. Prepare for a chapter filled with intense confrontations, fragile trust, and the shadow of past mistakes looming large.

Cedella

Cedellais a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.