He turned a page, the crisp paper making a loud, dry snap in the quiet room.

“Your family’s reputation is not my primary concern, Mr. Parker,” the General said coldly.

“The integrity of this command is.”

Claire stood up so fast her heavy wooden chair scraped loudly against the linoleum floor.

She pointed a manicured finger directly at my face.

“She is lying, General!” Claire screamed, her voice cracking with rage.

“She has spent her entire life trying to tear down everything I have built.”

“Now she’s bringing some disgusting, fabricated paternity test into this to humiliate us.”

My mother reached up and grabbed Claire’s sleeve, trying to pull her back down, but Claire shook her off.

“You faked that DNA report, Emily,” Claire spat, her eyes wide and wet with tears of anger.

“You faked it because you couldn’t stand that Andrew chose me, that he gave our parents the grandchildren they actually wanted.”

“You’ve been bitter since the day we got married, sitting alone in your barracks while we built a real life.”

I kept my hands flat on the table, feeling the cool varnish under my palms.