Love Beyond the Mask novel Chapter 1257

Shane said, “I already had the DNA sample sent out for testing this morning. Even if they were working at rocket speed, the results won’t be back until tomorrow. But look, Tina’s the spitting image of her.”

He nodded toward his daughter, who was being held by the family’s nanny.

Gary studied the girl with his usual icy stare. He had to admit… there was a resemblance.

But his words were cold as ever. “Plenty of people look alike. Without a paternity test, there’s nothing more to discuss today.”

Shane pressed on, not backing down. “And what if the test shows they really are mother and daughter? Would you let her into the family then?”

His blunt question left both of the elder Nelsons momentarily stunned.

Mrs. Nelson’s expression shifted almost instantly, her lips tightening.

Sandy looked at Shane, caught off-guard. This wasn’t why she’d come today, and it definitely wasn’t what they’d agreed on beforehand.

She stepped forward, shaking her head and speaking honestly. “Mr. Nelson, I never planned to marry into your family. You can’t make that decision for me.”

Shane shot her a quick wink, a hint of disappointment flickering in his sharp blue eyes, but he said, “This is something I have to negotiate with my parents, and sooner or later, it’ll have to be discussed. I told you I’d give you time to get ready.”

“But not today,” Sandy replied, calm and unwavering.

She let out a quiet sigh before turning to Mrs. Nelson, who was eyeing them both with thinly veiled suspicion. “As you can see, we didn’t plan this together. I haven’t been whispering in Mr. Nelson’s ear, asking him to marry me.”

Gary nodded. “Ms. Valentine is a good judge of character, and I appreciate everything you did earlier.”

Mrs. Nelson’s expression softened a little, but when she looked at Sandy, her eyes were still cold. “Well, let me be clear: if Shane’s just making up some story about this woman being Tina’s mother so he can marry her, I won’t have it.”

“Mom—” Shane tried to interject.

But Mrs. Nelson cut him off, her voice stern. “Let me finish. If she really is Tina’s mother, then what she did all those years ago—the shame she brought on Tina, on you, and on the Nelson family—I could never accept that.”

“Mom! You have no idea what happened back then. You don’t know the whole story.”

“Then why don’t you tell me?” Mrs. Nelson set her tea down with a decisive clink, her voice cold and ringing in the room. “What story? She got pregnant when you were both barely adults, right? Was she after our name, our money? And then she left, abandoning you—a young man in his twenties—alone with a child. Do you have any idea how much gossip I had to endure behind my back?”