The city was quiet that night, but Adrian's office wasn't.
The floor-to-ceiling windows reflected his silhouette—tall, still, dangerous.
On his desk lay a small plastic bag, inside it... a single strand of hair.
His assistant stood nearby, hesitant.
"Sir, this is from the boy's jacket. The lab's on standby, but—"
Adrian didn't look up.
"Do it."
The assistant swallowed hard.
"Understood."
When the door closed, Adrian leaned back in his chair.
For the first time in years, his hands trembled slightly.
He hated uncertainty.
He hated losing control.
And yet... every time that child looked at him with those silver-gray eyes,
his heart felt the same pull he used to feel when Elena was near.
No... it can't be.
He shut his eyes, trying to silence the storm inside him.
But memories refused to fade—
her laughter, her scent, the last time he held her hand before that fatal night.
If that boy truly was his son...
Then who had lied to him all these years?
---
Meanwhile...
Elena tucked Ethan into bed, brushing his hair gently.
The child blinked sleepily.
"Mommy, that uncle looked at me funny today."
Elena's hand froze.
"Funny?"
"Yeah. Like he knows me from somewhere. But I don't remember him."
Elena smiled weakly, forcing calm.
"Maybe you just remind him of someone."
Ethan yawned, curling under the blanket.
"Do you know him, Mommy?"
Her heart ached.
"I used to."
Just as she turned off the light, her phone buzzed.
A message from Sophie:
> SOPHIE:
He's investigating harder.
Be careful, Elena. I heard he's sent something to a lab.
The blood drained from her face.
A lab?
No—he couldn't have.
She rushed to her dresser, pulling out a small box where she kept Ethan's old baby things.
Inside, wrapped in tissue, was a photo—
a younger Adrian holding her hand, smiling faintly,
before everything fell apart.
Tears welled up, but she blinked them away.
She had promised herself never to cry for him again.
> He can never find out.
Not yet.
But miles away, in a sterile lab room—
a technician stared at the DNA results on the screen, eyes widening.
Two profiles.
A 99.99% match.
He reached for the phone.
"Inform Mr. Blackwood… the test is complete."
🌹 Chapter 8 Pacing & Structure Analysis (Webnovel Viral Beat Pattern)
Pacing Beat Function
1. Male Lead Takes Action → Advances the main plot and demonstrates his power and determination
2. Female Lead Receives the News → Creates fear, helplessness, and emotional tension
3. Best Friend Support Line → Strengthens the female friendship bond and emotional resonance
4. Dual-Line Parallel Ending → Forms a clean suspense peak + explosive chapter close
💬
If you were Elena, would you run — or stay and fight?
👉 Tell me in the comments — I'm curious!
⚔️ Suspense Focus:
What happens when science confirms what the heart already knew?
Hook Sentence:
> The screen blinked once—99.99%. And the world she built on lies began to crumble.