My CEO Husband Says I'm Irreplaceable

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Second Appraisal

"Another paternity test?"

Brandon Linton’s heart sank, and his fingers unconsciously clenched into fists.

’Are they making it obvious that they don’t believe my identity?’

’If they really do another test, the fact that I’m an imposter will be completely exposed.’

"Elias, this DNA report... Brandon and I went to the facility to give our samples personally. Vesper was there watching the whole time, too. There’s no need to go through all this trouble to do it again!" Nancy Linton quickly interjected, her tone urgent. She had wanted to use this opportunity to have the Old Master make a public decision, cementing Brandon Linton’s status, restoring his identity, and allowing him to claim everything that was his.

Vesper Grayson said calmly, "Second Aunt, this concerns the Hawthorne family bloodline. It’s better to be cautious. As the saying goes, good things come to those who wait."

"I watched Aidan being born with my own eyes and brought him home myself. There’s absolutely no problem with his identity. I see no need for this paternity test at all," Kevin Hawthorne said in a low voice. His mind was currently consumed with how to divorce Nancy Linton and give Shirley Langley a proper title. He didn’t want to waste time on a paternity test. As he saw it, the most pressing matter was to devise a perfect solution that would allow him to smoothly separate from Nancy Linton while securing the greatest benefits for himself, Shirley Langley, and Aidan. Shirley Langley had been wronged by having to wait for so many years; he was determined to give her a legitimate status, no matter what.

Jared Hawthorne rose to his feet, his expression impassive and his tone detached. "Since you all have your own ideas, I won’t meddle. Grandfather, you can make the final decision."

Zachary Hawthorne’s expression was grim. He slammed his hand on the table, making a final decision.

"We’ll listen to Elias and do the test again! If anyone has any objections, you can leave now and never set foot in the Hawthorne family home again!"

Once the Old Master had spoken, no one dared to object.

Although Kevin Hawthorne was inwardly impatient, he had no choice but to concede.

"Fine, let’s do it. Let’s go right now!" In any case, Aidan was his and Shirley Langley’s biological son. Even if they did a test, the result wouldn’t change. He had nothing to fear.

Nancy Linton’s face was pale, but she could only nod. "I have no objections either."

The group drove to a private hospital. After Brandon Linton got out of the car, he looked around and realized this wasn’t the same facility where they had done the previous test. His heart instantly clenched, and a powerful sense of unease washed over him.

He tugged on Nancy Linton’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Mom, why aren’t we going to the old facility?"

"This is the place your cousin arranged. It’s best to just listen to him," Nancy Linton whispered, instructing him. "Your cousin is a capable man. He’s the one in charge of the Hawthorne family now. From now on, you need to get along with him and make sure you don’t offend him, understand?"

Brandon Linton nodded absently, his heart in a turmoil, but he could only force himself to remain calm.

The four of them provided their samples one by one and agreed to pick up the results in three days.

Jared Hawthorne gave a few brief instructions and left with Vesper Grayson.

Once they were in the car, Vesper Grayson looked at the man beside her and asked softly, "There won’t be any more problems this time, right?"

"No," Jared Hawthorne replied flatly, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "This hospital is my private property. Every step of the process is monitored by my people. No one would dare pull any tricks under my nose."

"Then what about Brandon Linton and Second Aunt’s samples? Should we have them retested as well?" Vesper Grayson asked thoughtfully.

"We can. I’ll have someone arrange it immediately," Jared Hawthorne nodded.

Vesper Grayson frowned slightly, her mind full of doubt. "If Brandon Linton really isn’t related to Second Aunt by blood, then why do they look so similar?"

"I had Maxim Chandler send people to investigate that a couple of days ago. We should have news soon." Jared Hawthorne let out a soft, mocking laugh. "There’s no shortage of social climbers these days. People will resort to any dirty trick to latch onto the immense wealth of the Hawthorne family."

As soon as he finished speaking, Vesper Grayson’s phone rang. It was a call from Nathan Chandler.

"Miss Grayson, we’ve finished the investigation. That Brandon Linton secretly paid Dr. Hughes from the previous facility two hundred thousand to forge the paternity report. Dr. Hughes has now been officially fired from our institution and has been blacklisted from the entire industry."

"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work."

After hanging up, Vesper Grayson pursed her lips and looked at Jared Hawthorne.

"There really is something wrong with Brandon Linton."

Jared Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, the chill in his eyes deepening.

"Was that a call from the facility?"

Vesper Grayson repeated Nathan Chandler’s words verbatim. The man’s eyes grew cold and grim as he spoke slowly.

"This time, he won’t be so lucky."

After returning to the office, Jared Hawthorne had just sat down when he received a call from the hospital.

A subordinate reported that Brandon Linton had tried to pull the same trick again, attempting to bribe a doctor at the hospital to forge the new paternity report.

"Agree to it. Keep him on the hook for now," Jared Hawthorne said, his eyes profound, his tone calm.

Only then could they fully uncover his true motives and find out who was behind him, pulling the strings and making him take the risk of coming to the Hawthorne family to impersonate Second Aunt’s son.

...

At the Hawthorne Estate, Zachary Hawthorne took a sip of hot tea and let out a long sigh. "Finally, some peace and quiet."

The words were barely out of his mouth when he slapped his forehead, having remembered something crucial.

With all the commotion caused by his second son, Kevin Hawthorne, and his family, he had forgotten to ask Jared what the surprise was that he had wanted to share.

Ian Bell, who was standing nearby, stepped forward to silently refill his tea and asked in a low voice, "Old Master, if it turns out that both young master Aidan and that Brandon Linton are Second Master’s biological sons, how do you plan to handle the two children?"

Zachary Hawthorne pondered for a moment before saying gravely, "Brandon Linton has been lost to the world for so many years, after all. If my second son truly abandoned him back then, our Hawthorne family must compensate the boy properly. As for the inheritance, we’ll split it seventy-thirty. Brandon Linton gets seventy percent, Aidan gets thirty."

"Second Master will certainly not agree to this arrangement," Ian Bell said with concern.

"It’s not up to him to agree or disagree!" Zachary Hawthorne’s expression hardened, his voice carrying an unquestionable authority. "Everything he has now was given to him by me. If he dares to disobey my arrangements, I’ll take it all back!"

The thought of his good-for-nothing son, Kevin Hawthorne—a failure in both literary and martial pursuits, who even dared to have an affair and cheat on his wife—made Zachary Hawthorne’s anger flare up, and his chest tightened.

"This afternoon, take a few men to the Hawthorne villa and personally supervise. Make sure Shirley Langley moves out immediately. She is not to stay a moment longer."

"Yes, sir," Ian Bell quickly replied.

"Also, investigate carefully how much of the Hawthorne family’s money my second son has spent on that woman over the years. Create a detailed list of all expenses. I want every single cent back!"

Ian Bell was taken aback and couldn’t help but try to reason with him. "Old Master, if we do this, Second Master will surely object vehemently. Besides, she is, after all, young master Aidan’s biological mother..."

"So what?" Zachary Hawthorne snorted coldly, his gaze sharp. "Did I ever give her permission to have that child? Don’t think I’m being unreasonable. If I don’t do this, would it be fair to Nancy? As the head of the Hawthorne family, I must act with impartiality and show no favoritism!"

...

Meanwhile, the four of them returned to the villa together.

As soon as they got out of the car, Kevin Hawthorne’s face darkened and he snapped coldly, "Nancy Linton, did you think you’d get your way by making a scene in front of Father? This kind of unreasonable behavior just makes me despise you even more!"

"The feeling is mutual," Nancy Linton sneered, her eyes filled with contempt and disgust. "The mere thought of sharing a bed with you for so many years makes me feel as sick as if I’d swallowed a fly."

"Nancy Linton, stop twisting the facts. Who’s the disgusting one here?" Kevin Hawthorne shot a cold glance at Brandon Linton, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Did you think I’d acknowledge this son just because you brought some random person back? In your dreams!"

"I never needed your acknowledgment. As long as the Old Master acknowledges him, that’s enough!" Nancy Linton couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. She looked away and led Brandon Linton straight into the living room.

"Sister, you’re back!" Hearing the commotion, Shirley Langley quickly stood up from the sofa, a fragile smile on her face as she greeted them softly.

Nancy Linton’s face instantly tensed, her eyes turning to ice. "Who are you calling sister? Some people are so shameless, so eager to worm their way into the house and take the position of Mrs. Hawthorne. But that depends on whether I agree to it!"

Without giving Shirley Langley so much as a glance, she turned and led Brandon Linton toward the stairs.

Just as they were about to brush past each other, Shirley Langley suddenly reached out and grabbed Nancy Linton’s arm.

"Sister, I know you’re angry, but Kevin and I are truly in love. If the Old Master hadn’t interfered back then, we never would have broken up." Shirley Langley leaned in close, whispering word by word in a voice only the two of them could hear, "In love, the one who isn’t loved is the third wheel."

Nancy Linton felt a wave of nausea and yanked her arm back with a look of utter disgust.

But the moment she pulled free, Shirley Langley’s body swayed, and with a sharp scream, she fell straight to the floor.

Before Nancy Linton could react, Kevin Hawthorne’s furious roar exploded through the room. "Nancy Linton, what are you doing?!"

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