The rain fell in heavy, rhythmic sheets, washing away the grease and grit of the alley behind Rosalie’s Diner. Maya stood frozen under the rusted metal overhang, her lungs burning, her heart pounding against her ribs like a trapped bird.

By 2:00 AM, the Marchetti estate was on high alert.

In the mansion's private medical facility, Dr. Evans—Damian’s trusted personal physician—completed an expedited high-accuracy DNA test using cheek swabs taken from Maya, Damian, and the three children.

Inside the estate's mahogany-paneled library, Damian sat behind his massive desk while Maya sat in a leather armchair beside the fireplace, wrapped in a warm fleece blanket, sipping tea. The triplets were sleeping soundly in a portable bassinet beside her chair.

The door opened, and Dr. Evans walked in, holding a folder of printed medical diagnostics.

"The results are conclusive, Boss," Dr. Evans reported, his voice steady. "Maya Linwood is the 99.99% biological mother of Mateo, Leo, and Sienna."

Maya closed her eyes, releasing a shuddering breath of relief. Even though her heart had already known, hearing the scientific confirmation felt like breaking through a surface of cold ice into fresh air.

"And the biological father?" Damian asked quietly.

Dr. Evans hesitated slightly, looking at the second page of the report. "The paternal markers do not match yours, Mr. Marchetti. However... they do match a donor profile from St. Jude’s private reproductive vault—specifically, an anonymous high-density match filed under a deceased donor's estate."

Maya looked down at her hands. "Fourteen months ago... my fiancé, Thomas, died in a car accident two weeks before I found out I was pregnant. We had used a fertility clinic at St. Jude's after months of trying."

Damian nodded slowly. The piece of the puzzle was complete. Maya’s children were fully hers and her late fiancé’s, stolen by a corrupt system to serve a mafia war.

"What about Dr. Vance?" Damian turned his gaze to Marco, who was standing by the door.

"We located him," Marco replied, his face grim. "He's at his private residence in Gold Coast. He just booked a one-way flight to Zurich leaving at 6:00 AM."

Damian stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. The air in the library instantly turned ice-cold.

"He won't be taking that flight," Damian said.

Maya stood up instantly, taking a step toward Damian. "Damian... wait."

Damian paused, looking at her. "He stole your children, Maya. He left you to drown in grief while he took Falcone's money."

"I want to come with you," Maya said, her hazel eyes blazing with a fierce, dangerous light that mirrored Damian's own resolve. "I want to look him in the eye when he answers for what he did."