Chapter 162: Parting on Bad Terms
For most people, the idea that two white parents like Frank and Monica could give birth to a Black child is quite unusual.
But for the doctors at the DNA testing center, it was nothing new.
While rare—perhaps only a handful of cases among ten thousand couples—the center processes so many tests each year that such oddities eventually crop up. In similar cases, when a Black child is born to white parents, the immediate assumption is often that the wife cheated, leading to family turmoil. If the wife is innocent, she typically turns to DNA testing to prove her fidelity.
And it's not limited to the West. Similar incidents occur in Eastern countries too—such as two ethnically Asian parents giving birth to a child with blond hair and blue eyes, only to discover that the father's ancestors had foreign blood.
So regardless of whether Roberta and Monica could accept the truth, the DNA test result was clear: Liam was Frank's biological son.
Which meant their plan to use a DNA test to strip custody of Liam had just completely collapsed.
"Damn it. That means we have to go through Frank now. We need his signature to give up custody," Roberta said angrily.
"But Frank's gone—he might already be dead," Monica replied.
"Maybe… we should talk to Fiona again," Monica suggested. "If she gives us permission to take Liam, we can avoid all this trouble."
"That might be our only option," Roberta agreed, defeated.
That evening, Monica prepared a lavish dinner and invited the kids to join her.
"If you think feeding us means you get to take Liam away, let me make this clear: it's not happening," Fiona said bluntly.
"Guess that DNA scheme didn't go the way you wanted, huh? Otherwise, we'd already have court summons waiting at the door. Let me guess—Liam's not even related to Monica either?" Lip added sarcastically.
"Liam is my son. And he's Frank's son too," Monica said, cradling Liam.
"What the hell does that mean?" Lip asked, stunned.
"He's biologically Frank's. The doctor said it was some kind of 'genetic throwback' or whatever," Roberta said sourly.
"Liam's actually Dad's kid?!" The whole room was stunned.
After all, Frank was a white man, and Liam was clearly Black. Everyone—including the kids—had always assumed Liam wasn't Frank's biological child.
"So that's why you couldn't use the DNA results to challenge paternity. Without proving Frank isn't the father, you can't take custody without his consent. That's why you tried everything else," Lip quickly pieced it together.
"I get how you all feel," Monica said emotionally. "I was married to Frank for eighteen years. Our relationship was a constant nightmare. I don't want to badmouth the dead, but I'm just speaking the truth."
"I never meant to abandon you. It was Frank who drove me away. Ask Roberta—if I'd stayed, I would've died. Frank would've destroyed me."
"No self-respecting person could stay with him. He treated me worse than a dog."
"When Roberta and I came back, we had two goals: to raise Liam, and to finalize the divorce with Frank. We wanted to get married and finally build a new family."
Monica's words were full of raw emotion, but Fiona didn't budge.
"You already had a family," Fiona said coldly. "And you abandoned it."
"I didn't want to leave," Monica said quietly. "Frank gave me no choice—"
"You knew what he was like, and you still left us with him! You left everything to me—all of it!" Fiona snapped.
"I tried! But I couldn't do it, Fiona. If I hadn't left, I'd be dead. You have no idea what it was like living with him, how horrible our marriage was."
"Oh, really? You think we don't know what it was like living with Dad? We lived with him every day. You were the one who ran away!"
"I get that he hurt you. I get that you think he ruined your life. But you were the one who married him—not us! So don't act like we owe you sympathy!" Fiona shouted.
"If you ever loved us—even a little—you wouldn't even think about taking Liam away," Fiona said, her voice shaking as she tried to calm down.
"I do love you. Of course I love you. But look at you, Fiona. You're still a kid yourself, and you're holding this whole house together alone. How can you take care of so many kids?"
"Debbie and Carl are older now, sure, but Liam? He can't even walk on his own. He needs constant care and supervision."
"You've already got a million things on your plate. Liam's just another burden."
"We all help take care of Liam," Lip chimed in. The others nodded in agreement.
"I'm sure you try, but can you truly care for him day and night without ever feeling resentful or burned out?" Monica challenged.
"Letting us take Liam—it helps us, but it helps you too. I've always dreamed of being a mother, but Frank ruined that. He destroyed my chance."
"But now he's gone. I'm finally free. I can build something new, be a real, loving mom—give Liam the childhood he deserves," Monica pleaded.
"Enough!" Fiona shouted, slamming the table as she stood up.
"Stop talking about Dad like that. Yeah, he was awful and irresponsible—but at least he stayed. He didn't run away like you did."
"And you have no idea—Dad changed. He's not the same person he was."
"His will… it said so much. He thought about all of us. He cared about my future, Lip's education, Ian's anxiety, Debbie's growth, Carl's future, Liam's life."
"He left more than just a house. He left tuition, plans, hope. Maybe he was a screw-up, but compared to you? He actually acted like a parent!"
"If there's even the faintest trace of maternal instinct left in you, then you won't take Liam. Instead, you and your girlfriend can hop in your damn truck and get out—for good. Don't come back. Not ever. Not again," Fiona said with finality.
And just like that, the dinner ended in a bitter, silent fallout.
(End of Chapter)
---