?<strong>Chapter 1173:</strong>


    Johnson said, “Darren, we’ve had our suspicions about that before, but Lucas ran a DNA test between Belinda and Holley.”


    He shrugged resignedly. “Unfortunately, Holley really is Belinda’s biological mother.”


    Darren was truly at a loss. “Can a mother really be that awful to her daughter?”


    He sighed, then suddenly turned to Belinda with a new thought. “You mentioned Sarai caught Holley cozying up to some guy and used it to ckmail her. So…”


    His expression grew serious. “Could it be that Baker isn’t your real father?”


    Darren’s words sent a ripple of shock through the room.


    That question…


    Belinda furrowed her brows slightly. “I don’t think so. When I first joined the Wright family, I underwent a paternity test.”


    Darren remainedposed. “Paternity tests can be tampered with.” Pausing briefly, he continued, “Ever since your return to the Wright family, Baker—your supposed father—has never shown you kindness. If he held resentment toward Holley for dismantling his family, his hostility toward you would make sense. But… The reality contradicts that assumption. Baker’s most cherished person has always been Holley. So, why would he mistreat the daughter she bore him? Why would he treat you with such disdain? Unless… you aren’t actually his child.”


    His voice turned serious. “What if you were conceived from an affair Holley had in secret? Maybe Baker discovered the truth about that before. That could exin his attitude toward you. Even Holley’s eventual mistreatment of you could be exined. Perhaps she saw you as a living reminder of her past indiscretions that she wished she could erase.”


    As Darren’s theory settled in, an unsettling silence fell upon the group.


    Everyone exchanged nces, mulling over his reasoning.


    The more they analyzed it, the more usible it seemed.


    After a prolonged pause, Belinda finally spoke, her voiceced with uncertainty. “If that were true, then Sarai’s leverage over Holley wouldn’t make sense.”


    Darren shook his head. “Not necessarily. What if Holley was unaware that Baker had already uncovered the truth? Baker, blinded by his love for Holley, might have chosen to forgive her betrayal—but he couldn’t bring himself to ept you. That would exin everything, wouldn’t it?”


    Belinda fell silent.


    No one else spoke, fully aware that this theory affected Belinda the most.


    Even Lucas, though deeply concerned for her, merely observed her in quiet contemtion, his dark eyes reflecting his worry.


    Darren continued, “If Belinda were truly Baker and Holley’s biological daughter, none of this would add up. That’s why I firmly believe this matter warrants further investigation.”


    After a long moment, Belinda finally murmured, “Darren… Give me some time to process this.”


    .


    .


    .