Diane’s eyes narrowed.
“Why come here personally?”
“Because the report had already been released through the expedited portal before the batch was locked for review.
Once we confirmed the tracking conflict, we began contacting affected clients.
Mr.
Hale’s order involved a minor and a result with significant family consequences.
We needed to make clear that it cannot be relied upon.”
He looked at Julian again.
“We recommend recollecting both samples under witnessed conditions immediately.”
Julian rubbed a hand across his mouth.
I finally understood the fear I had seen when the stranger entered.
It wasn’t necessarily fear that Julian had manufactured the report.
It was worse in a different way.
He had built an entire judgment around one number.
He had invited his family to witness my humiliation.
He had allowed his mother to throw me and Ethan out before anyone had independently confirmed the result.
And now that certainty was collapsing in front of the same audience.
I unfolded the report.
My hands were steady this time.
“Did the lab tell you there was a problem before tonight?” I asked Julian.
The stranger did not answer for him.
Julian hesitated.
That hesitation was enough to make Diane turn toward him.
“Julian?”
“I saw a missed call,” he said.
“I didn’t know what it was about.”
“Did you call back?”
“No.”
I stared at him.
“You had time to call your mother.
You had time to gather your family.
You had time to plan this dinner.
But you didn’t have time to return a call from the laboratory whose report you were using to end our marriage?”
“Elena, I had the result in front of me.”
“So did I.
For five minutes.
And I already wanted to verify it.”
His face tightened.
Diane cut in.
“Don’t turn this around on him.
He had reasons to be suspicious.”
I looked at her.
“Then he could have asked me.”
“Would you have admitted it?”
A stunned silence followed.
I almost laughed, but there was nothing funny left.
“You still think I’m guilty.”
Diane crossed her arms.
“I think we need the correct test.”
“That’s the first reasonable thing you’ve said to me tonight.”
Karen muttered, “You don’t need to be disrespectful.”
I turned toward her.
“You called me a liar while I was holding my son in front of a room full of people.
I’m done accepting lectures about respect.”
She looked away.
The stranger slid one page toward Julian.
