Destiny's POV
"No! No! This can't be," I screeched. My entire body felt numb, and my eyes turned bigger than saucers staring at the paper in my hand.
"How did this happen?" I asked as my tears wet my cheeks. I didn't even notice that I cried since I promised never to cry again, but as I look at the result, I feel terrified that it has the same zero percent outcome.
"There must be a mistake," I added as I turned and looked at Dr. Enriquez, who seemed as shocked as me.
"I don't know what to say, Des. I brought the sample myself to the lab. Are you sure you didn't mishandle the specimen?" She asked.
"Yes, I protected it with my life," I responded in more than a whisper.
"If my dad is not my biological father, then who is my real father, Dr. Enriquez?" I asked, gasping for air.
"You are one of my mother's best friends; I am sure you know something," I added, and her face turned solemn.
"I am sorry, Des, I knew nothing about this; all I know is you are your mom's daughter, and Alejandro was your father. But before Amalia died, she told me there was something she wished to tell me." She responded as I looked at her without fluttering my eyes as I felt the rapid beating of my heart.
"But she didn't make it, but one thing I was sure of, she didn't have an affair. She has been in love with Alejandro since we were in college." Dr. Enriquez added.
"It was love at first sight for both of them. I was with your mom when they first met at one of the charity balls we attended. I witnessed how they looked at each other with love in their eyes every time we saw each other during parties, late night outs, and holiday breaks." She continued with a smile on her face as she recollected her memories with my mom.
"And it was a mystery why it turned out you weren't Alejandro's daughter; I can't fathom either," The doctor spoke out with bewilderment on her face.
"Well, I guess my father was right after all, and he has all the right to hate me," I mumbled with bitterness in my voice.
"No, you are still his daughter, Destiny. Even if you are not his biological daughter, he raised you with your mother. He was there when you were born, which was enough reason for him to call you his daughter." She responded.
"Something was off, and I guess Carmen has something to do with all this. Don't worry, Des; I will help you dig deeper into what is happening in your family." Doctor Enriquez added.
"It only means I am not my father's heir anymore; I am sure he already manipulated everything," I responded in more than a whisper and lost all my hope to fight them as I realized there was nothing for me to fight for, I even lost Red in this battle.
"Don't worry, Des, I am sure Red will help you. I still believe he was in love with you, and something held him back." She declared, and my forehead creased as I stared at her.
"I don't think so; he made it clear he doesn't want to see me, Doc," I responded in more than a whisper, trying my best to ignore the pain creeping into my chest.
"I should go," I added as I stood up, and she quickly got up from her chair and hugged me tightly.
"My dear, this isn't over. I knew the truth would unveil itself; hold on and let me help you." She answered back with concern as she slowly released me from her embrace with a consoling smile.
"Thank you, Doc," I responded, trying not to show her how hard it was to know I was not my father's daughter.
I said goodbye to my mom's friend after she sent me to the door. I almost sprinted to the nearest restroom to find the sink, hastily opened the faucet, and sprinkled water on my face to control my sudden outburst of emotions and from breaking into tears.
I was thankful that no one came inside as I slowly groped in the wall and sat on the ceramic tiles without caring about the germs. I leaned on the wall as I broke down, hugging my knees as my tears streamed like a river.
I didn't know how long I was inside the restroom until I heard voices coming in, and I hastily got up and fixed myself in front of the mirror. My eyes were swollen and red from my sobbing episode.
I tried to apply some makeup to hide my current state, but I didn't care if someone saw me like this; I was having a miserable life, and why would I care about what other people would think about me? Their opinion doesn't matter and would not help me with my problems.
With my head high, I got out and went to the exit. I pulled out my sunglasses from my bag and put them on before I started walking under the piercing heat of the sun, not knowing where to go.
I felt so confident last night when I told Daria we were moving back to our mansion today after I got the result. How could I tell her that the miracle didn't happen today?
I have no money left to pay the rent, and I have no choice but to vacate the house sooner before we receive an eviction notice from the owner. It breaks my heart to tell Daria all my plans failed. I was walking in the street along the downtown area, still unable to believe I was not my father's daughter.
My feet hurt from walking without any direction, but I kept walking, hoping I would forget and my heart would be turned emotionless from all the pain I felt.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and even if my world was crumbling down, I still managed to smile when I saw Pia's number flashing on my screen.
"Hi, where are you? Are you okay?" I asked, feeling so happy that she had finally called me.
"I am at my place; my landlord told me you were looking for me," she responded.
"Yeah, I came to see you," I replied.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"Your silence was telling me you weren't okay; where are you? I will be there." She added before I could say anything.
"No, I will be the one to come to your place," I quickly answered after I recovered from spacing out.
"Okay, I will cook dinner," she responded and mumbled her goodbye before the line went dead while I ceased walking. I was stunned as I looked at the time on my phone and realized I had been walking around the city for almost four hours without rest.
I left Dr. Enriquez's clinic before two o'clock in the afternoon, and it was almost six o'clock in the evening.
No wonder my feet felt sore, and the muscles in my legs were terribly aching. I couldn't make it to the bus stop since I could barely walk another step. I took the taxi even if I was out of budget.
"What happened to your eyes?" Pia asked right away after my body hit on her bed. Her pad is small since there is no bedroom. I could see her little kitchen from her bed, where I was lying with my feet hanging on the wall.
Pia used an adjustable table and foldable chairs just in case she had visitors to have extra space.
"I got the result of my dad's DNA specimen, and it has a zero % match result. I don't know what to do anymore, Pia." I responded, and she almost dropped the plate she was holding on the floor.
"Oh, Destiny, I am so sorry." She mumbled as she came closer and sat on the bed beside me, massaging my back.
"I am tired of crying. I couldn't believe I was not my father's daughter, even if our resemblance was so obvious. Do you think someone tried to fabricate the result for the second time around?" I asked as my eyes widened in shock.
"Maybe Red ruined all my plans," I added.
"I don't think that is possible. Your mother's friend is a doctor, and she was the one who helped you, right?" Pia asked, and I nodded.
"Do you think she will also betray you?" My friend asked another question, and I shook my head.
"No, she doesn't need money; her husband owned the hospital she was connected with, and she wasn't afraid of anyone, especially Carmen," I mumbled in more than a whisper.
"There you have your answer, Destiny. Don't get me wrong, but sometimes I heard people talking about individuals who are always together, especially living in the same house and developing the same physical resemblance over time like some couples; maybe that was what happened between you and your father." My friend explained as I fell silent.
"I know it was hard for you to accept that; if I were in your shoes, I would feel the same way. Being stripped of everything was too much, and you deserve some answers." Pia added.
"Your father only drove you out of your house after that scandal, right?" She asked, and I nodded in agreement.
"Have you seen the date of the DNA test he had shown to you?" She inquired, and I looked at her with confusion on my face.
"I didn't find time to look at the date; it didn't matter anyway," I responded.
"It matters. Maybe your father knew already you weren't his child after he found that letter he mentioned to you, but he raised you as his child, and his love for you will not vanish in just one blink of an eye, Destiny." Pia declared, and my mind was having difficulty following her to where this conversation was going, and why she was siding with my dad.
"The scandal blew his mind off, and it triggered his hatred for your mom, and he decided to kick you out on an impulse, thinking you weren't his real daughter and you only brought shame to the family." My friend continued as I stared at her face, more confused than I already was.
"You still have one option," she declared, looking at me with a playful smile on her face.
"Well, leaving the city is my only option," I replied, and she cast me a disapproving look as she shook her head.
"Red," she mumbled, and my eyes dilated as I stared at her, mortified.
"There is no way I will ask help from Red again. Besides, we can do nothing to change my father's mind." I quickly replied, scowling at my friend as I stood up and helped her set the table.
"You can give up your chastity to Red to prove you didn't sleep with Lucas and your step-sister set you up, and your ex would be your salvation." Pia blurted out, and my face turned crimson as I cast her an angry look, but I couldn't deny her option was quite tempting.