The whispers in the ballroom refused to stop.
"A DNA test…"
"Is she really part of the Knight family?"
"No way…"
Emily stood frozen in place.
Her mind was spinning.
Just an hour ago, she had only been worried about surviving the gala.
Now suddenly… her entire past was being questioned.
Alexander noticed the tension in her shoulders.
Without saying a word, he gently placed his hand over hers.
The simple gesture grounded her slightly.
Sophia, however, looked furious.
"This is absurd!" she snapped.
"You're going to drag the Knight family through humiliation just because of a ridiculous rumor?"
Alexander's grandfather slowly turned toward her.
His expression had returned to its usual calm authority.
"No one is humiliating this family."
His sharp eyes shifted toward Emily.
"We are simply searching for the truth."
Sophia clenched her teeth.
"And what if this girl is lying?"
Emily's head lifted immediately.
"I'm not lying."
Her voice was quiet… but steady.
Sophia scoffed.
"Of course you would say that."
But Alexander stepped forward again.
"That's enough."
His voice carried a warning.
Sophia fell silent, though the anger in her eyes remained.
The grandfather tapped his cane lightly against the floor.
"The test will settle everything."
He turned to one of the security staff nearby.
"Contact the family doctor."
"Yes, sir."
The man immediately left to make the call.
The guests continued whispering among themselves.
This gala had turned into something far more dramatic than anyone expected.
Emily lowered her voice and spoke quietly to Alexander.
"Do you really think this is possible?"
Alexander studied her face for a moment.
"I don't know," he admitted honestly.
"But whatever the result is…"
His fingers tightened slightly around hers.
"…it won't change anything between us."
Emily felt warmth spread through her chest.
For the first time that night, she felt a little less alone.
Across the room, Daniel watched the two of them carefully.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Sophia noticed.
"What are you smiling about?" she demanded.
Daniel shrugged.
"Tonight is becoming more interesting than I expected."
Sophia glared at him.
"You started all this."
Daniel simply replied,
"I only revealed what was already hidden."
A few minutes later, the security guard returned.
"The doctor is on his way."
The grandfather nodded.
"Good."
But before anyone could say anything else—
One of the mansion's staff members hurried into the ballroom.
He looked pale.
"Sir…"
The grandfather frowned slightly.
"What is it?"
The man hesitated.
"There's a problem."
Everyone turned toward him.
"What problem?" Alexander asked.
The man swallowed nervously.
"There was an accident outside the estate gate."
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"An accident?"
Alexander's expression sharpened.
"Who was involved?"
The staff member looked directly at the grandfather.
"It was the family doctor."
The entire ballroom went silent.
Emily's heart skipped a beat.
The grandfather's voice turned dangerously quiet.
"Explain."
The staff member took a shaky breath.
"The doctor's car was hit on the way here…"
He hesitated again.
"…and someone has taken the DNA samples that were meant for tonight."