The Adoption Director's Cruel Words Shattered When the Billionaire Saw the Birthmark on the Child's Wrist

The Lawyer's Threat

The rotunda erupted into chaos. Madame Vane's phone was already ringing on the other end. "Yes, it's me," she said, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper. "We have a problem. The Hawthorne couple claims the girl is theirs."

Edward's security guards moved to detain her, but she held up a hand. "I'm calling my lawyer, Mr. Sterling. He'll be here in ten minutes. And he has documents that will bury you."

Beatrice pulled Sophie closer, her heart pounding. "What documents?" she demanded.

Madame Vane smiled, a thin, cruel line. "The adoption papers from six years ago. Signed by a woman who claimed to be the mother. She gave up all rights. The child became property of this orphanage. You have no claim."

Edward's jaw tightened. "That woman was a fraud. I have proof—"

"Do you?" Madame Vane cut him off. "Then show me. Because unless you have a court order, that girl stays here."

Sophie whimpered, her small hands clutching Edward's coat. "No, please. I want to go with them."

Beatrice knelt down, cupping Sophie's face. "Sweetheart, listen to me. You are not leaving with her. Do you understand?"

But the guards looked uncertain. One of them spoke into his radio. "We have a potential kidnapping situation. Send backup."

Edward turned to him. "I am Edward Hawthorne. Do you know who I am?"

The guard nodded. "Yes, sir. But without legal proof—"

"I'll get proof," Edward said. He pulled out his phone and dialed. "I'm calling my own lawyer. And the police. And the media."

Madame Vane laughed. "The media? You'll ruin your reputation, Hawthorne. A billionaire who kidnaps an orphan? The headlines will destroy you."

But Edward was already speaking into the phone. "I need a DNA test kit. Now. And I need a court order for custody of Sophie Hawthorne. Use the emergency protocol."

Beatrice looked at Sophie, who was trembling. The girl's eyes were fixed on the rose-shaped birthmark on her wrist, as if she was seeing it for the first time. "Is it true?" she whispered. "Are you my real mommy and daddy?"

Beatrice's tears fell freely. "Yes, sweetheart. Yes, we are. We never stopped looking for you."

Sophie threw her arms around Beatrice's neck, sobbing. "I dreamed of you. Every night, I dreamed of a mommy with shiny hair and a daddy with grey at the temples."

Madame Vane's face twisted. "This is sentimental nonsense. The law is the law."

But then, the oak doors burst open again. A man in a sharp suit strode in, carrying a briefcase. "Madame Vane," he said, "I'm here with the court order."

It was Sterling, her own lawyer. He looked pale. "The judge has granted temporary custody to Edward and Beatrice Hawthorne pending a DNA test."

Madame Vane's face went white. "What? That's impossible. You're my lawyer!"

Sterling shook his head. "I'm sorry, Madame. But the Hawthorne's legal team found irregularities in your adoption records. Three other children in the past decade. All with birthmarks that matched missing children's reports."

The room fell silent. Sophie looked up, her blue eyes wide. "Other children?"

Sterling nodded grimly. "Yes. There were others. And they're still missing."

Edward looked at Madame Vane, his gaze like ice. "Where are they?"

But Madame Vane was already backing away, her phone clutched to her chest. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The guards stepped forward, grabbing her arms. "You're under arrest," one said. "For trafficking, fraud, and obstruction of justice."

Madame Vane screamed, "You can't do this! I have connections!"

But no one was listening. Sophie buried her face in Beatrice's shoulder, and for the first time, the weight of six years of fear seemed to lift. Yet, as they turned to leave, Sterling added, "But Mr. Hawthorne, there's one more thing. The DNA test... it's not conclusive."

Edward froze. "What do you mean?"

Sterling lowered his voice. "The birthmark is a match, but the DNA test results are... unusual. I think you need to see this." He handed Edward a folder.

Beatrice saw Edward's face go pale. "What is it?" she whispered.

Edward looked at Sophie, then back at the folder. "The test says... she's not biologically ours."