The Flower That Grew from Ashes novel Chapter 45

Zoey mentioned that normally, only Clarissa and Hackett occasionally dropped by to see the child; most of the time, she was here alone, acting as his full-time caregiver.

No one else from the Lehman family, not even Barnum or Lizzie, had ever visited, completely unaware of the boy's existence.

"It must have been so hard for Ms. Sherwood when the baby was born, right?" Harriet asked tentatively.

"Oh, it was terrible!" Zoey said, her face filled with sympathy. "She gave birth overseas, all by herself and in total secret. She didn't even take time to recover properly from childbirth before rushing back to the country with him. Hackett is so busy at the hospital and couldn't be by her side constantly. It was truly agonizing for her."

Halfway through the chat, Zoey got up and went to the kitchen to heat up some milk for Harriet.

This was the chance.

Harriet immediately stood, walked over to the edge of the rug, crouched down, and put on her warmest, most grandmotherly smile.

"Manuel, you're such a good boy. Can Grandma Harriet see what you're building?"

As she spoke, she stealthily pulled her phone out of her pocket.

Pretending to play with the child, her fingers flew over the screen, quickly tapping the shutter button.

In secret, she snapped a clear photo of Manuel's face, which bore a striking resemblance to Hackett.

Once she had what she needed, she returned to the sofa, acting as if nothing had happened.

Leaving the apartment, Harriet's heart was still pounding furiously.

She rushed back to the Lehman Estate and immediately slipped into Annelise's room, reporting everything she had gathered and showing her the photograph.

Annelise took the phone. She stared at the child's face in the picture, remaining silent for a long time.

Those eyes, the bridge of the nose, the curve of the lips.

He was an absolute replica of Hackett.

Compared to the stoic, hardened portrait of Elias hanging in the family memorial room, there was practically zero resemblance.

She handed the phone back to Harriet and asked the most crucial question.

"Has this child ever had a paternity test?"

Harriet froze for a moment, then shook her head.

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