Page 216 of Divine Obsession

Trevor clapped a hand on Zach’s shoulder, chuckling. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thanks, man,” Zach laughed. They’d already been brothers for years.

As Maria straightened and slipped her hand into Zach’s, I couldn’t help but feel a swell of emotion.

In that moment, it wasn’t just about labels or the promise of guidance and support for our child.

It was about family – the one we chose to build.

And Maria and Zach were undeniably part of ours.

EPILOGUE

December

The clock ticked closer to midnight. Zach’s penthouse illuminated with warm lights and the soft glow of New York City beyond the glass walls. Guests were scattered across the room, champagne in hand, their laughter and conversation filling the air.

That’s when he arrived.

The man walked in with an air of precision. His blue-grey eyes swept the room, cold yet calculating, and his tailored suit fit him like a glove. A luxury watch gleamed on his wrist, catching the light as he loosened his tie with a measured pull. He exuded a quiet authority that made me instinctively glance toward Zach.

Sure enough, Zach noticed him immediately. He excused himself from his conversation and crossed the room with purpose. The two men exchanged firm handshakes, already in a conversation I couldn’t hear. Moments later, Trevor joined them, his expression tense. They exchanged a few words before Trevor walked back to me.

“Amai,” Trevor called, motioning subtly. “Can you grab Maria? Then meet us in Zach’s office.”

I nodded, slipping away from the crowd and heading upstairs to find Maria. She was in one of the guest rooms, fixingan earring in place when I delivered the message. Together, we made our way back down, weaving through the guests and heading toward the more private wing of the penthouse. Zach was already waiting in his sleek office, leaning casually against his desk as the man stood nearby, arms crossed.

The moment we entered, the man straightened, his cool gaze landing on us.

“Miss Su. Miss Pérez,” He said, his voice clipped, professional.

Maria’s eyes narrowed as she took in the stranger. “Hi.”

“So?” Zach asked.

“The DNA didn’t match.”

A tense silence fell over the room, thick enough to cut with a knife.

Maria blinked. “What DNA?”

Zach’s jaw tightened. “I asked him to compare your DNA to Ruiz’s.”

Maria’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“To see if she really was your mother,” Zach explained. “But according to him,” Zach gestured to the man. “You’re not.”

“I knew it…” She murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

“You did?” I asked, studying her expression.

“I knew something didn’t feel right.”

“Could she have been an adoptive parent or something?” Trevor chimed in, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed.

The man shook his head. “Impossible. Agent Ruiz was working full-time in D.C. during the years in question – there's video evidence to prove it. She had no ties to Miss Pérez until beginning an unrelated assignment in New York as an undercover child services worker.”

Zach stepped closer to Maria, wrapping a comforting arm around her waist. “It’s going to be okay,hermosa,” He said softly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

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