The blinding flash of cameras erupted again, infinitely more aggressive than before.
The reporters surged forward like sharks smelling blood in the water. They shoved their heavy microphones toward Alisson's face, desperate to capture the confrontation between the cold billionaire and this stunning, mysterious woman.
"Ma'am! Are you Jake Yates's secret mistress?" a reporter shouted over the chaos.
"Are you using these children to extort the Yates family for a multi-million dollar settlement?" another yelled, pushing a recorder inches from her chin.
Alisson's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. She pressed Janna's head firmly against her shoulder, using the wide lapel of her trench coat to shield the child's face from the blinding flashes. Her other hand tightened its grip on Jovany's fingers.
Jake watched the reporters swarm her. His jaw clenched so hard a muscle ticked in his cheek. A sudden, irrational surge of violent anger flared in his chest.
He spun around and glared at Alex.
"Clear the room," Jake roared.
Instantly, the elite black-clad security force of the Yates family flooded the ballroom. They moved like a military unit, forming a solid human wall. They physically shoved the screaming reporters backward, snatching cameras from the hands of those who refused to retreat.
As the chaos was pushed back, Doretta Yates pushed her way to the front of the crowd, supported by two wealthy socialites. Her face was purple with rage.
Doretta looked Alisson up and down, her eyes filled with toxic contempt.
"I have seen a hundred women just like you," Doretta sneered, her voice loud enough for the remaining guests to hear. "You think you can use a couple of bastards to climb into a billionaire's bed. It is pathetic."
Alisson met the older woman's venomous glare without blinking.
"Keep your delusions to yourself, Mrs. Yates," Alisson replied, her tone perfectly flat and devastatingly cold. "I have absolutely zero interest in stepping foot into your family's snake pit."
Iman Lucas, finally recovering from the shock of seeing Alisson alive, saw an opportunity to save his family's ruined reputation. He rushed forward, pointing a shaking finger at Alisson.
"You shameless disgrace!" Iman shouted, his face contorted with fake righteous anger. "Do not listen to her! She is my adopted daughter. I threw her out of my house five years ago because her private life was a filthy mess! Those children are nothing but stray mongrels!"
The word "mongrels" hung in the air.
Jovany's head snapped up. His dark eyes locked onto Iman Lucas with a look of pure, homicidal coldness. He memorized the man's face, silently adding him to the top of his destruction list.
Jake heard Iman's insult. A sharp, inexplicable pain sliced through his chest. He turned his head slowly and fixed Iman with a stare so lethal it made the older man instantly snap his mouth shut and take a step back in terror.
Bella, still trembling on the floor, grabbed onto Jake's pant leg. Tears streamed down her ruined makeup.
"Jake, please," Bella sobbed hysterically. "She is doing this to ruin me! It's a setup! I love you, please don't believe her lies!"
Jake violently jerked his leg away, ripping his fabric from her grasp. He did not even look down at her. His eyes remained locked on Alisson and the boy standing beside her.
Doretta turned her fury toward her younger son, Kian Yates, who was standing near the buffet table.
"Is this your doing, Kian?" Doretta demanded sharply. "Did you knock up some woman and hire her to ruin your brother's engagement?"
Kian threw his hands up in the air, his eyes wide with panic.
"Mother, I swear to God!" Kian yelled defensively. "I am a playboy, yes, but I have never seen this gorgeous woman in my life! And I am definitely not smart enough to produce a kid who looks like that! I will take a DNA test right now to prove it!"
The words "DNA test" struck Doretta like a bolt of lightning.
She spun around and pointed her cane at Jake.
"Kian is right," Doretta ordered, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Jake, you will take a DNA test immediately. The Yates bloodline is sacred. If those children carry our blood, I will not allow them to live in the gutter with this woman."
Bella let out a horrifying gasp. Her face turned the color of a corpse. Her entire body began to shake uncontrollably.
If they did a DNA test, it wouldn't just prove the twins were Jake's. It would inevitably expose Geovanni's true maternity. The massive, five-year lie she had built her entire life upon would be detonated.
Bella scrambled to her feet, waving her hands frantically.
"No! You can't!" Bella screamed, her voice breaking. "It's a trick! She will tamper with the results! You can't trust the test!"
Jake looked at Bella's pathetic, frantic panic. His suspicion reached its absolute peak. He turned his cold eyes back to Alisson.
"Call the medical team," Jake ordered Alex, his voice devoid of all emotion.
"Yes, sir," Alex replied, immediately dialing the chief of the Yates-owned private hospital. "They will be here with the mobile lab equipment in ten minutes."
The remaining guests held their breath. No one moved toward the exits. They were all waiting for the ultimate verdict of the blood test.
Alisson's stomach twisted into a tight knot. She would rather die than let her children become biological evidence for this arrogant family.
She tightened her grip on Jovany's hand and adjusted Janna in her arms. She swept her cold gaze over the room.
"This circus is over," Alisson announced firmly. "We are leaving."
She turned toward the main doors.
Instantly, a dozen massive security guards stepped sideways, forming a solid, impenetrable wall of muscle between her and the exit.
Jake took a slow, deliberate step toward her. His tall frame cast a dark shadow over her. The physical pressure he exuded was suffocating.
He looked down at her, his eyes burning with dark intensity.
"Until the results are in," Jake stated, his voice a low, absolute command, "no one takes a single step out of this room."
