Chapter 4

The conference room went silent.

Tiffany' s jaw dropped. For a second, the mask of the grieving lover fell away, replaced by genuine shock. Then, just as quickly, it was replaced by something else: calculation.

Her lawyer recovered first. "That's a vile, desperate accusation, Mrs. Evans. Slandering a dead hero to protect your inheritance."

But the damage was done. The secret was out, whispered into the most dangerous hands possible.

A week later, we were in court for the exhumation hearing. The room was packed. Tiffany was there, playing the part of the horrified victim, telling a reporter in the hallway how the Evans family was now trying to destroy the Colonel's memory with "disgusting lies."

Her story had a new, ugly twist. She wasn't just the secret lover anymore. She was the one protecting his true legacy from a family willing to say anything to deny her child his birthright.

The judge looked weary. Our lawyer argued passionately, but the law was on their side. Paternity claims required proof.

Then, the doors at the back of the courtroom opened.

General Miller walked in.

He was retired, but he still wore his authority like a uniform. He was in his late seventies, tall and straight, with eyes that had seen everything. He was my father's mentor, his commander, the closest thing he had to a father. The room quieted as he walked to the front.

"Your Honor," he said, his voice a low rumble that commanded attention. "My name is General Thomas Miller. I was Colonel Evans's commanding officer for fifteen years."

The judge leaned forward. "General. This is unexpected."

"I am here," General Miller said, his gaze sweeping over Tiffany, "to state for the record that this proceeding is a disgrace. It is a calculated smear campaign against a man who gave his life for this country. A man who cannot defend himself."

He didn't need to raise his voice. His presence filled the room. He spoke of my father's honor, his bravery, his unimpeachable record. He was one of the few people who knew my father's secret, and I could see the fury in his eyes that it was being used like this.

"This request is not about paternity," he concluded, looking directly at the judge. "It is an attempt to desecrate a hero's grave for money. I urge this court to delay any ruling until a more thorough investigation into the claimant's motives can be conducted."

The judge, a veteran himself, looked from the General to Tiffany. He seemed to see the cheap drama for what it was.

"Motion is delayed for thirty days, pending review," he announced, banging his gavel.

As we left the courtroom, General Miller pulled me aside.

"This bought us time, Chloe," he said, his voice low. "But that's all. They know the truth now. They're not going to use it to prove she's lying. They're going to use it to destroy him."