Chapter 47
Meg watched Issy close the bathroom door, feeling a little dumbfounded by the situation.
She’d had some initial concerns about having Issy here in her hotel room—there was a tracking tile in her handbag, after all, placed there by someone working for the Ashworths, if her suspicions were correct.
But any concerns she had were outweighed by the possibility that she might get some information out of Issy, about the plans for the dairy and Barton Drive.
Now she suspected Issy was completely in the dark.
Meg probably knew more than she did. It was interesting what Issy said about Hugh taking over Ashworth Property though—
Her thoughts were interrupted by the simultaneous flash of notifications on the two mobile phones sitting on the coffee table. She glanced at Issy’s phone first, sticky-beaking.
It was a notification from Heritage DNA: Click here to view your DNA profile.
She looked at her own phone: Heritage DNA: You have a new match.
Meg looked at the bathroom door, which was still closed.
With shaking hands, she tapped to open the link.
It took her to a screen with two overlapping circles.
In the left were her initials: MH. In the other: BA.
Beneath that it said: You and Bella Ash.
Suggested relationship: Half-sibling. 23% shared DNA: 1865 Cm.
Heart racing, she took a screenshot.
Bella Ash. Bella Ash. Bella Ash.
Bella. Isobel.
Ash. Ashworth.
They were Issy’s results, under a fake name.
The toilet flushed and Issy returned, looking fresher. Seeing there was a notification, she reached for her phone.
Meg watched as the colour drained from her face.
Issy looked up, her eyes wide. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘It’s you, isn’t it?’ Meg whispered. ‘Bella Ash?’
‘Meg, please. Explain this to me.’ Her voice trembled. ‘What the hell is going on?’
‘My mum was your night nurse when you were a baby,’ Meg whispered. ‘Anna. That’s all I know. I only discovered this recently. Something must have happened while she was working for your parents.’ Meg swallowed. ‘Between her and your father.’
Issy shook her head. ‘This can’t be right.’
‘DNA doesn’t lie,’ Meg said gently.
Issy slumped forward, her head in her hands. After a few moments, she looked up and frowned. ‘Who are you? You’re not an academic, are you? That story you told me about your PhD, that’s not true, is it?’
‘I’m … it’s …’
Issy’s eyes narrowed. ‘Was it you who put the DNA tests there on Christmas Day? Under the tree?’
‘Me? No! Georgie told me about them, but it wasn’t me. Whoever did, though, they must know about this. They must want it to come out.’
Issy glared at her, blue eyes ice cold. ‘This is about money, isn’t it?’
‘What—’
‘I should have listened to my mother. You came here to set me up. You planted those DNA tests at my parents’ house.’
‘How would I—’
‘Georgie was there. She could have—’
‘I didn’t—’
‘You’re a liar!’ Issy rose to her feet, fury flashing in her eyes. ‘Another freaking liar!’
Meg stood up. ‘Issy, please, I can explain—’ She put a hand on Issy’s shoulder, but she hit it away.
‘Stay away from me,’ Issy warned through gritted teeth. She grabbed her bag and stormed out the door.