That’s when the doctor stepped out, grabbed my arm, and said quietly,
“Mr. Brooks… we need to talk. Right now.”
The expression on Dr. Harris’s face wiped away every bit of joy I had felt.
I followed him into a small consultation room, my chest tightening with every step. He shut the door, removed his glasses, and sat across from me. For a moment, he didn’t speak.
That silence was unbearable.
Finally, he said carefully,
“Mr. Brooks, I need to ask you something important. Are you certain you’re the biological father of this child?”
I stared at him, stunned. “What kind of question is that?”
“The baby’s blood type and initial markers don’t align with what we were told,” he explained. “It’s not definitive, but it raises concerns. We recommend a paternity test immediately.”
My throat went dry. “No… that’s not possible.”
He didn’t argue. He simply slid a form across the table.
When I walked back into Chloe’s room, she was lying in bed, smiling faintly, the baby sleeping beside her.
For a brief, foolish second, I almost believed everything was fine.
Then she saw my face.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
I held up the paper. “They want a paternity test.”
Her expression changed instantly.