The nurse supervising the paperwork, Rachel Bennett, nodded slightly.
“That’s standard procedure.”
Jason signed the forms impatiently.
“Fine. Let’s get it over with.”
When the staff swabbed Lily’s cheek, I watched Jason carefully. He kept rubbing his wedding ring as if trying to erase it.
When they asked for his sample, he grabbed the swab immediately.
Rachel stopped him.
“I’ll handle the sample.”
“I can do it,” he insisted.
“No,” she said firmly.
That was when I noticed Eric avoiding eye contact.
After they left, Rachel lingered.
“I shouldn’t speculate,” she said quietly, “but your husband seems unusually interested in controlling this process.”
I looked down at Lily gripping my finger.
“I think he’s building a story,” I whispered.
That night, after Lily fell asleep, I checked the shared tablet Jason used for bills.
He hadn’t been careful.
Several tabs were open:
how to challenge paternity
signing away parental rights
avoiding child support if not the father
Then I found a message thread.
Jason texting someone saved as K.
if the test says she’s mine, I’m stuck. I need a way out.
The reply:
then make sure the test doesn’t say that.
My blood ran cold.
Jason wasn’t searching for the truth.