I blink, not comprehending. “What do you mean?” Steph, what are you talking about? She shook her head, despite the nurse’s explanation that they hadn’t cut the umbilical cord yet; thus, this was undoubtedly our kid. She seemed like she wanted to push it away. “Brent, look!” Her voice rose, dread oozing through every syllable. “She’s not…” “I have never…” When I stared down at our infant, my entire world twisted. Dark complexion, silky curls. It felt as though someone had lifted me off the ground. “What the hell, Stephanie?” I didn’t recognize my shrill, accusatory voice as it sliced through the room. The nurse flinched, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw our families frozen in disbelief.

“It’s not mine!” Stephanie’s voice trembled as she glanced at me, her eyes filled with sadness. “It cannot be. I’ve never slept with anybody else. Brent, you have to trust me. I never—” The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, thick, and strangling, as everyone silently crept out, leaving only the three of us. I should have remained, but I couldn’t take the treachery. “Brent, wait!” Stephanie’s broken and frantic cry came out from behind me as I marched towards the door. “Please do not abandon me. I vow to you that I have never been with anybody else.” You are the only man I have ever loved.” The genuine honesty in her speech made me pause. I turned to face her. This was the lady I’d loved for years, the one who had supported me through every challenge and grief. Could she be lying to me right now? “Steph,” I whispered, my voice softening despite the tempest brewing within me. “This does not make sense. How would you explain this?” I don’t understand it either, but please, Brent, you have to believe me.” I returned my gaze to the infant in her arms, this time with intent. The skin and hair were still in shock. But then I realized: She had my eyes. And she has a dimple on her left cheek, just like me. I bridged the gap between us and reached out to cup Steph’s cheek. “I am here. I am uncertain about the situation, but I will not abandon you. “We will resolve it collectively.” She dropped into me, crying, and I hugged my wife and kid as firmly as I could. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that, but Stephanie finally nodded out. The lengthy hours of labor and the stress of our baby’s unexpected appearance had taken their toll on her. “I only need a minute. “I’ll be right back.” Stephanie glanced up at me, her eyes swollen and red, and nodded. I knew she was afraid I wouldn’t return, but I couldn’t stay in that room any longer. My thoughts were racing uncontrollably. I went out into the hallway, the door clicking silently behind me, and took a deep breath, but it did not help. I needed more than simply air. I wanted answers, clarity, and anything else that would help me make sense of the insanity that had just engulfed my life.

“Brent,” a harsh, recognizable voice cried, cutting through my thoughts like a scalpel. I looked up and saw my mother standing at the window at the end of the hall, arms crossed tightly over her chest. As a child, the harsh, disapproving line on her face used to send shivers down my spine when I realized I had made a mistake. “Mom,” I said in a flat, impersonal voice. I didn’t have the energy for the lecture she was going to give. She did not waste any time. “Brent, you can’t stay with her after this. You saw the baby. That isn’t your child. “It cannot be.” “I’m confident she’s my child. I—” My voice stuttered because I wasn’t really sure. Not yet. And the uncertainty… God, the doubt was eating me alive. Mom stepped closer, her gaze sharpening. “Brent, don’t be naïve. Stephanie has deceived you, and you need to realize it. I know you love her, but you can’t deny the facts.” Her comments hit me like a blow in the stomach. Betrayed. I wanted to yell at my mother and tell her she was wrong, but the words stayed in my throat. A small, ruthless part of me was subtly suggesting that she might be right. “Mom, I… “I don’t know,” I said, feeling the earth slip away from beneath me. “I don’t know what to think right now.” She softened somewhat, reaching out to touch my arm. “Brent, you should leave her. You deserve more than this.” She is clearly not who you thought she was.” I backed away from her and shook my head. “No, you don’t understand it. This isn’t only about me. My wife and daughter are there. I can’t simply walk away. Mom gave me a pitiful look. “Brent, sometimes you have to make difficult decisions for your own good.” “You deserve the truth.” I turned away from her. “Yes, I deserve the truth. But I won’t make any decisions until I have it. I will thoroughly investigate this matter, Mom. I will deal with whatever I discover. However, I will continue to pursue Stephanie until then. She sighed, apparently dissatisfied with my statement, but did not press more. “Just take care, Brent. Don’t let your feelings for her blind you to reality.” With that, I turned to walk away.

I couldn’t stand there listening to her doubts, especially since I had so many. I made my way down to the hospital’s genetics department, each step seeming heavier than the previous. By the time I arrived at the office, my heart was throbbing in my chest, a constant reminder of what was at risk. The doctor was calm and competent, describing the DNA test procedure as if it were an ordinary test. But for me, it was far from routine. They drew my blood, swabbed the inside of my cheek, and promised to get the results as quickly as possible. I spent those hours walking the little waiting room, repeating everything in my mind. I kept picturing Stephanie’s face, the way she’d looked at me, anxious for me to believe her. The infant’s eyes and dimples resembled mine. My heart clung to those nuances as if they were lifelines. But then I’d hear my mother’s voice in my thoughts, telling me I was an idiot for not recognizing reality. Finally, the call arrived. I could hardly hear the doctor’s speech above the sound of blood in my ears. But suddenly the words broke through the noise: “The test confirms that you are the biological father.” Relief struck me first, like a tsunami slamming over me, followed by remorse so intense that my breath caught. How could I have questioned her? How could I have allowed those suspicions to take root in my mind?

But the doctor was not done. She talked about recessive genes and how features from previous generations might suddenly appear in a youngster. It made scientific sense, but it didn’t take away the guilt I felt for not believing Stephanie. The reality was now obvious, yet it made me feel no less stupid. I had allowed uncertainty to seep in, poisoning what should have been the best day of our lives. I made my way back to the room, clutching the findings like a lifeline. Stephanie glanced up as I opened the door, her eyes full of optimism, which I did not deserve. I crossed the room in three rapid steps, holding out the paper to her. Her hands trembled as she read, and she burst into tears, relief flowing down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” I said softly, my voice heavy with grief. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.” She shook her head, bringing me closer. Our daughter cuddled between us. “We’ll be okay now,” she whispered. And while I held them both, I made a solemn vow: no matter what happened, no matter who attempted to separate us, I would defend my family. This was my wife and kid, and I would never allow uncertainty or judgment to separate us again.