Chapter 4
“There was an unexpected discovery during the marker analysis.”Richard dropped his gaze.
That was the first warning.
Margaret noticed it too. Her confidence shattered so quickly I nearly missed it.
“This cannot be correct,” she said.
The counselor kept her tone steady.
“The laboratory confirmed the findings twice.”
Daniel looked between the counselor and his mother.
“What findings?”
She pushed the report toward him.
“Richard Carter is not your biological father.”
The room became silent.
Daniel stared down at the document.
“What?”
Richard covered his face with one trembling hand.
Margaret whispered, “Richard, don’t.”
He slowly shook his head.
“I cannot do this anymore.”
Daniel rose halfway out of his chair.
“Dad?”
Richard looked at Daniel and said, “I decided to be your father.”
Margaret’s face went completely pale.
Richard’s voice trembled, but he continued. He explained that he and Margaret had separated before they married. When she returned pregnant, he loved her, and he loved the child.
“So I stayed,” he said.
“I raised you because you were mine in every way that truly mattered.”
Daniel turned toward Margaret.
“You knew.”
She covered her lips.
“Mom, you knew.”
Her response was barely audible.
May you like
“Yes.”
The man who had demanded proof from me now stood trapped inside a truth he never wanted. His mother had spent months accusing my babies of being outsiders. The entire time, she had been protecting her own secret.
