Chapter 1
I walked into Labor and Delivery expecting to help a patient give birth. Then I saw my husband standing beside her bed, holding her hand like he belonged there.
I stopped in the doorway.
“Daniel?”
His face lost all color.
The woman in the bed looked from him to me.
“You know Dr. Carter?”
I could barely breathe.
Daniel slowly let go of her hand.
“Emily, I can explain.”
I looked at the chart in my hand.
The patient’s name was Ashley Bennett.
Thirty-two years old.
Full term.
Then I saw the emergency contact.
Daniel Carter.
My husband.
“Why are you listed here?”
Ashley suddenly grabbed her stomach and cried out.
A nurse rushed toward her.
“Doctor, she’s progressing fast.”
I forced myself to move closer to the bed.
Daniel whispered, “Please, not now.”
“Not now?”
Ashley stared at him.
“You said you already told her.”
My hands went cold.
“Told me what?”
Nobody answered.
Then Ashley started crying.
“I didn’t know he was still married when this started.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
I looked down at her chart again.
There was one note I hadn’t noticed.
Father requesting to be present for delivery.
I stared at Daniel.
“Is this baby yours?”
He said nothing.
That silence was enough.
The nurse beside me whispered, “Dr. Carter… should I call another physician?”
Before I could answer, Ashley screamed as another contraction hit.
Then Daniel grabbed my arm.
“There’s something else you need to know before this baby is born.”
I pulled away.
“What could possibly be worse than this?”
May you like
Daniel looked toward Ashley, then back at me.
“The paternity test was already done.”
