Chapter 4: The Test Result My Husband Tried to Hide
The laboratory report trembled between my fingers.
I read the words again, hoping I had misunderstood them.
*DONOR COMPATIBILITY: INCONCLUSIVE. PATERNITY VERIFICATION RECOMMENDED.*
Beneath the printed result was a handwritten note from the specialist.
The reported biological relationship between the children should be independently verified before any invasive procedure is considered.
I looked at Vanessa.
"What does this mean?""
She shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks.
"I don't know. Daniel told me the tests showed Lily was a perfect match for Nathan.""
I turned toward my husband.
"Why would the doctor recommend a paternity test?""
Daniel's face had become dangerously still.
"Those are preliminary results. The specialist wanted additional testing.""
"Then why did you tell Vanessa that Lily was a suitable donor?""
"Because there's a possibility she could help Nathan!""
"That's not what I asked you.""
The security officer standing beside the door shifted his weight. Another officer had arrived and was reviewing the documents on the desk.
Daniel glanced at them, then lowered his voice.
"Sarah, please. We can discuss the medical details privately.""
"No. You've had four years to tell me the truth. You don't get privacy now just because the truth is inconvenient.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Four years?"" she whispered.
"You told me Nathan was conceived after your divorce.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Vanessa, don't do this.""
"Don't do what? Ask you questions about my own child?""
She snatched the laboratory report from my hand and studied it again.
"Why would they question his paternity?""
Daniel reached toward her.
She backed away so quickly that her handbag fell to the floor.
"Don't touch me.""
For the first time since I had met her, Vanessa looked at Daniel with genuine fear rather than anger.
I understood that feeling.
It was the terrible moment when the person you thought you knew becomes someone whose next move you cannot predict.
I looked at the report again.
"Daniel, is Nathan your biological son?""
His jaw tightened.
"Of course he is.""
"Then why is there a question about paternity?""
"Because medical records aren't always accurate!""
"Then prove it.""
He stared at me.
"Excuse me?""
"Take a DNA test. Prove that Nathan is your son. Prove that this medical plan is based on accurate information.
Prove anything, Daniel. For once in your life, give me something besides a lie.""
He slammed his palm against the desk.
"You're not a doctor!""
"And you're not entitled to use our daughter as a medical resource without my consent!""
Lily flinched at his raised voice.
I immediately pulled her against me.
Daniel noticed and softened his expression, as though he could erase the moment by pretending it hadn't happened.
"Lily, sweetheart, Daddy didn't mean to scare you.""
She buried her face in my coat.
"Please don't talk to me.""
His face crumpled.
For one second, I saw something that resembled regret.
Then his phone buzzed again.
He looked at it.
I watched his expression change.
Whatever message he had received was more important to him than his daughter crying in my arms.
One of the officers asked him to place the phone on the desk.
Daniel hesitated.
"Sir," the officer repeated, "please put it down.""
He complied.
The officer asked whether we had any additional documents related to the proposed travel or medical procedure. Vanessa immediately reached into the suitcase and removed a second folder.
"There are more papers," she said.
"I found them in his hotel bag.""
Daniel's head snapped toward her.
"Vanessa, don't.""
She ignored him.
Inside the folder were copies of passport applications, hospital correspondence, and a printed email chain. One message was dated three weeks earlier.
The subject line read: *London Treatment—Final Authorization Requirements.*
I began reading.
The correspondence referred to Nathan's condition and the possibility of a bone marrow transplant. It also mentioned a second potential donor who had not yet completed verification.
Lily.
But the next paragraph made my stomach tighten.
Given the unresolved parentage question, we cannot proceed with donor selection until the appropriate testing has been completed.
I looked at Daniel.
"You knew.""
He shook his head.
"I knew there were questions. That doesn't mean anything.""
"You knew the doctors hadn't confirmed whether Lily could help Nathan, and you still forged my signature.""
"I was trying to save my son!""
"And what were you trying to save him from? A disease? Or the consequences of your own decisions?""
He looked away.
The officer collected the documents and explained that the allegations would need to be investigated. No one in the room promised an immediate resolution. The custody documents, travel arrangements, and medical paperwork all required verification.
But the planned departure was no longer something Daniel could quietly carry out.
I held Lily close while an officer asked me to provide identification and explain our family situation.
Then Vanessa approached me.
"I need to tell you something," she whispered.
I stared at her.
"What now?""
She glanced at Daniel, who was speaking angrily to the other officer.
"When Nathan was born, Daniel told me he looked exactly like his father. But a few months ago, he started insisting that we keep Nathan's medical records separate from everything else.""
"Why?""
"I don't know. He said insurance companies were complicated. He said there were legal reasons.""
She swallowed.
"Then, last month, he asked me to sign a document giving him authority over Nathan's medical decisions if anything happened to me.""
I felt cold.
"Did you sign it?""
She shook her head.
"No. I wanted my attorney to review it first.""
A silence settled between us.
Then she looked at Lily, who had fallen asleep against my shoulder from exhaustion.
"Sarah, I thought I was building a family with him. I never imagined he would do something like this.""
I believed that she was frightened.
I didn't yet know whether I could trust her.
But before I could respond, one of the officers approached us with Daniel's phone in a sealed evidence bag.
A message had appeared on its lock screen before the device was secured.
The sender was Patricia.
The message read:
*The hospital called. They need the original DNA report before tomorrow. If Sarah sees the other result, everything falls apart.*
I stared at the screen.
The other result.
May you like
There was another report.
And Patricia knew exactly what it contained.
