Chapter 12 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY
Vanessa gave birth four months later.
A healthy baby boy.
She named him Lucas.
Ethan requested a legally authorized paternity test.
The results confirmed he was not the father.
Further testing established Daniel Russo as Lucas's biological father.
Vanessa cried when she received the report.
Not because she was surprised.
But because the lie she had built her future around was finally over.
Ethan visited her once.
She sat in a hospital room holding the baby.
He stood near the door.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa whispered, “I'm sorry.”
Ethan looked at Lucas.
The baby slept peacefully.
He had tiny hands.
Dark hair.
And no understanding of the chaos surrounding his birth.
Ethan swallowed.
“I wanted him to be mine.”
Vanessa's eyes filled.
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“Why did you lie?”
She began crying.
“Because I thought if you loved him, you'd love me.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
For a moment, he remembered Claire.
Her sarcastic smile.
Her practical jokes.
The way she negotiated their marriage like a business contract.
He had believed she didn't care about love.
Maybe because he had never asked.
Ethan looked at Vanessa.
“Lucas deserves better than what we did.”
She nodded.
“I know.”
He turned toward the door.
Vanessa whispered, “Will you ever forgive me?”
Ethan paused.
Then answered.
May you like
“I don't know.”
And left.
