Daddy puts his hand on Aunt Lisa’s tummy,” Ellie said. “He talks to the baby and says, ‘Daddy can’t wait to meet you.’ Then they hug when they think I’m watching cartoons.”
The room went silent.
Callum’s face lost all color. Lisa released Ellie’s hand and stepped back.
“She misunderstood,” Callum said quickly. “I was only trying to support Lisa.”
“Then why did you tell our daughter to keep it secret?” I asked.
“I didn’t,” he replied. “Ellie must be confused.”
Ellie shook her head. “You said Mommy would cry if she knew.”
Lisa suddenly grabbed her purse. “This is ridiculous. I’m leaving.”
As she turned, her phone slipped out and landed beside my feet. The screen lit up with a new message.
Callum lunged for it, but I picked it up first.
The message was from a prenatal clinic.
I read the first line aloud: “Your requested paternity results are now available.”
Lisa froze. Callum whispered my name, but I raised my hand.
Then another message appeared beneath it—from a contact Lisa had saved as “C.”
