Chapter 2: The Man She Chose
Kiara held Andre tightly, pressing her face against his dark jacket.
For twenty-two years, she had wondered what it would feel like to finally hug the man she believed had given her half of her DNA.
Now she knew.
And something was wrong.
Andre's arms never moved.
“Dad?”” Kiara whispered.
Andre looked over her shoulder.
His eyes landed on Darnell.
Darnell was still standing beneath the white arch.
Still holding the graduation bouquet.
Still watching.
Andre's expression hardened.
Kiara pulled back.
“I thought you weren't coming.””
“I almost didn't.””
Her smile disappeared.
“Why?””
Andre glanced at Rochelle.
“Because your mother asked me not to.””
Kiara slowly turned.
“Mom?””
Rochelle stepped forward.
“Andre, please.””
Kiara looked between them.
“What is going on?””
Nobody answered.
A cousin near the chairs quietly moved farther away, sensing that the celebration had become something else entirely.
Kiara looked at Andre again.
“You're my father, right?””
Andre's eyes dropped.
That was enough to make her heart pound.
“Say it,” she demanded.
Andre exhaled.
“I need you to read something first.””
He reached inside his jacket.
Kiara watched his hand disappear into the pocket.
When it came back out, he was holding a sealed DNA report.
Her face went pale.
“What is that?””
Andre held it toward her.
“Something your mother should have shown you before today.””
Rochelle moved quickly.
“Andre, don't.””
He didn't look at her.
“Your mother didn't tell you everything.””
Kiara took the envelope.
Her fingers shook.
Darnell stared at it from across the celebration.
“What's in that envelope?”” he asked.
Andre finally looked at him.
“The truth.””
Darnell's expression changed.
“Then open it.””
Rochelle shook her head.
“Darnell, you don't understand.””
“No,” Darnell said.
“Apparently I don't understand anything.””
Kiara looked down at the envelope.
Her name was printed across the front.
KIARA JAMES.
Beneath it was a laboratory identification number.
She stared at the sealed edge.
Andre spoke softly.
“I wanted you to know before I said anything else.””
“Know what?””
Andre hesitated.
“That I took a DNA test.””
Kiara looked at him.
“Why would you take one?””
“Because I needed to be certain.””
Her voice became smaller.
“Certain about what?””
Andre didn't answer.
Rochelle stepped closer.
“Kiara, please give me the envelope.””
Kiara pulled it against her chest.
“No.””
“Baby—”
“Don't call me baby.””
Rochelle stopped.
Kiara's eyes filled.
“You told me last night that he was my father.””
“I told you what I believed you needed to know.””
“You said you found him.””
“I did.””
“You said he was the reason you and Darnell—”
“Stop.””
Rochelle's voice came out sharper than before.
The family went silent again.
Kiara stared at her mother.
“Why are you scared?””
Rochelle looked at Andre.
Andre said nothing.
Kiara looked back at the envelope.
Then at Darnell.
His face had gone completely still.
“Did you know about this?”” she asked him.
Darnell shook his head.
“I knew there were things your mother never told me.””
“Like what?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I swear to you, Kiara, I don't know.””
She looked down.
The envelope felt heavier than paper should.
Andre stepped closer.
“Open it.””
Rochelle whispered, “Andre, don't.””
Andre's eyes remained on Kiara.
“You deserve to know who you are.””
Kiara tore the envelope open.
The sound seemed impossibly loud.
She pulled out several pages.
Her eyes raced across the laboratory report.
Andre watched her face.
Darnell watched Andre.
Rochelle covered her mouth.
Kiara reached the final section.
Then stopped.
Her breathing changed.
“What…” she whispered.
Andre said nothing.
Kiara looked at the bolded result.
*PATERNITY PROBABILITY: 0%.*
Her fingers went numb.
She looked up at Andre.
“You're not my father?””
Andre's face tightened.
“No.””
Kiara stumbled backward.
Darnell caught his breath.
Rochelle closed her eyes.
Kiara looked at her mother, the paper trembling between her fingers.
Then Andre said the one thing that shattered everything she thought she knew.
“I’m not your father either.””
And behind them, Darnell whispered Rochelle's name.
“Rochelle…”
She looked at him.
May you like
Darnell's face had gone completely pale.
“Then who is?””
