Chapter 6: The Question of Fatherhood
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the rhythmic beeping of the monitor.
Vanessa's words hung between us.
Ask him who the father really is.
I slowly released her hand.
“What did you just say?””
She wiped her eyes.
“I didn't want you to find out this way.””
“Find out what?””
She looked toward the nurse.
“Can we have a moment alone?””
The nurse glanced at me, then at Vanessa.
“I'll be just outside. Press the call button if you need anything.””
When the door closed, I stepped closer to the bed.
“Tell me exactly what you mean.””
Vanessa stared at the blanket.
“I made a mistake.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“What kind of mistake?””
She began crying.
“Adrian and I were involved before you and I got married.””
I stared at her.
“How long?””
“Marcus—”
“How long?””
She covered her face.
“Before our wedding.””
I took a step backward.
“You told me you had never been with anyone else.””
“I was afraid you'd leave me.””
“Were you involved with him after we got married?””
She didn't answer.
I laughed once, without humor.
“Of course.””
“Please don't do this.””
“Do what? Ask you questions?””
She reached for my hand.
I stepped away.
“Marcus, I love you.””
“Then why were you planning to take our money and leave?””
Her face changed.
For a moment, she looked genuinely frightened.
“Who told you that?””
I didn't respond.
She shook her head.
“Chloe.””
I remained silent.
“She's always been jealous of me. She wants to destroy my marriage.””
“Is that why you sent money to Adrian?””
Vanessa went still.
I watched her carefully.
“Forty-eight thousand dollars. Does that sound familiar?””
Her lips parted.
Then she looked away.
“You had no right to look through my financial arrangements.””
“It's our money.””
“It was for the baby.””
“Then why was it going to Adrian?””
She closed her eyes.
“I was trying to protect myself.””
“From what?””
“From you!””
The words exploded out of her.
I stared at her.
She began speaking faster.
“Your mother has spent our entire marriage making me feel unwelcome. You always defend her. You never understand what it's like to live in this house knowing she can criticize me whenever she wants.””
“So you framed her for assault?””
Vanessa's expression froze.
“I didn't frame anyone.””
“I heard the recording.””
She looked down.
I continued.
“I heard you talking to Adrian about making me choose between you and Mom.””
She pressed her lips together.
Then she said something I never expected.
“Your mother shouldn't have been listening.””
I felt the room tilt.
“You're not even denying it.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Marcus, please. I know I made mistakes. But I'm still carrying your child.””
I looked at the monitor.
The little heartbeat continued.
Fast.
Steady.
Completely unaware that the two adults in the room were tearing their family apart.
“Is the baby mine?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked up.
Her eyes filled again.
“I don't know.””
Those three words destroyed something inside me.
I gripped the back of a chair.
“What do you mean you don't know?””
“Adrian and I were together around the time I became pregnant.””
I stared at her.
“You told me we were trying for a baby.””
“We were.””
“Were you sleeping with him while we were trying?””
She began crying.
“I didn't plan for this to happen.””
I turned toward the window.
Outside, an ambulance pulled into the emergency entrance.
People were walking through the parking lot carrying coffee cups and hospital bags.
Ordinary people.
Ordinary lives.
And mine had just become something I didn't recognize.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Because I wanted our family.””
“You wanted my money, my house, and my name.””
“That isn't fair.””
I turned around.
“Then tell me what's fair about making me believe I was becoming a father while hiding the possibility that the child wasn't mine.””
She lowered her head.
I walked toward the door.
“Where are you going?””
“To make a phone call.””
“Marcus, don't leave me.””
I stopped.
“I'm not leaving the baby.””
She looked up.
“But you're leaving me?””
I didn't answer.
I stepped into the hallway and called Daniel.
He answered immediately.
“What's happening?””
“Find Adrian Cole.””
“Why?””
“Because I need to speak with him.””
Daniel was quiet for a moment.
Then he said, “Marcus, I already know where he is.””
“Where?””
“His office. But there's something you should know first.””
“What?””
“Ryan contacted him this morning.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“And?””
“Adrian told Ryan that Vanessa had promised him something.””
“What?””
Daniel hesitated.
“Your house.””
I closed my eyes.
The house my father had helped me buy.
The house where my mother had raised me after his death.
The house where I had planned to bring my child home.
“What does Adrian have to do with my house?””
“Apparently, Vanessa told him she'd be entitled to a share if she divorced you. She also claimed she'd already arranged to have the property transferred into both your names.””
“That isn't possible.””
“That's what I thought.””
I looked through the glass window at Vanessa.
She was sitting on the bed, staring at her phone.
Then she made a call.
I watched her lips move.
She said one sentence.
And although I couldn't hear it, I knew exactly who she was calling.
Adrian.
I turned away.
“Daniel, get me his address.””
“I'm sending it now.””
A message arrived.
I opened it.
Adrian Cole's office was less than fifteen minutes away.
But before I could leave, a doctor approached me.
“Mr. Hayes?””
“Yes.””
“Your wife's examination is complete. The baby appears stable, but we need to discuss some information she provided.””
My stomach tightened.
“What information?””
The doctor glanced at the medical chart.
“Your wife told us there may be uncertainty about the biological father. She has requested that we document this before delivery.””
I stared at him.
“Did she say anything else?””
He hesitated.
“She also mentioned that she would like you to be excluded from certain medical decisions if you are not the biological father.””
I felt my throat tighten.
“Can she do that?””
“That's a matter we can help you understand through the hospital's patient-support team. But there's something else.””
He turned the chart toward me.
I looked down.
Under the section marked Emergency Contact, someone had written a name.
Not mine.
Not Chloe's.
Not my mother's.
Adrian Cole.
And beside his name was a handwritten note.
*Father of baby — contact immediately if delivery begins.*
I stared at the words.
The doctor quietly took the chart back.
“Mr. Hayes, I think you should speak with your wife about this.””
I looked through the glass.
Vanessa had put her phone away.
She was watching me.
Then she slowly raised her left hand and touched her wedding ring.
She slipped it off.
Placed it on the bedside table.
May you like
And mouthed four words through the glass.
*We need to talk alone.*
