Chapter 6: The Second DNA Test
I didn’t speak.
I couldn’t.
Michael’s words kept replaying in my head.
“The man Rebecca thought was Lily’s father… he might not be her father either.””
I looked at Lily.
She was still standing on the porch beside me, unaware that another piece of her life was about to disappear.
Another truth.
Another name.
Another person who had failed her.
“Daniel?””
Michael’s voice came through the phone.
“Are you still there?””
I forced myself to answer.
“Yes.””
“I know this is a lot.””
“A lot?””
My voice sounded empty.
“My entire family is built on secrets, and you’re telling me this is a lot?””
Michael was quiet.
Then he said:
“I know what that feels like.””
I looked toward the house.
Rebecca was still watching us through the window.
“She knew?””
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“I don’t know everything.””
“You need to start explaining.””
Michael sighed.
“I found out six months ago.””
The same time Lily found the messages.
Six months.
The number kept appearing.
Six months of people knowing.
Six months of everyone walking around me while I was the only person who didn’t understand what was happening.
“How did you find out?””
Michael hesitated.
“Rebecca contacted me.””
“Why?””
“She wanted answers.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Everyone wants answers after they create the questions.””
“Daniel—”
“No.””
I tightened my grip around the phone.
“I need the truth.””
Michael was silent for a moment.
Then he said:
“Rebecca reached out because she had been thinking about the past.””
“The past?””
“She was looking at old pictures. Old records. Things from when Lily was born.””
I looked at my daughter.
“What made her suspicious?””
Michael’s voice lowered.
“She found a hospital document.””
My stomach tightened.
“What document?””
“A mistake in the records.””
“What kind of mistake?””
“I don’t know exactly.””
I heard frustration in his voice.
“Rebecca never gave me the full story. She only told me she was afraid.””
I closed my eyes.
Again.
Fear.
The word that followed her everywhere.
“She took a DNA test.””
“Yes.””
“And?””
Michael paused.
Then:
“It came back that I wasn’t Lily’s biological father.””
The world became quiet.
Even though I was outside.
Even though cars passed on the street.
Even though the wind moved through the trees.
Everything disappeared.
I looked at Lily.
My daughter.
The girl who had spent her entire life wondering why her father left.
The girl who had just learned her mother hid the truth.
And now there was another truth waiting.
I stepped away from her.
Not because I wanted distance.
Because I needed to keep my face from showing what I was feeling.
“What happened after that?””
Michael answered quietly.
“Rebecca didn’t know what to do.””
“So she did nothing.””
“Yes.””
I swallowed.
“Of course she did.””
“Daniel.””
“She kept another secret.””
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“You don’t know what it feels like to watch someone you love build a life on information they stole from you.””
Michael didn’t argue.
Maybe because he understood.
Maybe because he had his own pain.
“Who is Lily’s biological father?””
I asked.
Michael didn’t answer immediately.
That scared me more.
“Michael.””
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
“No.””
“Then why call me?””
“Because I know someone who might.””
I looked back at the house.
“Who?””
Another pause.
Then:
“Ethan.””
The name made my chest tighten.
Ethan.
The man who was connected to Rebecca.
The man who knew about the baby.
The man who seemed to know every secret before I did.
“What does Ethan have to do with Lily?””
Michael’s voice became softer.
“Daniel, I think you need to ask Rebecca that question.””
The call ended.
I stood there holding the phone.
Lily approached slowly.
“Dad?””
I looked at her.
She knew.
Not the details.
But she knew something was wrong.
“What did he say?””
I wanted to lie.
For one second, I understood Rebecca.
I understood the temptation.
The desire to protect someone from pain.
But then I remembered the envelope.
The messages.
The years.
And I knew a lie would only create another wound.
“Your mother took another DNA test.””
Lily stared at me.
“What?””
I struggled to say the words.
“One about you.””
Her face went pale.
“Why?””
I looked down.
“She was trying to find out who your biological father was.””
The silence after that was unbearable.
Then Lily whispered:
“And?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because I knew the answer would hurt.
“I don’t know yet.””
She looked toward the house.
“Mom knew?””
I nodded.
Her expression changed.
Not shock.
Not anger.
Something deeper.
Disappointment.
“She knew again.””
I didn’t know what to say.
Because she was right.
Rebecca knew.
She always knew.
We walked back inside.
The moment we entered the living room, Rebecca stood.
“What did Michael say?””
I looked at her.
“You already know.””
Her face changed.
“Daniel…”
“He told me about the second DNA test.””
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Lily stared at her.
“Mom.””
Rebecca started crying.
“I didn’t want you to find out this way.””
Lily laughed softly.
“How else was I supposed to find out?””
Rebecca stepped toward her.
“I was trying to protect you.””
“No.””
Lily shook her head.
“You were trying to protect yourself.””
The sentence hurt because it was becoming impossible to deny.
I looked at Rebecca.
“Why didn’t you tell her?””
Rebecca sat down.
“I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“That she would hate me.””
Lily’s eyes filled.
“I don’t hate you.””
Rebecca looked surprised.
“I don’t.””
A small silence.
Then Lily said:
“But I don’t know you anymore.””
That sentence broke Rebecca.
She covered her face.
I looked away.
Because even though I was angry, I knew that moment belonged to Lily.
Not me.
Not Rebecca.
Her.
The daughter who had spent her entire life searching for answers.
I walked into the kitchen.
I needed space.
But then I saw something on the counter.
A folder.
Half-open.
My name was written on it.
My heart stopped.
I picked it up.
Inside were papers.
Hospital records.
Emails.
Printed messages.
And another DNA report.
I knew before I read it.
This was the second test.
My hands shook as I opened it.
The first page contained two names.
Rebecca Carter.
Lily Carter.
But the result section wasn’t about maternity.
It was about ancestry.
I read the conclusion.
Then I felt something I hadn’t felt all night.
Not anger.
Not sadness.
Fear.
Because the report showed something impossible.
A biological connection.
But not the one Rebecca expected.
I heard footsteps behind me.
Rebecca.
“Daniel, please.””
I turned around.
“What is this?””
She froze.
“I can explain.””
“No.””
I held up the paper.
“You’re going to tell me the truth.””
She stared at the report.
Then whispered:
“I didn’t know.””
“You keep saying that.””
Tears filled her eyes.
“Because it’s true.””
I looked back at the paper.
There was one name listed in the family connection section.
A name I recognized.
A name that made no sense.
“Rebecca…”
My voice dropped.
“Why is your DNA connected to Ethan?””
Her face went completely white.
The silence answered before she did.
I stepped back.
“No.””
She started crying.
“Daniel…”
“No.””
I shook my head.
“Tell me I’m reading this wrong.””
She couldn’t.
She just stood there.
And finally whispered:
“Ethan isn’t just someone I had an affair with.””
My chest tightened.
“Then what is he?””
Rebecca looked toward Lily.
Then back at me.
May you like
And said:
“He’s family.””
