Chapter 8: The Test That Was Never Real
The room went silent.
Not the peaceful kind of silence.
The kind that comes right before something breaks.
I looked at Garrett.
He looked at me.
And for the first time since he walked into my hospital room, I didn’t see a guilty man.
I saw a terrified one.
“Garrett.””
My voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
“Is that true?””
He didn’t answer.
My chest tightened.
“Is the DNA test fake?””
His lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Rachel whispered:
“Oh my God.””
I looked at her.
Then back at him.
“No.””
I shook my head slowly.
“No, don’t do this.””
Garrett stepped toward me.
“Vivian, listen.””
I held up my hand.
“Answer the question.””
His face changed.
Because he knew there was no way around it anymore.
“Was the test real?””
A long pause.
Then he whispered:
“No.””
The word destroyed whatever was left of my trust.
Not because of the test.
Because of everything around it.
Every lie.
Every secret.
Every moment he let me believe I was losing my mind.
I looked down at my son.
The baby I had fought through fear and pain to bring into this world.
The baby Garrett used as a weapon.
“Why?””
Garrett’s eyes filled.
“I was trying to protect you.””
I laughed.
It came out broken.
“You keep saying that.””
“Because it’s true.””
“No.””
I looked at him.
“You were protecting yourself.””
He opened his mouth.
But I stopped him.
“You left me because of a fake test.””
“I thought Lena had proof.””
“So you believed her?””
“I was scared.””
“You were scared, so you destroyed me?””
The room was quiet.
Garrett looked away.
That was the answer.
Rachel stood near the window, processing everything.
“How did Lena fake a DNA test?””
Garrett sat down.
“She didn’t.””
I frowned.
“What?””
His voice was low.
“I did.””
My heart stopped.
“You did?””
He nodded.
“I changed the paperwork.””
I stared at him.
“You changed the paperwork.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Garrett looked at my son.
“Because I thought if you believed I wasn’t the father, you would leave.””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“You wanted me to leave?””
“No.””
His voice broke.
“I wanted you to hate me before you found out everything else.””
That made no sense.
Nothing about him made sense anymore.
“You wanted me to hate you?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
He looked at Claire.
Then at me.
“Because Lena was threatening me.””
Claire crossed her arms.
“Tell her the whole truth.””
Garrett closed his eyes.
Then finally said:
“Lena knew about Cedarcliff.””
I waited.
“She knew I was there that night.””
“Yes.””
“She knew about Claire.””
“Yes.””
“She threatened to expose me unless I helped her.””
“With what?””
Garrett swallowed.
“She wanted money.””
“That’s all?””
“No.””
The hesitation returned.
I felt sick.
“What else?””
He looked at me.
“She wanted me to leave you.””
The room went cold.
“Why?””
Garrett’s voice became barely audible.
“Because she believed if I stayed with you, she would lose control.””
Rachel frowned.
“Control of what?””
Garrett looked at her.
“Everything.””
Three years ago.
Cedarcliff.
The accident.
Claire.
Lena.
Everything connected.
But there was still one thing I didn’t understand.
“The baby.””
Garrett looked at me.
“What?””
“The baby Lena claimed was yours.””
He nodded.
“It wasn’t.””
“I know.””
I looked at him.
“But why would she create that lie?””
Claire answered.
“Because she needed a reason to keep Garrett tied to her.””
I looked at her.
“And the child?””
Claire sighed.
“The child was real.””
My stomach tightened.
“Whose baby was it?””
Nobody spoke.
Then Garrett said:
“Her husband’s.””
I froze.
“Her husband?””
Rachel looked shocked.
“Lena was married?””
Garrett nodded.
“Yes.””
I stared.
“Then why involve you?””
“Because her marriage was falling apart.””
Claire continued:
“She told Garrett the baby was his because she knew he felt guilty about the past.””
I looked at Garrett.
“So she used your guilt.””
“Yes.””
“And you let her.””
His eyes closed.
“Yes.””
The honesty hurt more than another lie.
Because he finally stopped defending himself.
A nurse entered quietly.
“Vivian?””
I turned.
“Yes?””
“The baby’s tests are complete.””
My heart jumped.
“Is he okay?””
The nurse smiled.
“He’s perfectly healthy.””
Relief washed over me.
Then she looked at the chart.
“There’s just one thing.””
My body tensed.
“What?””
“The doctor wants to speak with you about the family information on file.””
I looked at Garrett.
The words suddenly felt heavier.
Family information.
The nurse left.
Garrett looked uncomfortable.
“What did you put on the paperwork?””
I asked.
His face changed.
“What?””
“When I was admitted.””
Silence.
“You were listed as the father.””
“Yes.””
“But you weren’t sure.””
He looked away.
“I was.””
I stared.
“No.””
I shook my head.
“You weren’t.””
The fake test.
The lies.
The fear.
He wasn’t sure of anything.
But he still let me carry all of it alone.
An hour later, the doctor entered.
She looked at me gently.
“Vivian, there’s something unusual about the information we received.””
I sat up.
“What kind of information?””
She glanced at Garrett.
Then back at me.
“We received a request for additional testing.””
“From who?””
She hesitated.
“The hospital received it anonymously.””
My stomach dropped.
“What testing?””
“A second DNA test.””
Everyone went silent.
Garrett immediately stood.
“No.””
The doctor looked at him.
“Excuse me?””
“No.””
His voice was tense.
“That’s unnecessary.””
I looked at him.
There it was again.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
“Why?””
Garrett looked at me.
“Vivian.””
“Why are you afraid of another test?””
He didn’t answer.
The doctor looked between us.
“I’ll give you some privacy.””
After she left, I stared at him.
“You don’t want the truth.””
“That’s not true.””
“Then let the test happen.””
He looked at the baby.
“Vivian.””
“Let the test happen.””
His silence was enough.
Rachel whispered:
“Garrett…”
He sat down.
Then quietly said:
“There’s something else.””
Of course.
Another secret.
I felt numb.
“What?””
He looked at me.
“When I changed the first test…”
My heart pounded.
“I didn’t change it because I thought the baby wasn’t mine.””
I frowned.
“Then why?””
His eyes filled.
“Because I already knew the truth.””
“What truth?””
He looked at our son.
Then whispered:
“I knew the baby was mine.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“I knew.””
“Then why create a fake test?””
Garrett’s voice broke.
“Because someone told me if I didn’t, you and the baby would be in danger.””
The room froze.
“Who?””
He looked toward the door.
Like he was afraid someone was listening.
Then he said:
“Lena.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“She threatened you.””
“Yes.””
“And you believed her?””
Garrett nodded.
“She showed me something.””
“What?””
His face turned pale.
“A photograph.””
My stomach tightened.
“What photograph?””
He looked at me.
“The same one she used to control me for months.””
“Where is it?””
Garrett hesitated.
Then reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his phone.
Opened a hidden folder.
And showed me the image.
I expected another secret.
Another betrayal.
But what I saw made my blood run cold.
Because the photograph wasn’t of Garrett.
It wasn’t of Lena.
It wasn’t even from Cedarcliff.
It was a picture of me.
Taken before I met Garrett.
And standing beside me…
Was someone I knew.
Someone who should not have been there.
Someone who changed everything.
Garrett whispered:
“Vivian, I think Lena knows something about your past that you don’t remember.””
I stared at the picture.
Because the person beside me wasn’t a stranger.
May you like
It was my own father.
The man I was told had died fifteen years ago.
