The hospital room felt frozen.

The hospital room felt frozen.

Daniel stared at the newborn in Nora's arms.

The baby had his eyes.

His chin.

Even the tiny dimple on his left cheek.

There was no denying it.

The bride beside him slowly released his sleeve.

"You knew?" she whispered.

Daniel swallowed hard.

"No."

But Nora laughed.

Not because anything was funny.

Because she was tired.

So tired.

"You knew enough," she said.

The pediatric nurse looked between them.

"We need family medical history immediately. The baby may have inherited a rare blood condition."

Daniel stepped forward.

"I'll help."

Nora shook her head.

"No."

Then she opened the drawer beside her bed.

Inside was a folded document.

She handed it to the nurse.

The nurse scanned it.

Her expression changed.

"What is that?" the bride asked.

Nora looked directly at Daniel.

"The paper he signed."

Six months earlier, when Nora discovered she was pregnant, she had begged Daniel to listen.

Instead, Vivian convinced him the pregnancy was a lie designed to keep him from leaving.

A lawyer was hired.

Documents were prepared.

Daniel signed a sworn statement denying paternity and waiving all responsibility.

The memory hit him like a truck.

His face turned white.

The nurse lowered the paper.

"Sir, according to this, you legally denied being the father."

Daniel couldn't speak.

The bride slowly stepped away from him.

For the first time, she looked afraid.

Not of Nora.

Of the man she was about to marry.