A TEST THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Chapter 5

Daniel Bennett had never been afraid of the truth.

At least, that was what he had always believed.

But as he sat outside the specialist’s office, waiting for Lia’s paternity results, he discovered that the truth could be terrifying.

For five years, a little girl had been growing up without him. If the results confirmed what Maya had told him, he would have to face the fact that he had missed her first words, her first steps, and every birthday in between.

His phone vibrated.

A message from Maya appeared.

We’re outside the doctor’s office. Are you coming?

Daniel stood immediately.

I’m on my way.

When he entered the room, Maya sat beside Lia, holding her hand. Lia was busy drawing a picture, unaware of the storm surrounding the adults.

The doctor greeted them and placed an envelope on the desk.

“The results are ready,” he said.

Maya’s fingers tightened around Lia’s hand.

Daniel stared at the envelope.

“Please, open it,” he said.

The doctor removed the report and read it carefully.

“The test confirms that Daniel Bennett is Lia’s biological father.”

Silence followed.

Daniel couldn’t move.

He had prepared himself for either answer, but hearing the truth aloud made everything different.

Lia was his daughter.

His little girl.

Five years of her life had passed without him knowing she existed.

He looked at Maya, searching her face for something to say, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he finally whispered.

Maya’s eyes filled with tears.

“I thought you didn’t want us.”

“I never knew about her!”

“I know that now.”

Daniel turned away, running a hand through his hair.

Anger rose inside him, but beneath it was something more painful: regret.

He had spent years believing Maya had betrayed him. Meanwhile, his daughter had been growing up without him.

Lia looked between them.

“Does this mean he’s my daddy?”

Daniel knelt in front of her.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

Her face brightened.

“Really?”

He nodded, his voice breaking slightly.

“Really.”

Lia threw her arms around his neck.

Daniel held her carefully, afraid that if he let go, he might lose her too.

For the first time in years, tears gathered in his eyes.

⸻

Later, Daniel walked with Maya along the hospital corridor while Lia rested.

“I need to understand everything,” he said. “From the beginning.”

Maya nodded.

“I received a message from your number telling me you never loved me. I tried calling, but you wouldn’t answer. When I came to your house, someone said you didn’t want to see me.”

“I never sent that message.”

“I believe you.”

Her words surprised him.

“You do?”

Maya looked at him sadly.

“Because I received another message from you once. It said you were sorry for everything and wanted to explain. I thought you were playing with my feelings, so I deleted it.”

Daniel stared at her.

“Another message?”

She nodded.

“I never sent that either.”

They stood in silence, each realizing that the lies between them might have been more deliberate than either had imagined.

Someone had impersonated them.

Someone had destroyed their relationship before they could discover the truth.

Daniel took a step closer.

“Maya, I’m sorry you went through everything alone.”

She looked away, fighting her tears.

“I’m not asking you to feel sorry for me. I only wanted Lia to have a chance.”

“And she will.”

His voice softened.

“I can’t give back the years I lost with her, but I won’t disappear from her life now.”

Maya wanted to believe him. A part of her still remembered the man who had once promised to protect her.

But promises had become difficult to trust.

“Please don’t make her promises you can’t keep,” she said.

Daniel nodded.

“I won’t.”

⸻

That evening, Daniel returned to the Bennett family home with the test results in his briefcase.

Victoria was sitting in the living room when he entered.

“You’re home late,” she remarked.

“We need to talk.”

Something in his voice made her put down her book.

“What is it?”

“Lia is my daughter. The test confirmed it.”

Victoria went completely still.

For a moment, her face revealed something Daniel couldn’t identify.

Then she recovered.

“That woman has finally found a way to trap you.”

Daniel’s eyes hardened.

“The test is conclusive, Mother.”

“Blood doesn’t make someone a good person.”

“And being my mother doesn’t make you right about everything.”

Victoria rose sharply.

“How dare you speak to me like that?”

He took the report from his briefcase and placed it on the table.

“I want to know what happened six years ago. Someone has been sending me messages about you and Maya.”

Victoria’s expression changed.

“What messages?”

“One said I should ask you what you offered Maya before our wedding.”

For the first time, Victoria looked genuinely frightened.

Daniel noticed.

“Mother?”

She picked up her book with trembling fingers.

“You’re tired. We can discuss this another time.”

“No. We’re discussing it now.”

Victoria walked toward the stairs.

“Some things are better left forgotten, Daniel.”

He watched her disappear.

Those words confirmed what he had feared.

His mother knew something.

And she was determined to keep it buried.

Daniel took out his phone and opened the latest anonymous message.

Now that you know Lia is yours, ask Victoria what she did to keep Maya away.

He stared at the screen.

Then he typed a reply.

Who are you?

The response came almost immediately.

Someone who watched your mother destroy the woman you loved.

Daniel’s heart pounded.

Before he could ask another question, a final message appeared.

If you want the whole truth, meet me tomorrow. Come alone.