Chapter 49:Fractured CertaintyThe days blurred into a careful rhythm of prenatal vitamins, quiet mornings, and Damien’s unrelenting vigilance. One week after the confirmation, I found myself back in Dr. Patel’s private suite for follow-up bloodwork. The numbers looked good—hCG levels rising steadily, iron improved with supplements—but the doctor’s gentle reminder about the optional early paternity test landed like a stone in still water.“You’re at eight weeks,” she said. “We can discuss NIPT testing soon for genetic markers, and later, a more definitive paternity option if needed. No pressure, but knowledge can bring peace.”Peace. The word felt foreign now.Damien sat beside me, fingers laced tightly with mine. He nodded at all the right moments, asked sharp, intelligent questions about risks and timelines, but I felt the tension radiating from him. When we left the clinic, he didn’t take us straight home. Instead, the driver headed toward the
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