Ethan stood in the dimly lit corridor outside the doctor’s office, holding the DNA test report in his trembling hands. Though the results were expected, seeing them in black and white still sent a wave of finality crashing over him: he was not father of Tania’s child. The truth stung, not because he ever doubted it, but because of what it represented the culmination of Tania’s deceit and manipulation.
He thanked the doctor, his voice steady but his mind racing. “Please, don’t mention this to my wife. I need to handle this myself.”
The doctor nodded sympathetically, understanding the weight of Ethan’s request. Ethan slipped the results into his jacket pocket and walked out of the office, dialing Victor’s number as he descended the hospital stairs.
“They’re out,” Ethan said when Victor picked up. “I’ll send you the report. I want to move forward with the divorce as soon as possible.”
Victor replied, “Good. We’ll make sure everything’s airtight. Don’t worry about Tania getting any leverage in this.”
Ethan stopped outside the hospital entrance, glancing at the darkening sky. He took a deep breath, preparing for the next step. “Thanks, Victor. I’ll forward the results now.”
After ending the call, Ethan made his way to the car. His thoughts lingered on Grace. Since being discharged from the hospital, Grace had been struggling, her nights haunted by nightmares of Tania. Ethan had done his best to shield her from the chaos, but he knew that the psychological scars of the truth would take time to heal. He had hired Cassidy, a warm-hearted 38-year-old woman with two children of her own, to help care for Grace, and thankfully, Grace had grown comfortable with her. Cassidy had become a calming presence in their home, and in these troubling times, that was something Ethan desperately needed.
As Ethan pulled up to his house, he heard the sound of laughter before he even stepped out of the car. Grace was running around the front porch, her giggles filling the air as Cassidy chased her playfully. It was a sight that made Ethan’s heart swell with relief his little girl, happy and carefree, if only for a moment.
Ethan dropped his bag by the front door and loosened his tie. His face broke into a rare smile as he ran toward Grace, swooping her up into his arms and spinning her around. She squealed in delight, her laughter like music to his ears.
“Daddy! Stop!” Grace giggled, trying to squirm out of his grasp, but Ethan held her tight, tickling her sides.
“Did you miss me?” he asked, his voice playful.
“I missed you a lot, Daddy!” Grace replied, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Cassidy smiled warmly, stepping back to give them space. “I’ll be heading out now. My kids are waiting for me at home,” she said, her voice gentle.
“Thanks, Cassidy. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Ethan said sincerely.
“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow, Grace,” Cassidy waved as she walked down the steps.
“Bye, Cassidy!” Grace called after her before turning back to Ethan. “What’s for dinner, Daddy?”
“How about some spaghetti?” Ethan suggested, carrying her inside.
“Yay! I love spaghetti!” Grace clapped her hands as Ethan set her down in the kitchen.
As they shared dinner together, Ethan couldn’t help but think about how far they’d come in just a few short weeks. Grace was starting to smile again, and though the nightmares still plagued her, there was a flicker of hope in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.
After dinner, Ethan tucked Grace into bed, sitting by her side until she drifted off to sleep. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead, his heart aching with the love he felt for his daughter. No matter what anyone said, Grace was his, and he would fight tooth and nail to protect her from anyone who tried to harm her especially Tania.
As Ethan watched Grace sleep peacefully, her small chest rising and falling in rhythmic, calm breaths, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth and pride. For the first time in a long while, his little girl was beginning to reclaim her happiness. The nightmares, though still lurking, seemed to be fading into the background, and her bubbly laughter had returned a melody that filled their once-quiet home with joy.
Grace had been through so much. The thought of Tania her lies, her schemes, and the twisted manipulation that had brought this darkness into their lives made Ethan’s stomach churn. But tonight, in this serene moment, he focused only on Grace’s innocent face, her eyelids fluttering in sleep, the hint of a smile on her lips. This was what mattered.
Ethan stepped out of Grace’s room, leaving the door slightly ajar as he quietly made his way back downstairs. He poured himself a glass of water and stood by the kitchen window, staring out into the night. His thoughts shifted to the divorce, to the next steps he needed to take.
He had hoped that things with Tania could remain civil, but deep down, Ethan knew that wouldn’t be the case. Tania was volatile. If there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was that Tania hated to lose, especially when it came to control. Now that her lies were unraveling, and the truth was surfacing, Ethan feared she might become even more dangerous especially with Grace in the picture.
“I just want this to be over,” Ethan murmured to himself, swirling the water in his glass absently. He didn’t want to fight. He didn’t want drama or drawn-out legal battles. All he wanted was to cut ties with Tania and ensure that Grace could grow up in peace. But would Tania allow that?
The thought gnawed at him, tugging at his sense of peace. As much as he was happy that Grace was smiling again, the underlying fear of Tania’s next move kept him on edge. He needed the divorce to go smoothly, but Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling that Tania would try to fight try to cling to what little power she had left.
He took another sip of water, trying to shake off the anxiety creeping into his chest. Tania didn’t know about the DNA test results yet, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t soon figure out something was off. And when she did… Ethan wasn’t sure how she would react. He could only hope she didn’t lash out in desperation. For Grace’s sake, and for his own sanity, he prayed Tania would leave them alone.
The paperwork would be filed soon, and with Victor’s help, Ethan was confident he could secure full custody of Grace. But even with legal safeguards in place, Tania’s unpredictability made him uneasy. She had already proven that she was willing to go to any lengths to get what she wanted. The real question was how far would she go now that her carefully constructed lies were starting to crumble?
Ethan’s phone buzzed on the counter, snapping him out of his thoughts. He picked it up to see a message from Victor.
“Got the results. Starting the paperwork now. We should have everything filed by the end of the week. Keep an eye on Tania she might get desperate.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened as he read the last line. Desperate. That word echoed in his mind, confirming the fear that had been simmering beneath the surface all day. He texted back a quick acknowledgment and set the phone down, running a hand through his hair.
As much as he didn’t want to admit it, the upcoming days were going to be difficult. There was no telling what Tania might do once the divorce was initiated.
Sighing deeply, Ethan turned off the kitchen lights and made his way upstairs. He paused at Grace’s door again, peeking in to see her still fast asleep, her small hand clutching her stuffed bear.
She’s one of the main reasons I’m doing this, he reminded himself. She deserves better than the chaos Tania brings.
His heart swelled with determination. He couldn’t allow Tania to manipulate him any longer. The divorce was just the beginning. After all the deception, after all the betrayal, Ethan knew that the road ahead would be rocky, but he was ready for it.
Tania may try to fight, he thought, but I won’t let her win this time. Not with Grace’s future at stake.
Ethan quietly walked into his room, the weight of everything pressing down on him as he lay down in bed. The divorce papers, the secrets, and the future hung over him like a dark cloud, but in the midst of it all, there was a glimmer of hope.
Grace was smiling again, he might get Ella and the twins back
And that, to Ethan, was worth every battle that lay ahead.