His ex-girlfriend, now a new mother, caught the doctor’s eye. Her expression was a mix of exhaustion and an unspoken plea. Tears glistened on her cheeks, but they were tears of relief, joy, and an undercurrent of apprehension. The room, once filled with bustling medical staff and the sound of beeping machines, became a cocoon of silence as the reality of their shared history unfolded.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, the doctor broke the silence. “Is he…?” His voice was a fragile thread.

She nodded slowly, eyes locked onto his, the truth laid bare between them. “Yes, he’s yours.”