What If She Isn’t Really My Daughter? I Need a DNA Test Nikita couldn’t shake off a nagging suspicion as he watched his wife, Olivia, cooing over their newborn daughter. He seriously doubted the baby was his. Just last year, Nikita had to go away for a month-long business trip. A couple of weeks after he returned, Olivia shared what she thought was wonderful news: they were expecting a baby. At first, Nikita was thrilled. But then Olivia’s sister visited and casually dropped a story about having had a DNA test done for her own son—just to reassure her partner about paternity. “Liv, let’s do a DNA test, too. Just for peace of mind,” Nikita suggested. His wife’s reaction was immediate—a raging argument broke out, with things flying and the neighbours banging on the walls. “What’s the big deal?” Nikita insisted, now more convinced than ever of his suspicions. “I just want to be sure, that’s all.” “How could you even think that?” Olivia shouted, tossing another pillow his way. “Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?” “I was away for a month,” Nikita retorted with a crooked smile. “How do I know what happened here while I was gone? Let’s do the test—I’ll see the result and never bring it up again. So, when are we going? We can use your sister’s clinic.” “In your next life,” Olivia spat, slamming the door as she left for the nursery. *************************************************** “You know,” Nikita complained to his mother over coffee, “I’m not asking for anything extraordinary. So why is she so upset?” “She must have a guilty conscience,” his mum, Anne Peterson, replied. “Mark my words, she had that daughter with someone else and is scared you’ll find out. Besides,” she hesitated, “when you were away, there was something that happened…” “What was it?” Nikita’s interest was piqued. “I try not to meddle, but I came over to discuss your father’s birthday. She took forever to answer the door—even though I knew she was home. When she finally opened up, she looked disheveled. And there were men’s shoes in the hallway.” “What did she say?” Nikita demanded, outraged. “Said it was a burst pipe,” his mother rolled her eyes. “Could’ve come up with something better, really.” “Why didn’t you tell me before?” “I never got inside the flat, so there’s no proof,” she retorted. “Didn’t want to cause trouble unnecessarily.” “You should have!” Nikita exclaimed, nearly spilling his coffee. “Really should have! So what now?” “Make sure you do the DNA test,” Anne said, hiding a smirk. She’d never liked Olivia. “Or do it yourself. You’re the father, you have the right.” ************************************************ “You can relax,” Nikita dropped the now-unnecessary envelope delivered by courier. “Ari is my daughter. Like I promised, I’ll never bring it up again.” “I don’t get it,” Olivia said, eyeing the opened envelope with suspicion. “Did you do that damned test without asking me?” “Yeah,” Nikita replied casually. “Stopped by the clinic while I was out with our daughter. Didn’t take long. She’s mine, so it’s all good.” “There is a problem,” she said quietly. “And it’s a shame you can’t see it.” The next morning, Nikita left for work as usual. That evening, he came home to an empty flat. His wife and daughter were gone, and all Olivia’s belongings with them. Only a handwritten note sat on the coffee table: “Your lack of trust has destroyed everything between us. I refuse to live with a traitor, and I’m filing for divorce. I don’t want anything from you—no flat, no alimony. I just want you out of our lives.” Nikita was furious. How dare Olivia leave him—and take his daughter with her! He grabbed his phone and started calling around. A man answered, listened silently to Nikita’s outburst, and asked him not to call again. “I knew she was cheating on me!” Nikita fumed. “She couldn’t wait to run to some other man! Good riddance!” He never considered that Olivia might have gone to her parents’, and it was her brother who answered, simply protecting his sister who had just gotten Ari to sleep. Nikita had made up his mind. The divorce was quick and mutual. Little Ari stayed with her mother and never saw her biological father again…

What if she isn’t my daughter? I need a DNA test.

Michael gazed thoughtfully at his wife, Emma, cooing over their newborn daughter, but he couldn’t shake the nagging thought in his mind. He was genuinely convinced that the baby might not be his.

Last year, Michael had taken a month-long work trip. Just a couple of weeks after he returned, Emma announced what she called wonderful news: they were going to have a baby.

At first, Michael felt happy. But then Emmas sister, Claire, came over for tea and shared an intriguing story about how she’d taken a DNA test for her own son, just to reassure her partner that everything was above board.

Emma, why dont we get a DNA test, too? For my peace of mind, Michael suggested.

Emmas reaction was swift and loud. She flew into a rage, throwing whatever she could get her hands on. Their neighbours even started banging on the wall.

Whats so terrible about it? Michael pressed, his suspicions only growing stronger. Surely his wife must have cheated if she was getting this defensive over a simple request. I just want to be certain, thats all.

How could you even think such a thing? Emma shrieked, lobbing a cushion at him. Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?

I was away for a month, Michael replied dryly. How do I know what went on here? Lets do the test, and once I get the results, Ill never mention it again. When are we going? Claire can give us the clinics address.

In your next life, Emma said coldly, then stormed into the nursery, slamming the door behind her.

***************************************************

You see, Michael complained to his mother, Susan, its not an outrageous thing to ask, is it? Why is she making such a fuss?

Guilty conscience, love, Susan replied, pouring him a cup of tea. Just you mark my words, shes scared her secret will come out. And another thing she hesitated, uncertain whether to continue, when youd gone, there was something odd

What was it? Michael perked up, his attention fully caught.

I dont want to meddle, mind, Susan said, not meeting his gaze. But I popped round, wanting to chat about your fathers big birthday. Emma didnt open up for ages, though I knew she was home. When she finally did, she looked a right mess And there were mens shoes in the hallway.

What did she say? Michael asked, indignant. He was ready to rush home and confront her.

Said thered been a burst pipe, Susan scoffed. She really could have come up with something better.

And why didnt you tell me this before?

Well, I never actually got into the flat, and I didnt want to cause problems without any real evidence, Susan sighed. I didnt want to stir things up.

You should have! Michael snapped, nearly spilling his tea. You really should have! So what do I do now?

Insist on the test, Susan replied calmly, hiding a small smile. She had never warmed to Emma. Or just arrange it yourself. Youve every right as her father.

************************************************

You can rest easy now, Michael declared, tossing a now-redundant envelope onto the coffee table. Lucy is my daughter. As I promised, Ill never bring it up again.

Emmas face tightened with irritation as she eyed the open letter. Let me get this straight. You did that damn test without even telling me?

Yes, I did, Michael replied, unbothered. Popped in after taking Lucy for a walk. It didnt take long. Shes my little one, so its all fine.

No, its not fine, Emma said quietly, her voice trembling. And its sad you cant see that.

The next morning, Michael left for work as usual. But when he returned that evening, the flat was empty. Emma and Lucys belongings were gone. On the coffee table lay a single note.

Your lack of trust has destroyed whatever we had. I refuse to live with someone who thinks Im a traitor, so Im filing for divorce. I want nothing from youno flat, no maintenance. I just want you out of our lives.

Michael was fuming. How dare Emma leave him! And shed taken their daughter! He grabbed his phone and frantically called Emma.

A man answered. Without a word, he listened to Michaels tirade, then calmly asked him never to call again.

I knew she was cheating! Michael raged, shaking with anger. Not even properly moved out and already with another bloke! Good riddance!

It didnt cross his mind that Emma had probably gone to her parents and that her brother had picked up the phone, not wanting to disturb his exhausted sister. Michael, convinced he was right, refused to consider any other possibility.

Their divorce was swift and mutual. Little Lucy stayed with her mother and never saw her biological father again.

Sometimes, the greatest damage is done not by betrayal, but by a lack of faith in those closest to us. Trust, once broken, is not so easily repairedand without it, even the strongest bonds can unravel.