Harry felt like the ground beneath him had disappeared. His legs trembled as he stared at Dr. Dennison, unable to believe what he had just heard.
“Mr. Campbell, are you okay?” the doctor asked, his voice gentle but firm.
Harry swallowed hard and finally found his voice. “You’re saying… my boys aren’t mine? That can’t be true. I raised them. They’re my sons.”
Dr. Dennison sighed. “I understand how shocking this is, but the test results are clear. The boys’ blood types don’t match yours or your wife’s. I even ran a DNA test to confirm. Andrew and Josh… they’re your half-brothers.”
Harry felt a sharp pain in his chest. Half-brothers? That meant…
“No… no, no, no,” he muttered. “That would mean my father—” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. His stomach churned as a sickening realization hit him. The truth was staring him in the face, and it was more horrifying than anything he could have imagined.
The drive home was a blur. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. By the time he pulled into the driveway, his whole body was shaking with rage and betrayal. As he got out of the car, he heard his sons’ excited voices.
“Grandpa! We missed you!” Josh and Andrew ran into Robert’s arms, their laughter filling the air.
Harry clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. He forced himself to breathe, to control the explosion that was building inside him. He couldn’t do this in front of the kids.
“Boys, weren’t you going to Bobby’s for game night?” he asked, plastering on a fake smile.
“Oh, yeah!” Andrew said, grabbing his backpack. “Come on, Josh!”
As soon as the door shut behind them, Harry turned, his eyes burning with fury. “Did you sleep with my father, Nancy?” his voice was low, but it cut through the air like a knife.
Nancy froze. Her face went pale as she opened her mouth, but no words came out.
“Son, look—” Robert started, but Harry didn’t even let him finish.
“Don’t!” Harry roared. “DNA doesn’t lie, Nancy! So tell me the damn truth!”
Nancy closed her eyes, exhaling shakily. She knew this moment would come. She had dreaded it for years, but now, she had no escape.
Twelve years ago…
Nancy had been in Las Vegas, celebrating with her girlfriends. The club was loud, the lights flashing, and the drinks strong. She had been laughing with her friends when she felt the presence of someone next to her. Turning her head, she was met with the sight of a handsome older man with silver hair and piercing eyes. He smelled expensive, and his confidence was magnetic.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked smoothly.
Nancy giggled, feeling flattered. “I’m already getting drinks for my friends.”
“Ah, a girls’ trip?” he smirked, leaning in closer. “Sounds like fun. I’m Robert.”
“Nancy,” she replied, shaking his hand, unaware of the disaster she was walking into.
One drink turned into two. Then three. Before she knew it, they were making out in the elevator. The next morning, she woke up tangled in his sheets. Robert had been kind, even ordering breakfast for them before they went their separate ways. She never expected to see him again. But three weeks later, she found out she was pregnant.
Terrified and unsure of what to do, Nancy confided in her best friend, Anna.
“You can’t have this baby alone!” Anna had said, eyes wide with concern. “You need a plan. Can’t you track down Vegas guy?”
Nancy sighed. “I don’t even know his last name.”
That same night, they met Harry and his friend at a bar. Anna, always the matchmaker, encouraged Nancy to get close to Harry.
“Sleep with him,” Anna whispered in the restroom. “If you do, he’ll think the baby is his. He seems like a good guy. He’ll step up.”
Nancy had refused at first. It felt wrong. But fear took over. She wanted her baby to have a father. So she let herself fall into Harry’s warmth, convincing herself that it was for the best.
Present-day…
“I didn’t know he was your father, Harry,” Nancy whispered, her voice shaking. “When I met Robert, I had no idea—”
“But you knew when we got engaged! When we got married!” Harry shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. “And you still let me raise them as mine!”
Robert ran a hand down his face. “I only found out after you introduced her to us. I was just as shocked, son. But by then, she was already pregnant, and you were so happy. What was I supposed to do?”
“Tell me the truth!” Harry snapped. “Not let me live a lie for twelve years!”
“I’m sorry,” Nancy whispered, tears streaming down her face. “I thought I was protecting you. Protecting them.”
“By lying?!” Harry’s voice was raw. “Do you know what this means? Josh and Andrew… my sons… aren’t my sons. They’re my brothers!” He let out a bitter laugh. “This is insane!”
Suddenly, a small voice interrupted. “Grandpa is our father?”
Everyone turned in horror. Josh and Andrew stood in the doorway, their friend Bobby beside them, all three frozen in shock.
“Dad?” Andrew looked at Harry, his young face filled with confusion and fear.
Harry tried to speak, tried to find the right words, but nothing came out. He had spent years protecting them, loving them. Now, in one cruel twist of fate, everything had shattered.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
