He stayed in the chair for a long time, watching his daughter sleep, wondering how he’d been so blind for so long. He thought about Veronica, sleeping in his bed across the hall, and felt nothing but cold contempt. She had stolen eight years from him. Eight years of this.
He went to a different guest room. He couldn’t sleep next to her. Tomorrow, he’d get the DNA test. And then he’d end things with Veronica, for good.
The next morning, he and Mary went to Dr. Collins’s office. The doctor was kind and made Mary laugh as he swabbed her cheek. “I’ll have the results rushed,” he said. “Should be three or four days.”
On the drive back, Mary was quiet. “What are you thinking about?” Johnson asked.
“What if the test says you’re not my dad?”
Johnson pulled the car over and turned to face her. “Mary, look at me. You have my eyes. My nose. My stubborn chin. You are mine. I know it in here.” He tapped his chest. “No test is going to tell me otherwise.”
Mary’s eyes filled with tears, but she was smiling. “Okay.”
“Now,” Johnson said, pulling back onto the road. “We have a few hours before we can visit your mom. What do you say we go shopping?”
“Really?”
“Really. You can’t live in a penthouse and only own one pair of jeans.”
They spent two hours at an upscale children’s store. Mary was shy, looking at the price tags. “Dad, this shirt costs sixty dollars. That’s… that’s our food budget for a week.”
“Not anymore it isn’t,” Johnson said gently. “Pick out whatever you like.”
They left with bags full of new clothes, shoes, a new backpack, and a stack of books. Mary was beaming.
They spent the afternoon at the hospital with Clara. Mary chattered about the penthouse and the shopping trip, showing her mom all her new things. As they were leaving, Clara asked to speak to Johnson alone.
“The nurses told me how much all this is costing,” she whispered, her eyes filled with tears. “Johnson, it’s too much. I can’t…”
“You’re not asking. I’m giving. Clara, please… just let me do this. Let me make up for the eight years I wasn’t there.”
The next three days fell into a new rhythm. Johnson worked from home. Mary did her remote schoolwork. They visited Clara every afternoon. Veronica remained in the master bedroom, a cold, silent presence. Johnson was just waiting.
On the evening of the third day, Dr. Collins called. Johnson’s heart hammered. Mary was in her room. Veronica was out. He was alone.
“Johnson? I have your results.”
“And?”
There was a pause. “Johnson, I… I don’t know how to tell you this. The test came back negative. According to the DNA analysis, you are not Mary’s biological father.”
The world stopped. “That’s… impossible.”
“I double-checked the results myself. I’m sorry, Johnson. The science doesn’t lie.”
Johnson hung up. He sat in his chair, numb, feeling like he’d been punched. Not his daughter. Clara had lied. All of it… the letter, the tears… all a lie. Just like Veronica had warned.
The office door opened. Veronica stood there. She must have come home and been listening outside the door. “I’m sorry,” she said, but her voice was laced with vindication. “I know this is hard, but you’ve been taken advantage of. That woman…”
“Get out.”
“Johnson, I’m just trying to…”
“I said, get out!”
Veronica left. A moment later, Mary knocked. “Dad? Are you okay? I heard yelling.”
Johnson couldn’t face her. “I’m fine, Mary. Just a work call. I’ll be out in a bit.”
He heard her small footsteps retreat.
Twenty minutes later, Veronica returned, holding her phone, her expression triumphant. “I did some research,” she said. “After what Clara told you about Daniel? I found this.” She showed him a document. A marriage certificate. Clara Carter and Daniel Morrison, married five months after she and Johnson broke up.
“Guess when Mary was born?” Veronica said, her voice sharp. “Eight months after she married him. Clara lied to you, Johnson. Mary is Daniel’s daughter. She saw you were wealthy, she’s desperate, and she fabricated this entire story.”
Johnson felt sick. He snatched his keys. “Where are you going?”
“To the hospital. I need to hear this from her. I need to hear her admit it.”
“Johnson, wait!”
He stormed out. Mary was in the hallway. “Dad? Where are you going? Are we visiting Mom?”
“Not tonight,” Johnson said, his voice harsh. “Stay here.”
“But…”
“I said, stay here!”
Mary flinched as if he’d struck her. Tears instantly filled her eyes. Johnson saw the hurt, but his own anger and betrayal were too strong. He left.
He burst into Clara’s room. She was sleeping but jolted awake. “Johnson? What’s wrong?”
“Were you married to Daniel?” His voice was ice.
Clara’s face went white. “I… yes. After you and I… I…”..
