Everly’s mother had arrived not long after we did, running past us without a glance, her sole attention focused on her daughter.

I felt unhinged, unable to pinpoint a single emotion as they all raged and rioted within. A convoluted hurricane of unknowns and questions barraged to be set free.

I managed to confront the stranger only once. “Who are you, and why are you here?”

Maybe he is her cousin or a long lost relative? That is plausible, right?

He answered with a nonanswer. “Talk with Everly.”

That was it. He didn’t succumb to any other forms of communication, choosing to blatantly ignore me instead.

I didn’t have to wait much longer before a smiling midwife swept into the room. “Mum and baby are healthy. Does the father want to come and meet his daughter?”

The statement itself was innocent, however, the connotation behind it had my heart beating out of rhythm. The midwife wasn’t addressing me… She was looking at the only other male in the room.

As if in slow motion, the military man stood ramrod straight, and with complete confidence and pride, he said, “Take me to my girl.”

I stood in the archway of the hospital room, looking in on the scene with a sense of doom.

Everly sat in the centre of the single bed, fingers fidgeting with the worn hospital blanket. The baby was sleeping soundly in the bassinet next to her.

She offered for me to sit beside her. I refused. I needed to be near my only form of escape.

I probably appeared how I felt—a total mess.

Although only one day had passed, it felt like a lifetime.

I think I was broken. Destroyed and fucking crushed at the realisation that everything was a lie.

“She’s definitely not mine?” I managed to croak through the strained silence.

Everly shook her head. “I was already four weeks pregnant when we slept together.”

Crack.

“The paternity test?”

“I used my mum’s access to forge the results.” I was surprised she was being so forthcoming. Although, I supposed she didn’t have a choice anymore as all her lies had caught up to her.

Why the fuck did I believe her? How was I so easily taken advantage of?

Embarrassed by my own stupidity, I couldn’t help the bitterness from seeping out. “I just made it so easy for you, huh? I was so deep in my grief I was barely conversing with my own family, let alone in my right mind enough to question you and your intentions. Why? Why did you do this to me?”