Zoe was a devoted nurse who often relied on her mother-in-law, Denise, to look after her young son, Leo. Denise was a woman who had a way of making people feel small without even trying. After her husband had passed away, she returned to her job as the head librarian at the local library. She found comfort in her work and the book club meetings she hosted.

Although Denise could be overbearing, Zoe was grateful for her help. Her husband, Andrew, had an unpredictable schedule at the law firm, so Denise frequently watched Leo whenever Zoe had to work late shifts. Denise always told Zoe, “It’s a grandmother’s duty to help,” and even though her moods were sometimes unpredictable, she was reliable and never complained.

But recently, Leo had been acting strangely whenever Denise was around. He would cling to Zoe when she tried to leave and hide whenever he heard Denise’s car pulling into the driveway. At first, Zoe thought it was just a phase or some separation anxiety, which was normal for young children. But one evening, right before Zoe was about to leave for a night shift, Leo suddenly burst into tears, begging her not to leave him with his grandmother.

Zoe knelt beside him, trying to calm him down. “But grandma always brings you treats, remember?” she said, hoping to cheer him up. But Leo glanced nervously at the door and, with a trembling voice, said, “Grandma’s been acting weird.”

Zoe felt a knot form in her stomach. “What do you mean, sweetie?” she asked gently. Leo explained that Denise had been trying to put something in his mouth and chasing him around the house with it. He described the object as a cotton swab and said Denise insisted she needed his saliva for a “test.” This terrified Leo, who was already scared of anything medical after a recent accident that had left him with a broken arm.

Zoe’s worry quickly turned into anger as she realized Denise had been trying to do a DNA test without her permission. Furious, she stormed into the guest room where Denise was staying and demanded, “What on earth are you doing, Denise?”

Caught off guard, Denise admitted, “I’ve been suspicious about Leo’s blonde hair. It doesn’t match anyone in the family, and I just had to know…” She confessed she had taken it upon herself to check Leo’s paternity. Zoe, shocked and hurt, could hardly believe what she was hearing. “How could you do this?” she shouted. She told Denise to leave immediately. She needed time to calm her son and process what had just happened.

The days that followed were filled with tension between Zoe and Andrew. Denise had already called Andrew and filled his head with doubts. After some discussion, Andrew, looking troubled, said, “Maybe we should do the DNA test, just to settle it once and for all.”

Zoe, feeling betrayed but determined, agreed, but with one condition. “Fine,” she said, “But you take one too. Let’s see if you’re willing to doubt your own mother.” If Denise wanted to cast doubts on Leo, she should be prepared for the same scrutiny.

Andrew was shocked by Zoe’s demand but, after some thought, agreed. A few days later, the DNA results came back, confirming that Leo was indeed Andrew’s son. But there was a shocking twist—Andrew’s test showed that his biological father was not who he had always believed.

Andrew was stunned, trying to make sense of this unexpected news. Meanwhile, Zoe decided to keep her distance from Denise, unwilling to forgive her so easily.

Eventually, Andrew confronted his mother. “Is it true?” he asked, his voice tense with disbelief. Denise sighed and confessed, “Yes, I had an affair when I was young.” Andrew’s face fell, his world suddenly turned upside down. He decided he needed time away from his mother to focus on his family with Zoe and Leo.

Denise’s guilt, which she had buried for so long, had led her to project her insecurities onto Zoe and Leo. But Zoe and Andrew were determined to move forward. They were done with Denise’s drama and ready to focus on their own family and future, leaving the past where it belonged.