Ethan had spent the last four years loving Julia with every fiber of his being. She was his world, his heart, and his home. And for the past nine months, that love had grown even stronger as they prepared to welcome their baby.
From the moment they saw the little blue plus sign, Ethan had been in awe of his wife. The way she absentmindedly cradled her belly when she thought no one was watching. The way she hummed lullabies to their unborn child, whispering sweet promises of love and protection. The way she laughed when he read parenting books like he was studying for the most important exam of his life, highlighting sections with a seriousness that made her giggle.
This was supposed to be their greatest moment—the moment they became parents.
“We’re going to be those parents who love their kid more than anything,” Julia said one evening, resting her hands on her belly.
Ethan chuckled. “I don’t know if we’ll be the best parents, but we’ll try our hardest.”
Julia smiled softly. “Ethan, there’s no better father I’d want for this little guy.”
For the past week, Julia had been in the hospital due to dangerously low blood pressure. Ethan never left her side, only rushing home for quick showers or to grab whatever she needed. The nurses teased him about it, especially Maggie, a kind-hearted nurse who had become like an older sister to them.
“Aren’t you sick of Ethan yet?” Maggie joked to Julia. “Just say the word, and I’ll lock him out.”
Julia laughed, her voice filling the room with warmth. “Never! Who else is going to bring me chocolate-covered strawberries at two in the morning?”
Maggie chuckled. “Your husband would probably buy a whole chocolate fountain if you asked.”
But then, everything changed.
Ethan must have dozed off, exhausted from days of little sleep. When he woke up, Julia was gone. Frantic voices filled the hallway outside.
“It’s time! We need to deliver now! Someone monitor her BP—move!”
Ethan’s heart slammed against his ribs. He shot up and ran toward the delivery room. Julia was already under anesthesia, her face pale but peaceful.
This wasn’t the plan. They had prepared for a natural birth. He needed to be there, to hold her hand, to tell her she wasn’t alone.
But then—
“Get out of here, Ethan!”
He froze. Maggie stood in front of him, her eyes blazing.
“What? Why? Maggie, it’s me!” he said breathlessly. “I’m her husband. I’ve been part of the birthing plan since the beginning! You know this!”
But Maggie didn’t soften.
“Only the baby’s real father can stay!” she snapped.
The words didn’t register at first. Or maybe Ethan’s brain refused to process them.
“What did you just say?”
“Sir, you need to leave,” she insisted, shoving him back.
Ethan stumbled, shock freezing his limbs. Maggie—the nurse who had laughed with him, reassured him, and treated him like family—was kicking him out of his wife’s delivery room.
“What does that mean?!” he roared, but before he could demand an answer, the doors slammed shut in his face.
He paced the hallway, his hands shaking, his head pounding.
This had to be a mistake. Julia had never given him a reason to doubt her. Ever. Or had she? Had he ignored something obvious?
No. This was insane. This was Julia. The woman who stopped to pet every dog, who tossed breadcrumbs to birds, who had spent nights dreaming about their little family. She would never betray him.
Maggie had to be wrong. Or maybe there was—
The doors swung open.
Maggie stepped out, her face unreadable. Blood stained her scrubs. Ethan’s breath caught in his throat.
“How is she? And the baby?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
Maggie didn’t answer immediately. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. And then—
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” she whispered. “There were complications. Julia didn’t make it.”
The world collapsed.
“No,” he breathed. “No, no, no!”
Maggie reached for him, but he staggered back, shaking his head wildly.
“No!” he screamed, his voice breaking.
But Maggie wasn’t done.
“Your baby survived.”
Ethan choked on a breath. His baby. Their baby.
But when he looked at Maggie, something twisted inside him.
“Tell me why you said that. In the delivery room.”
Maggie hesitated. Then, she spoke the words that shattered him.
“Last night, I overheard Julia talking to a friend. She said that you’re not the baby’s biological father.”
The world tilted.
“That’s not true. It can’t be true.”
“Sir…”
“That’s NOT TRUE!” he roared.
But deep down, he already knew.
Because last night, when he had rushed home for a shower, someone else had been there.
Ryan. His best friend.
Ethan’s fingers trembled as he dialed Ryan’s number.
“Is it true?” he asked the moment Ryan picked up.
Silence.
Then—
“I won’t raise that kid, Ethan,” Ryan said, indifferent. “I never wanted this. You deal with it.”
Ethan nearly dropped the phone.
“You… what?”
“I don’t care, buddy,” Ryan continued, his voice cold. “I never wanted this.”
Ethan clenched his fists. “How long?”
A sigh. Casual. Like this was nothing.
“Two years.”
Ethan’s voice was a whisper. “Julia’s dead. She died giving birth.”
Ryan said nothing. Ethan hung up.
A nurse approached him. She was smiling, oblivious to his world crumbling. “Do you want to meet your boy?”
Ethan followed her. And when he saw the baby—small, perfect, innocent—something shifted inside him.
Noah.
Julia had wanted to name him Noah.
He should have felt anger. He should have felt hate.
Instead, he felt lost.
So, he called his father.
“Dad, I need you. Please.”
His father arrived, and Ethan broke in his arms.
“I don’t know if I can do this.”
His father cupped his face. “Do you believe I love you, Ethan?”
“Yes,” Ethan whispered.
“Then you need to know this—I’m not your biological father. Your mother and I adopted you. Blood doesn’t make a father. Love does. This child is innocent. He needs love.”
Something inside Ethan shattered.
“I’ll raise him,” he promised. “I’ll be the best father I can be.”
And he meant it.
A week later, the hospital called.
“Mr. Carter, we have the results of your son’s paternity test. You are the father.”
Ethan nearly collapsed.
Noah was his. He had always been his.
He looked at his son, sleeping peacefully, and for the first time in weeks, he truly smiled.
Noah was his. And he would love him forever.
