99.98% probability.

I exhaled, confused.

Of course.

That made sense.

Then I saw the names.

Tested individual: Michael Carter.

Alleged father: Jonathan Reed.

My vision blurred.

Jonathan Reed.

I knew that name.

Everyone in our family did.

He wasn’t just anyone.

He was my father.

When I looked up from the paper, my mother was standing in the doorway.

I hadn’t heard her come in.

She didn’t look ashamed.

She didn’t look surprised.

She just looked… tired.

“You weren’t supposed to see that,” she said.

My voice came out hollow.

“Explain.”

She stepped inside slowly.

“I had an affair,” she said. “Years ago. Before you were born.”

The room felt like it tilted.