“Fine, have it your way. But one day, you’ll see I was right.”
I rolled my eyes. I just didn’t understand where all this hatred came from. I’d never given her a reason to doubt me. I loved Paul with all my heart and would never betray him.
***
The next couple of weeks were surprisingly calm. I started to believe that maybe Paul had finally gotten through to Vanessa and she had let it go.
But a few days later, when I came home from work, I found Paul sitting on the couch crying, with Vanessa right beside him, trying to comfort him.
Panic hit me instantly. My first thought was that something had happened to Austin. I didn’t see him anywhere.
“Where’s my son?” I asked, terrified.
“He’s fine,” Paul replied quietly. “I took him to your mom’s.”
“What happened?” I asked again, sitting beside Paul and reaching for his hand.
But he yanked his hand away.
“What happened?! My wife’s been lying to me for years!”
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” I said, frowning.
Then Paul grabbed a sheet of paper from the coffee table and threw it at me. I wanted to yell at him for treating me like that, but as soon as I looked down, my breath caught.
It was a DNA test result. For Paul and Austin.
The probability of paternity was zero.
I just sat there, frozen. It felt like a joke, some sick joke.
“What does this even mean? You took a test?” I asked, still staring at the paper.
“No, I did,” Vanessa cut in. “But that’s not the issue. The issue is the result!”
“I never cheated on you! Paul, this is not true! ” I protested.
“But it is,” Vanessa snapped. “And you know it, so stop pretending.”
“No! You hate me so much you’d fake something this serious?!”
“There’s nothing fake here. I took Paul’s toothbrush and the spoon Austin ate with. The samples were real. The result’s accurate,” Vanessa declared coldly.
“No, Paul! You have to believe me! Austin is your son! I’ve never been unfaithful!” I cried in despair.
“I’ve already packed a bag. It’s in the car. I need some time alone, without either of you,” Paul said, standing up.
“No, please don’t go,” I begged.
“Don’t call me. Don’t text me. I won’t answer.”
Paul walked out the door with Vanessa following him. I collapsed on the couch, still clutching that damn test result in my hands. I knew it couldn’t be true. I had never cheated. But I had no idea how to prove it.
***
That night was hell.