I thought back. When Emma was pregnant, she told everyone her boyfriend had left her. She never once mentioned Daniel, never implied anything beyond the usual family talk. As for Daniel, he’d always been transparent — sometimes home late, but always with evidence: job site receipts, photos, calls about construction schedules. He loved me openly and without question.
To be certain, I pulled out Alex’s birth certificate. I had gone with Emma to the hospital. The father’s section was blank — not a name, not even a hint of Daniel.
And with that, I had my answer.
I called a lawyer the next morning, explaining the situation. He laughed bitterly. “Forgery like this is common in inheritance disputes. Don’t worry. Her so-called will won’t hold up for a second in court.”
“But she announced it publicly,” I said, voice trembling. “She’s telling everyone my husband fathered her son.”
