The room was quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that pressed against the chest and made breathing feel heavy. Even the air felt thick, like it was waiting… holding itself back.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
They were all waiting.
The doctor stood in front of them, the paternity test result in his hand. His expression was calm. Professional. But even he could feel it—the tension, sharp and suffocating.
His eyes moved slowly across each face.
Vivian.
Sebastian.
Cynthia.
Jackson.
Mr. and Mrs. Ravenscroft.
Each of them carried something different.
Fear.
Confidence.
Doubt.
Control.
War.
Then the doctor spoke.
"As a medical professional," he began carefully, "I strongly advise that whatever the outcome is… it should be handled with maturity. Issues like this are sensitive. It is always best to resolve them amicably."
Still—
No one responded.
No one cared about advice.
Advice could come later.
Right now—
They wanted the truth.
