“Put her down,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady. “You’re scaring her.”
“Oh, now you care?” he snapped. “You cared when you were—”
“Stop,” I cut in sharply. The laugh had vanished. “Stop talking.”
Just then the nurse returned holding a chart and immediately sensed the tension. “Is everything okay?”
Ethan turned to her like she was a witness he could recruit. “I want a paternity test. Right now.”
Her expression remained professional. “We can discuss options, sir, but that’s not something we do ‘right now’ without consent and proper procedure.”
“I’m her father,” Ethan barked. “I’m consenting.”
The nurse glanced at me. My heart pounded in my ears, but I forced myself not to cry. Not here. Not in front of him.
“Fine,” I said carefully. “Order it.”
Ethan jerked his head toward me. “You’re… fine with it?”
