Chapter 040

~~~Aiden~~ As I gazed lovingly at Hailey, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride and joy. Her weary eyes sparkled with happiness, and the healthy cry of our baby filled the air, making my heart swell with emotion. I stroked her hair slowly, my fingers trembling with excitement. The nurse's beaming smile was infectious, and I found myself grinning from ear to ear. "Nurse? How's the baby?" I asked, anticipation etched on my face. "Healthy, very healthy," she replied, her eyes shining with warmth. "And that was one of the fastest deliveries I've ever seen. This little man came out with so much ease." I nodded enthusiastically, my heart racing with excitement. Mom's voice echoed through the room, and I turned to see her walking in, fully scrubbed and radiant with joy. "Well, they have me to thank for that," she said with a chuckle, taking the baby in her arms. "Oh, Aiden, he looks just like you." I raised an eyebrow, a sheepish smile spreading across my face. If only she knew the truth – that this child wasn't really mine. But then, Mom dropped a bombshell. "Come look, he even has a similar birthmark to yours, just like the one you have on your stomach." My eyes widened in awe, my mind reeling with a million thoughts. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What were the chances? I thought to myself, stunned. Hailey was already asleep, exhausted from the delivery. I moved closer to the baby, my heart pounding in my chest. Mom was right – the baby had a birthmark identical to mine. I looked at the baby, then back at Hailey, my mind racing with questions. How was this possible? We'd only been intimate once, and I was certain I'd pulled out before...but could one time really change the course of fate? I stood there, frozen in confusion, as Mom's concerned voice cut through the fog. "Aiden, are you alright?" I stuttered, trying to compose myself. "Uhm...yes, yes mom, I'm fine." Mom's eyes narrowed, her expression skeptical. "Why do you look stunned, then? Your wife just gave us an heir, and instead of being happy, you're standing there with a confused expression." I forced a sheepish smile, trying to play it cool. "I am happy, mom, I'm really happy." But inside, I was reeling. The truth was, I had no idea what to feel. You're well aware this was what that stupid ex-girlfriend of yours couldn't risk her career for, right? Now you have it on a platter, you should rejoice," Mom said, her words dripping with satisfaction. But I couldn't share her enthusiasm. My mind was reeling with questions, doubts, and fears. I needed to escape, to clear my head. "I'll be back, Mom, I need to get some fresh air," I said, attempting to make a quick exit. But Mom's voice stopped me. "Where are you going? Aren't you even going to feel the warmth of your son?" I hesitated, feeling guilty. "I will, Mom, just a minute," I replied, making my way out to the lobby. As I paced back and forth, my mind racing with thoughts, I stopped a doctor walking by. "Excuse me, doctor," I asked, desperation creeping into my voice. "What's the possibility of a baby's DNA changing if the mother has sex with another man while already six months pregnant?" The doctor's response was emphatic. "Zero. The baby's DNA is already formed at that stage." I felt like I'd been hit with a ton of bricks. Confusion, shock, and fear swirled inside me, a maelstrom of emotions that left me breathless. My mind reeled as I struggled to comprehend the implications. "If so, then how?" I muttered, my voice barely audible. "How did this happen?" The questions swirled in my head like a vortex, pulling me under. Just as I thought I was drowning in uncertainty, a voice echoed in my head, its tone laced with logic and reason. "Aiden, why are you worried?" it asked. I paused, taking a deep breath as I tried to process my emotions. "A few minutes ago, you were bothered about how you were going to handle the issue of the baby not being yours," the voice continued. "Now this happens, saving you all that stress, and you're still worried?" The voice was right. I had been stressing about the baby's paternity, and now, it seemed that issue was resolved. But why did I still feel so uneasy? What was it about this situation that didn't add up? I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. "I know this was supposed to cause great joy for me, but I'm so bothered about the 'how' question. This was so unexpected." Mom's voice cut through my thoughts. "What's so unexpected?" I jolted back to reality. "Nothing, nothing at all." But Mom's words sent me on a new mission. "Well, I think you guys must have forgotten the baby's food and some other things we would be needing. You have to go to the house to check for it." I nodded, grateful for the distraction. As I arrived at Hailey's room, my eyes landed on the hard drive still sitting on the bedside table. Curiosity got the better of me. I inserted the drive into my laptop, my curiosity piqued. The items I had come to pick up from the house slipped from my fingers, forgotten in an instant. The footage began to play, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. At first, the video was unclear, the dim lighting making it difficult to discern any features. But as I squinted, trying to make out the faces, a sense of unease crept over me. Two people, entwined in a passionate embrace, their bodies moving in sync. My mind racing, I wondered, "Why would Hailey have such a drive with this footage in it?" Confusion swirled inside me, mixed with a growing sense of trepidation. What was Hailey involved in? And why did she have this video? I felt like I'd stumbled into something sinister, something that threatened to upend my entire world. My heart pounded in my chest, my senses on high alert, as I waited for the footage to reveal more. But as the footage neared its end, my eyes widened in shock. It was me, leaving the room, with Hailey fast asleep on the bed. The bright morning sun reflected in the room, making the footage crystal clear. My mind reeled. "How was this even possible?" I thought, my heart racing with a mix of emotions - shock, fear, and confusion.