Nathan's voice became low.
"So you slept with someone from my unit."
Claire started crying harder.
"Once."
"And then?"
"He regretted it."
Nathan laughed.
"How considerate."
"So did I."
"Apparently not enough to tell me."
"I found out I was pregnant six weeks later."
Nathan stared.
"You knew?"
"I didn't know whose."
That answer hurt differently.
Nathan took a step toward her.
"You let me believe."
"I believed too."
"No."
"You were home when he was born."
Nathan remembered.
The delivery room.
Holding newborn Eli.
Crying.
Counting ten fingers.
Whispering, "I'm your dad."
Claire continued.
"You were his father from the first second."
"Because I thought he was mine."
"He was yours."
"Don't."
"Nathan—"
"Don't rewrite biology because it feels nicer."
Claire looked crushed.
He immediately hated the words.
Not because Claire didn't deserve anger.
Because Eli existed upstairs.
Nathan pressed both hands against his face.
"Did Matt know?"
"No."
"Never?"
"No."
"He died thinking—"
"He never knew."
Nathan looked toward Daniel.
"How does Daniel know?"
Claire sat.
"Hospital genetics."
Nathan stared.
"When the registry flagged Matt's sample, they contacted his next of kin."
"Daniel."
"Yes."
"Then they compared."
Claire nodded.
"The doctors noticed the degree of genetic similarity was stronger than expected."
Nathan's stomach twisted.
"And you confessed."
"Eventually."
"Eventually."
"I didn't understand at first."
Nathan turned away.
Claire continued.
"The doctors needed family history. Matt's records. Anything."
"So Daniel came."
"Yes."
"Six months ago."
"Yes."
Nathan closed his eyes.
"He knew my son was his nephew before I knew my son wasn't biologically mine."
Claire whispered, "Yes."
Nathan's fist hit the wall.
Hard.
Claire gasped.
Nathan immediately stepped away.
Blood appeared along his knuckles.
He stared at it.
That was the first physical pain that made sense all day.
Claire moved toward him.
He lifted one hand.
"Don't."
She stopped.
"Where's Daniel?"
"Outside."
Nathan looked toward the porch.
Through the front window, he saw Daniel sitting on the steps.
Head lowered.
Nathan walked outside.
Daniel stood immediately.
Nathan closed the door behind him.
For several seconds, the men stared at each other.
Nathan said, "Did you know Matt slept with my wife?"
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"When did you find out?"
"Five months ago."
"You've known five months."
"Yes."
"And you've been in my house every day."
"Not every day."
Nathan gave him a look.
Daniel corrected himself.
"A lot."
"Why?"
Daniel took a breath.
"Because Eli was in treatment."
"You're not his father."
"No."
"I'm his father."
"Yes."
The answer surprised Nathan.
He stared.
Daniel continued.
"You are his father."
Nathan's anger faltered for half a second.
Daniel said, "I never came here to replace you."
"Then why were you playing on my floor like you belonged in there?"
"Because Eli likes me."