His father's voice was firm. "For his safety. And for yours. This family name attracts both loyalty and enemies. We cannot risk him being used. Your Mother has been away for a year. No one will know she was never pregnant "
But Ethan barely heard the logic. He just needed to see Clara.
He dug out his old phone, powered it on, and watched the screen flood with missed calls and voice messages from her, hundreds of them.
He pressed play.
At first, her voice was calm, almost shy, telling him she had found out something important. Then the tone shifted. It became quieter, faster, and almost pleading. By the middle, desperation edged every word. And then, silence. The calls stopped entirely.
He dialed her number instantly, but it went straight to voicemail.
He turned on his father like a man on fire. "Where is Clara?"
"Away in Boston. College," his father replied.
"Then… who's with the baby?"
"Child services."
The words hit like a punch to the gut. "Why?"
"She couldn't provide for him," his father said plainly. "Her sister Sofia came to me two days ago. She wanted me to take in the boy. Yesterday morning, we got the DNA results."
The air in the room seemed thinner, harder to breathe.
Sadness, confusion, rage, and disbelief all tangled into something unbearable. For the first time in his life, Ethan's composure shattered. He broke down, the sobs coming hard and unbidden. His father let him get it out, saying nothing until Ethan's breathing steadied.
"If Clara is away," Ethan said finally, voice raw, "then my son needs me."
And that was that.
He showered, dressed, and joined his parents for the drive to pick up the boy. Cade was a tiny, dark-haired bundle with wide and searching eyes. From the first moment Ethan saw him, it wasn't duty or shock or obligation. It was love.
His father worked under his influence. Papers were signed. The boy's name was changed from Cade to Axiel Ashford, and the birth certificate listed Mr. and Mrs. Ashford as the parents. No one else would ever know the truth.