Chapter 27: The Maternity Test

Isabella, for her part, could barely move. She felt her breath getting heavier, as if the weight of the revelations was slowly crushing her. Could it be true? Was Ethan really her son? What would this all mean if the test confirmed what Alexander suspected?

Alexander turned to Isabella, completely ignoring Miranda’s presence.

—This is something I have to do —he said, in a softer but equally determined tone—. I can’t move forward without knowing the truth.

Isabella nodded slowly, knowing she had no choice but to face what could be discovered. The truth was about to come to light, and none of their lives would ever be the same.

The day at the clinic had been long and tense. Since Alexander mentioned the maternity test, Isabella hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the possibility that Ethan was her son. Though her memories were blurry and disorganized, something inside her whispered that the child was more than just her responsibility as a nanny. Every time she looked at him, she felt a deep connection, as if a part of her past was trying to break through the fog in her mind.

The clinic was silent. Alexander, Isabella, and Miranda walked together down the hall to the doctor's office where the tests would be performed. The atmosphere was cold and sterile, which heightened the tension between them. Although Ethan didn’t fully understand what was happening, he clung to Isabella’s hand, who tried to reassure him, though chaos reigned inside her.

The process was quick. DNA samples were taken from both Isabella and Ethan, while the doctor explained the procedure formally. Isabella could barely focus on what he was saying; her mind was lost in a tide of mixed emotions. Alexander remained silent, watching closely, while Miranda, more distant, maintained an unreadable expression.

When the doctor announced that the results would be ready in a few hours, Alexander received an urgent call and had to leave, leaving Isabella and Miranda alone in the waiting room. The minutes stretched like hours, and Isabella’s mind began to wander. Every time she thought about the test, her heart raced. The idea that Ethan might be her son filled her with hope, but also fear. What if he wasn’t? What if the memories beginning to surface weren’t real?

Miranda, apparently calm, threw a quick glance at Isabella, who seemed trapped in her own thoughts. Without saying a word, she excused herself briefly to go to the bathroom. Isabella barely noticed her absence, completely immersed in the anxiety of the moments before the truth was revealed.

Miranda’s return was discreet, as if she hadn’t left at all, and soon after, Alexander reappeared. The doctor didn’t take long to come out of the lab with a sealed envelope in hand. The tension in the room was palpable as everyone waited in silence, watching every move the doctor made.

—Here are the results —the doctor said, with a neutral expression as he opened the envelope.

Isabella held her breath. She glanced briefly at Alexander, who also maintained a serious expression, while Miranda, by his side, kept her composure.

—The results of the maternity test are... negative —the doctor finally announced.

The words struck Isabella like a blow to the chest. Negative? Wasn’t she Ethan’s mother? A whirlwind of emotions overwhelmed her: confusion, sadness, disbelief. She had believed, even if only for a moment, that those fragments of memories, those feelings that arose every time she was near Ethan, could mean something. But now, everything seemed to crumble.

Alexander frowned, visibly surprised. He, too, had begun to suspect that Isabella and Ethan were connected in some way, but the results seemed to indicate the opposite. Still, something didn’t add up.

—Are you sure there was no mistake? —Alexander asked, his tone harsher than usual.

—Completely sure, sir —the doctor responded firmly, keeping his gaze impassive—. The results are conclusive.

Isabella said nothing. She stood frozen, processing what she had just heard. All this time, she had thought that maybe her life was intertwined with Ethan’s in a much deeper way than she could remember. But these results threw her back into uncertainty. Not knowing what else to do, she slowly stood up and left the room.

Isabella’s head was full of unanswered questions. The memories she had started to have, the sensations, the emotions... Was all of that not real? Doubt consumed her, and now more than ever, she wondered: Who am I really?

Once at the mansion, Alexander walked down the hallways of the house, lost in thought. The maternity test results still troubled him. Although the tests had been negative, something inside him kept doubting. It was as if there was more to this story that just didn’t add up. Still, the bond between Isabella and Ethan was undeniable. His mind kept returning to the feelings he had observed between them: a connection too intense to be a coincidence.

Just as he was about to head upstairs to his office, he heard Miranda’s firm footsteps approaching from the living room. With her usual impassive expression, she caught up with him, stopping him before he could continue on his way.

—Alexander —she said, in a soft voice but with clear intentions—. Can we talk for a moment?

He nodded, not giving much importance to the tone of her voice. He had always known Miranda was direct and rarely hid what she was thinking. Though he didn’t like confronting her, he knew it was inevitable. They crossed their arms in front of the large window in the living room, while the light of the setting sun bathed the room in golden tones.

—There’s only one week left, Alexander —Miranda began, her tone sharper this time—. You said you’d give Isabella a month to figure out Ethan’s situation, to help him overcome his fear. But... how’s it going? Because if she hasn’t managed it, you need to do what you promised: send him abroad.

Alexander narrowed his eyes, uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking. He had forgotten about the deadline he had set and what was at stake. However, in recent weeks, he had seen changes in Ethan. Small progress, yes, but progress nonetheless. Ethan had been more calm, more confident. But the memory of the fear Miranda instilled in him was still something he couldn’t ignore.

—Ethan has improved a lot —he responded calmly, avoiding direct eye contact—. Isabella has done a great job with him. Much more than I expected, to be honest.

Miranda raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

—Really? —she asked, with a sarcastic smile—. Because the last time I checked, Ethan wasn’t even close to trusting me, and that was the point, wasn’t it? That Isabella helped him stop fearing me. If she hasn’t done that, Alexander, you know what we have to do. Ethan can’t stay here if he can’t face his fears. And if Isabella hasn’t managed it, then she has failed.

Alexander sighed, knowing Miranda was right about the conditions he had set. But he had seen something in Ethan. Something that made him doubt the idea of sending him away, especially now that the boy was starting to show improvements, however small.

—Miranda —he said, in a firmer tone this time—. You can’t just get rid of Ethan if he doesn’t meet your expectations. He’s just a child. A child who’s been through a lot. And I don’t think sending him away is the solution. Isabella has helped him become more at ease. Maybe he hasn’t fully overcome his fears yet, but I’m convinced we’re on the right track.

Miranda narrowed her eyes, annoyed by his response. She was used to Alexander following the cold logic, but this time, he seemed more inclined to give the nanny a chance and, what’s worse, to keep Ethan close.

—This wasn’t part of the deal, Alexander —she responded, her voice sharp—. You know what it means. If she doesn’t succeed, she leaves, and so does he. You can’t change the rules halfway through.

Alexander didn’t respond immediately. He knew Miranda was waiting for him to make a decision, a decision that would affect not only Isabella but also Ethan. But inside, he felt that there was something more to all of this, something that stopped him from going forward with the plan they had agreed on.

—Let me think about it —he finally said, his gaze fixed on the horizon through the window—. There’s still a week left.

Miranda frowned, clearly annoyed, but decided not to press any further at that moment. She turned with a gesture of disdain and left the room, leaving Alexander in an internal conflict. He knew he had to make a decision soon, but every time he thought about it, he saw the image of Ethan sleeping peacefully, something he hadn’t seen in a long time.

And worse, every time he saw Isabella interact with the boy, something inside him told hi

m that there was more to their relationship than he could understand.