“That was never a reason to ask someone to marry me.”

She closed her folder without another word.

That afternoon I met my attorney, Naomi Price, not to sue Lauren or demand access, but to understand my obligations as a possible father.

Naomi explained that resemblance and certainty weren’t enough to settle legal questions; parentage would need to be established through a recognized process, and any parenting arrangement would have to consider the children’s best interests and existing stability.

“Before we talk about custody,” she said, “we need to talk about the way you found these children.