It came through Chloe, carefully and with uncertainty.

Kenneth had begun questioning dates after Brenda pressed him to make their arrangement official.

He had requested a DNA test through a clinic, and the people involved had agreed to the process.

“I don’t want to repeat rumors,” Chloe told me on the phone.

“He says the result indicates he isn’t Liam’s biological father.

I haven’t seen the report.”

“Then let’s leave it there until there’s something reliable,” I replied.

Days later Kenneth mentioned the result during a conversation about returning my keys.