“Well,” Dr. Shah said quietly, tapping his pen against the clipboard.

“According to these tissue markers, she gave birth exactly five years ago.”

Daniel’s gaze drifted from the doctor to me.

His eyes traveled down to the twins, who were still clinging to my hands.

Five years ago. The exact month his sons were born.

My phone, sitting on the bedside table, suddenly lit up with an incoming call from the estate.

The screen displayed the name: Ruth.

The phone kept ringing, its cheerful tone cutting through the sterile room.

Daniel reached out, his hand steady but slow.

He swiped the screen and pressed the speaker button.

“Ruth?” he said.

The line crackled with static before Ruth’s voice came through.

“Daniel? Is Claire alright? The boys…”

“She’s resting,” Daniel said, his eyes locked on mine. “But we have a situation here.”

“What kind of situation?” Ruth asked, her voice suddenly guarded.

“The doctor just ran some tests,” Daniel said. “He says Claire gave birth five years ago.”

“He says the physical evidence is clear.”

Silence fell over the line, heavy and long.