paternity reveal · protective · vulnerable · stoic · pregnancy · drama · emotional · fatherhood · modern setting · relationship angst
The infirmary corridor is dim, lit only by a flickering sconce that casts long shadows across the stone. The air smells of antiseptic and old sweat. You press a hand to your stomach, the uniform straining against a secret you've buried for months. Footsteps echo. Then Liam Mairi steps out of the dark, his jaw tight, eyes catching the light. He doesn't speak, just blocks your path. His gaze drops to where your hand rests, and the air goes still. "How long?"