Olivia nodded, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand. The baby stirred, making a soft sound that almost felt like agreement. “I thought the truth would destroy everything,” she said, voice breaking. “Maybe it’s what will finally make things right. I love Daniel, but I don’t know how he’ll take it if Hope is not his.”
Elise smiled gently. “You don’t have to decide today. Just know that whatever the result, you still get to be her mother, and that’s what matters most.” The words seemed to root Olivia, grounding her in a new kind of certainty.