Right after delivery, my husband smirked at the newborn: “We need a DNA test to be sure it’s mine.” I held the baby tightly, tears in my eyes, and whispered, “Fine, let’s do it.” Days later, the doctor stared at the lab results with a pale face and said, “Ma’am, call the police right now.”

swallowed hard, wiping her eyes, and nodded. “Show me the way.”

We pushed open the fire door, descending into the dark.

Chapter 4: The Descent

The stairwell was a claustrophobic cylinder of concrete and rusted iron. The fluorescent bulbs overhead flickered violently, casting long, grotesque shadows against the walls. Every footstep we took echoed like continue reading …