Military Veteran Suspects His Middle Son Is Not His & Takes DNA Test — Story of the Day

After returning home from the military, James is haunted by suspicions about his middle child's paternity. He undergoes a DNA test, only to lose what he cherishes the most.

The garage was filled with the clanking of tools and the scene of motor oil. James, 42, was working on his car, muttering about how fixing it was harder than facing the battlefield. Suddenly, he heard footsteps and froze. He peered from the corner of his eyes and saw Dominic, his annoying neighbor.

James pretended not to notice the man, but Dominic broke the silence. "Hey, James! Working on the car?"

"Not everyone sits before a computer like you, Dominic," James sneered. "Some real men gotta do real work."

Dominic chuckled, oblivious to the sarcasm. He mentioned how good it was to have James back and how Lily had told him how hard it was for her when James was deployed.

James' eyes turned red with fury. "I'm sure she poured her heart out to you, didn't she?" he scoffed.

"I was just trying to be there for her, James," Dominic shrugged.

James got in his face. "Stay away from my wife, nerd! She doesn't need your pity!"

Before they could argue further, James's youngest son, Jason, entered the house's compound, bruised and crying. Behind him was Harry, looking down.

James' anger shifted. "What the hell happened?" he demanded.

Jason explained about a school fight where he was beaten up.

"And where were you?" James yelled at Harry. "You couldn't help your brother?"

Harry tried to explain that he did stand up for himself, but James cut him off, calling him a coward. When Dominic advised James not to act like that with Harry, James lost his cool and shoved the man away, forcing Dominic to leave.

James didn't stop there. He was about to yell at Harry again when suddenly, a car door slammed shut. Lily, James's wife, was home.

"Oh god, Jason," she cried as she dashed over to her kids and examined their bruises.

"Your youngest son got beaten up at school, and your middle child did nothing to intervene!" James snarled at her.

"Harry is just a kid, James! We can't expect him to fight off bullies!" Lily snapped. "As his father, you should support him, not mock him!"

She sent the boys to their rooms and confronted James.

"Well, he can't be my son!" James grunted and returned to the car.

"Harry IS your son, James!" she exclaimed, following him.

James scoffed. "Is he? I wasn't here when you got pregnant with him, Lily! I was deployed in Afghanistan."

He accused her of sleeping with Dominic, and Lily was shocked.

"Watch what you're saying, James!" she cried. "Dominic is just a friend!"

James was furious, but he didn't continue the conversation. He grabbed his jacket and stormed off to the bar.

At one point, he dialed his friend, Simon.

"Hey, are you free? Could use a drink."

"You alright?" Simon asked, sensing his friend's distress.

"Yeah. I am. Third Street bar. Ten minutes?" James replied.

Simon agreed.

Ending the call, James walked past families enjoying their meals at restaurants, a pang of regret shooting through him. He had returned from his deployment hoping for a peaceful life, but things had only gone downhill.

He had been suspicious about Dominic and Lily's affair for a long time. They'd even argued about Dominic's involvement in their lives and how Harry was so different from them.

James was sure Lily was having an affair with Dominic. The shock and horror etched on Lily's face when they argued confirmed his gut feeling that she had been hiding something.

The bar's neon sign distracted James. He pushed open the creaking wooden door, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. Simon sat waiting for him on a wooden stool.

"James, my man!" Simon exclaimed, raising his glass.

But James's face remained pale. Simon, noticing his friend's mood, ordered two beers. "What's eating at you?" he asked gently.

James really needed to talk to someone. So he told Simon everything about how he felt Lily was cheating on him and his belief that Harry was Dominic's son. Simon listened patiently, offering comfort and support. He shared a similar story of a friend who had unknowingly raised another man's child for years.

"What I suggest is, get a DNA test done, man," Simon encouraged. "Clear the air for your and the kid's sake."

James nodded, his mind consumed by the images of Lily and Dominic in bed. He knew he needed to face reality, no matter how painful. "I will," he said eventually.

They spent the rest of the night talking, reminiscing about their Army days. The bar manager eventually asked them to leave because they kept demanding alcohol after the bar's closing time.

Stumbling out onto the pavement, Simon flagged down a taxi. "S-z-ee you, faind!" he slurred, disappearing into the night.

James decided to walk home. His steps were unsteady, his shoulders slumped, and his usual military precision was gone. He walked for what felt like an eternity, consumed by his troubled thoughts.

Finally, he stood on his doorstep, fumbling with the keys. The world spun around him as he entered, his body heavy with exhaustion and despair.

He kicked off his shoes and staggered into the dimly lit living room. He sank onto the couch, mumbling, "Need to know the truth," and succumbed to sleep.

James woke up to sunlight streaming in through the living room windows and the voices of his wife and children. He had been sleeping on the couch all night.

"Bye, Dad!" Tommy waved a bye as he left for college.

Then, Lily appeared in the living room with the kids. I need to know the truth, James's mind said.

"Lily, I'm taking Harry for a DNA test after school," he said.

She glared at him. "Why on earth would you do that?"

"I need to know if..." James couldn't finish his sentence, seeing their children staring at them in confusion.

Lily's anger escalated. She didn't need to hear more. She just left the house to drop Jason and Harry off at the bus stop. When she returned, she gave James the ultimatum that if he dared to take the DNA test, she would kick him out of the house. Their house belonged to her, after all.

However, James didn't listen to her. Later that afternoon, he took Harry to a hospital for the test and was told he'd receive the results in 2-3 days.

James had always suspected Harry wasn't his middle child, but after Jason's birth, he had moved on, only to be haunted by the suspicions again once he returned home and saw Dominic getting too close to their family.

Harry was silent on their way home. James had been cold to him ever since he returned home, and Harry knew it was because James didn't believe he was his son — like Tommy and Jason.

As they entered the house, they were welcomed by Lily, who was furious. "Get out, James!" she yelled. "Jason told me you took Harry for a DNA test after school!"

"I needed to know, Lily!" he protested.

"What now? What do you expect to change?"

"The truth changes everything!" he yelled.

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes. "OUT, James! And don't you dare return here!"

James stormed out of the house, feeling defeated. He went to his friend Simon's house, and they drank all night.

"Talk to Lily, man!" Simon slurred. "Communication is the key!"

"I've tried, mate," James said miserably. "She won't listen."

As the night wore on, James drank himself into oblivion. He couldn't help but think about Lily. He loved her so much, but the doubt was eating him alive.

"I've been loyal to her my whole life," he whispered. "But I need to be sure about Harry."

Finally, James passed out on the floor. He woke up the next morning feeling terrible, both physically and emotionally. Overcome with guilt and regret, he decided to reconcile with Lily.

"She can hate me! But I will make up with her!" he mumbled, stumbling out of Simon's house.

He walked home, reeking of alcohol, ignoring the disgust of passersby. All he wanted was to mend things with Lily.

His drunken steps faltered, and he almost fell on the road. A stranger offered help, but James, drunk and focused on his mission, refused.

He reached the park, exhausted, and passed out. When he awoke, his head was pounding, and he was a bit tipsy. He bought Lily white roses and her favorite chocolates, oblivious to his stench.

Reaching home, his hopes were shattered. He saw Lily on the porch, watching Dominic play with their boys, her eyes full of love.

James felt like an outsider, and rage filled him. He stormed in, throwing the gifts aside, and attacked Dominic.

"Get out of my house! You want to steal my family?" he yelled, punching Dominic's face.

The children, terrified, watched helplessly.

James lost in his rage, pummeled Dominic, and Lily, in a terrified state, called the cops.

"Help! My husband will kill my neighbor!" she cried to the dispatcher on the line.

Minutes later, sirens filled the air. Police pulled James away from an unconscious Dominic, who was rushed to the hospital.

"You're under arrest for assault," a cop informed James, cuffing him. He was taken away from his family in a police car.

Sitting in the prison cell, James's drunken bravado started fading. He shivered, feeling the harsh reality of his situation. The floor beneath him was icy, and the day dragged on, but nobody came to bail him out.

At one point, the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol hit, causing him to puke, and he huddled in a corner, burying his head in his hands. "Oh God, what have I done?" he muttered, overwhelmed by regret.

He slept on the cold floor, using his hands as a makeshift pillow, his mind consumed by the events of the morning.

The next morning, the clang of the cell door jolted him awake.

"You have a visitor," an officer announced.

James's heart leaped. Could it be Simon?

He was led to a small room and handed an envelope containing the DNA test results. He had given his home address at the hospital, so Lily had dropped off the envelope for him. His hands trembled as he read the results: "Paternity result: 99.9%."

He had been wrong. Harry was his son. Relief washed over him, along with shame for his doubts and accusations. He'd been a terrible husband, questioning Lily's loyalty while she remained faithful.

James needed to make things right. He asked an officer if he could make a call and dialed Simon.

"Simon, I'm in jail. I need you to help me get out. I need to be home."

Within an hour, Simon was posting bail from him.

After being released, James rushed home, ready to beg for Lily's forgiveness, even on his knees. He raced up the steps, his heart pounding, and knocked on the door.

"Lily, please open the door! It's me, James! I'm so sorry!" he cried.

A tense silence followed before the door creaked open. But before he could enter, Lily thrust two large boxes into his arms.

"What's this?" he stammered, bewildered, as she pushed a suitcase onto the porch.

Tears streamed down Lily's face as she slammed an envelope on top of the boxes. "Goodbye forever, James," she choked out. "I'm divorcing you. It's over."

Her cold stare was the last thing he saw before the door slammed shut, leaving him alone on the porch. He had the truth but at the cost of his family.

Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.

If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a single dad who is horrified when his children start disappearing one by one within a week. The father has to find his kids before it's too late.

This piece is inspired by stories from the everyday lives of our readers and written by a professional writer. Any resemblance to actual names or locations is purely coincidental. All images are for illustration purposes only. Share your story with us; maybe it will change someone's life. If you would like to share your story, please send it to info@amomama.com.