Ken sat behind his large mahogany desk, the weight of unanswered questions pressing on him. His office was quiet, except for the soft ticking of the clock and the occasional rustling of papers from the air conditioning. Toby stood across from him, alert and waiting.
"She left four days ago," Ken finally said, his voice calm but serious. "With her son. That's what Mara told me. But I need to be sure, Toby. I want proof that she boarded that flight to the States."
Toby frowned. "You think Mara lied?"
Ken gave a dry, bitter laugh. "I think Mara only says what suits her. And if she went this far to make Lina disappear, I can't just trust her words."
He pulled open a drawer and took out a neat sheet of paper. He slid it across to Toby.
"This is the flight info; airline, date, destination, everything. Use it. Track her down. I don't care how far you have to dig. I need the truth."
Toby took the paper and nodded. "I'll check everything. If she boarded that plane, I'll find her name. If not, I'll trace her steps. You can count on me."
Ken leaned back in his chair, looking directly at him. "I need to know, Toby. For the twins. And for myself."
"I'm on it, boss," Toby said, then left the room with quiet urgency.
As the door closed, Ken slowly exhaled and looked out his window at the city, lost in thought.
You left with your son, Lina... but why do I feel like you're still close, just out of reach?
***
Ken stood in the sleek, glass lobby of GeneCore Diagnostics, one of the top genetic labs in the country. The place smelled clean and sterile. Staff in white coats moved calmly around, but Ken's mind was racing. In his hand, he held a small plastic bag with strands of the twins' hair.
A tall man in a navy-blue lab coat approached him. "Mr. Ken Duru," he said, offering a handshake. "I'm Dr. Maxwell, head of Genetics here. I was told this is a private session."
Ken shook his hand. "Yes. This must stay between us; completely private."
"Of course," Dr. Maxwell replied. "Please, come with me."
They entered a quiet, dim consultation room. Ken placed the bag on the table and sat down.
"I want a full DNA test done on these samples," he said. "They're from twin babies. I need to know if they're biologically mine."
Dr. Maxwell looked at the bag closely. "Do you have a sample of your own for comparison?"
Ken handed him a sealed white envelope. "Swabbed this morning. It's labeled."
"Perfect," the doctor said. "I'll run a paternity test. Normally it takes five to seven days, but with your request, I can speed it up. You'll have results in 72 hours."
Ken nodded. "That's fine."
The doctor hesitated, then asked gently, "May I ask why there's doubt? You don't seem like someone who acts on emotion."
Ken looked at the bag of hair, then up at him. "The mother's identity was hidden from me. It was a surrogacy situation... but I need to be sure. It's not just about DNA. It's about my past, things I missed."
"I understand," the doctor said. "I'll handle this with the highest care and privacy."
Ken stood. "Thank you. Let me know the moment the results are ready."
As the door closed behind him, Ken felt a storm of emotions stirring beneath his calm look.
If they're mine, Lina… what else have I lost without knowing?
That night, Ken quietly opened the nursery door. A soft lullaby played in the background, and the scent of baby lotion filled the room. A gentle light glowed over the crib where little Marvin slept peacefully.
Maurice, however, was awake on the changing table, kicking his legs while Ada changed his diaper. The nanny stood nearby, folding a blanket.
The nanny straightened up when she saw Ken. "Good evening, sir."
Ken gave a small nod, his eyes on Ada. "You really love it here, don't you?" he asked with a faint smile.
Ada smiled back. "I do. They're such peaceful babies...well, most of the time."
Ken chuckled, stepping closer. "The room feels calmer."
"That's because of the new formula I mentioned," Ada said. "It's organic and very close to breast milk. I checked the ingredients and got the pediatrician's approval. They're feeding better and sleeping longer."
Ken looked relieved. "Thank you, Ada. Let's get more of it. Buy as much as we need. I don't want them running out."
"Yes, sir," the nanny replied.
Ken walked over to Marvin's crib and gently lifted the baby into his arms. Marvin stirred, then settled quietly against Ken's chest. Ken smiled as he held him.
"They're due for their shots tomorrow," the nanny said softly. "I was going to tell Madam Mara, but I haven't seen her today."
Ken's face didn't change. "The driver's on standby. Just be ready."
"I'll go with them," Ada offered. "If that's okay."
Ken looked at her, touched by her kindness. "It's more than okay. Thank you."
Ada nodded and returned to Maurice, who was now cooing as she dressed him. The nursery fell quiet again, with only the lullaby humming softly.
And for the first time in days, Ken felt like he could finally breathe.