Chapter 7 - The Medical Confirmation
Back in the private study, a quiet urgency had replaced the chaos of the night.
A trusted family physician—Dr. Aris Thorne, a man whose loyalty to Rocco had been proven through decades of service—sat beside the mahogany desk, examining the newborn baby with professional care. Elena stood nearby, wringing her hands, while Sophia watched with wide, curious eyes from the sofa.
Dr. Thorne finished checking the baby's reflexes, listened to his heartbeat through a silver stethoscope, and finally looked up at Rocco with a solemn, amazed expression.
"Well, Mr. Moretti?" Rocco asked, his voice tighter than usual.
"He is healthy, robust, and shows no signs of lasting exposure from the cold," Dr. Thorne reported, packing his instruments into his leather bag. "Aside from being a bit hungry, he is entirely fine."
"And the biological markers?" Rocco pressed.
Dr. Thorne opened a small portable DNA testing kit on the desk, displaying a digital readout screen. "I ran a rapid mitochondrial and chromosomal comparison using your stored genetic profile from the family medical archive. The results are definitive, sir."
Rocco stared at the green verification text glowing on the screen.
Match Confirmed: 99.999% Paternal Lineage.
It was true. The child Valentina had tried to erase, the son he was told had died five years ago, had been hidden away, brought back, and miraculously saved by an eight-year-old girl walking barefoot by the kitchen.
Elena let out a soft sob of relief, crossing herself quickly. Sophia smiled brightly, walking over to the edge of the desk to look at the baby.
"Is he your little boy, sir?" Sophia asked softly.
May you like
Rocco looked down at the newborn, who had opened his eyes—deep, dark eyes that mirrored his own. For the first time in over a decade, the cold, impenetrable armor around Rocco Moretti’s heart cracked open, letting in the warmth of a true beginning.
"Yes, Sophia," Rocco said, his voice thick with emotion as he gently lifted his son into his arms. "He is my son."
