The Results

Immediately, she called Matteo back. He picked up without delay.

"So… what did the report say?" Amelia asked worriedly, while Aiden skulked closer, wanting to eavesdrop on the conversation. Amelia didn't even bother to fend him off; the news would be made public sooner or later eventually.

There was a brief pause from Matteo's end of the line, and Amelia heard warning bells ring in her head. Any hesitation from Matteo was a bad sign since Matteo would have rejoiced the moment the report came back with a negative result. 

"Are you sitting down?" Matteo asked. "You might want to sit down for this." 

"...No, should I be?" Amelia asked, her heart sinking at Matteo's words. She had an awful premonition. "Matteo, out with it. Don't waste my time. Are you the father of Emmeline's child?"

"The report states so," Matteo said, his voice wooden. It sounded like he himself could not believe his own words.