“You’re doing great, babe,” I whispered.
She shot me a quick smile, and then it was time. Time for everything we’d hoped for, worked for, to finally happen.
When the first cry pierced the air, I felt a rush of relief, pride, and love all tangled together. I didn’t even realize I was holding my breath until I let it out in a shaky exhale.
Stephanie reached out, eager to hold our baby, but as the nurse laid the tiny, squirming bundle into her arms, something in the room shifted.
Stephanie stared at the baby, her face draining of color, eyes wide with shock.
“That’s not my baby,” she gasped, the words catching in her throat. “That’s not my baby!”
I blinked, not understanding. “What do you mean? Steph, what are you talking about?”
She shook her head, even as the nurse explained that they hadn’t cut the umbilical cord yet, so this was definitely our baby. She looked like she wanted to shove it away.
“Brent, look!” Her voice was rising, panic seeping into every syllable. “She’s… she’s not… I never…”
I looked down at our baby and my world tilted. Dark skin, soft curls. I felt like the ground had just been ripped out from under me.
“What the hell, Stephanie?” I didn’t recognize my voice, sharp and accusing, slicing through the room.
The nurse flinched, and from the corner of my eye, I noticed our families, frozen in shock.
“It’s not mine!” Stephanie’s voice cracked as she looked at me, eyes brimming with tears. “It can’t be. I never slept with anyone else. Brent, you must believe me, I never—”
The tension in the room was suffocating, thick, and choking, as everyone quietly slipped away, leaving just the three of us. I should’ve stayed, but I couldn’t bear the betrayal.
“Brent, wait!” Stephanie’s voice rang out from behind me, broken and desperate, as I marched toward the door. “Please, don’t leave me. I swear to you, I’ve never been with anyone else. You’re the only man I’ve ever loved.”
The raw honesty in her voice made me stop. I turned to look at her. This was the woman I’d loved for years, the woman who had stood by me through every trial and heartbreak. Could she really be lying to me now?
“Steph,” I said, my voice softening despite the storm raging inside me. “This doesn’t make sense. How… how do you explain this?”
“I don’t understand it either, but please, Brent, you have to believe me.”
I looked back at the baby in her arms, and for the first time, really looked. The skin and hair were still a shock. But then I saw it: She had my eyes. And a dimple on her left cheek, just like me.
I closed the distance between us and reached out to cup Steph’s cheek. “I’m here. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not leaving you. We’ll figure this out together.”
She collapsed against me, sobbing, and I held my wife and my daughter as tightly as I could. I’m not sure how long we stayed like that, but eventually, Stephanie started to nod off. The long hours of labor and the stress of our baby’s shocking appearance had taken a toll on her.
I gently untangled myself from them and murmured, “I just need a minute. I’ll be right back.”
Stephanie looked up at me, her eyes puffy and red, and nodded. I knew she was scared I wouldn’t come back, but I couldn’t stay in that room any longer. Not with the way my mind was spinning.
I stepped out into the hallway, the door clicking softly behind me, and sucked in a deep breath, but it didn’t help. I needed more than just air. I needed answers, clarity, something to make sense of the chaos that had just torn through my life.
“Brent,” a voice called, sharp and familiar, breaking through my thoughts like a knife.
I looked up to see my mother standing near the window at the end of the hall, arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her face was set in a hard, disapproving line, the kind that used to send shivers down my spine as a kid when I knew I’d messed up.
“Mom,” I greeted her, but my voice was flat, emotionless. I didn’t have the energy for whatever lecture she was about to deliver.
She didn’t waste any time. “Brent, you can’t stay with her after this. You saw the baby. That’s not your child. It can’t be.”
“She is my child, I’m sure of it. I—” My voice faltered because the truth was, I wasn’t entirely sure. Not yet. And that doubt… God, that doubt was eating me alive.
Mom moved closer, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t be naive, Brent. Stephanie has betrayed you, and you need to wake up to that fact. I know you love her, but you can’t ignore the truth.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Betrayed. I wanted to shout at my mother, to tell her she was wrong, but the words stuck in my throat. Because some small, cruel part of me was whispering that maybe she was right.
“Mom, I… I don’t know,” I admitted, feeling the ground start to slip away from beneath my feet. “I don’t know what to think right now.”
She softened, just a little, reaching out to touch my arm. “Brent, you need to leave her. You deserve better than this. She’s clearly not who you thought she was.”
I pulled away from her, shaking my head. “No, you don’t get it. This isn’t just about me. That’s my wife and daughter in there. I can’t just walk away.”
Mom gave me a pitying look. “Brent, sometimes you have to make hard decisions for your own good. You deserve the truth.”
I turned away from her. “Yeah, I do deserve the truth. But I’m not making any decisions until I have it. I’m going to get to the bottom of this, Mom. And whatever I find out, I’ll deal with it. But until then, I’m not giving up on Stephanie.”
She sighed, clearly dissatisfied with my response, but she didn’t push further. “Just be careful, Brent. Don’t let your love for her blind you to reality.”
With that, I turned and walked away. I couldn’t stand there and listen to any more of her doubts, not when I had so many of my own. I made my way down to the hospital’s genetics department, every step feeling heavier than the last.
By the time I reached the office, my heart was pounding in my chest, a relentless reminder of what was at stake.
The doctor was calm and professional, explaining the DNA test process as if it were just another routine test. But for me, it was anything but routine.
They took my blood, swabbed the inside of my cheek, and promised they’d have the results as soon as possible.
I spent those hours pacing the small waiting area, replaying everything in my head. I kept thinking about Stephanie’s face, the way she’d looked at me, so desperate for me to believe her.
And the baby with my eyes and my dimples. My heart clung to those details like they were a lifeline. But then I’d hear my mom’s voice in my head, telling me I was a fool for not seeing the truth.
Finally, the call came. I could barely hear the doctor’s voice over the roar of blood in my ears. But then the words cut through the noise: “The test confirms that you are the biological father.”
Relief hit me first, like a wave crashing over me, followed by guilt so sharp it made my breath catch. How could I have doubted her? How could I have let those seeds of suspicion take root in my mind?
But the doctor wasn’t finished.
She explained about recessive genes, about how traits from generations back could suddenly show up in a child. It made sense, scientifically, but it didn’t erase the shame I felt for not trusting Stephanie.
The truth was clear now, but it didn’t make me feel any less like an idiot. I had let doubt creep in, let it poison what should have been the happiest day of our lives.
I made my way back to the room, the results clutched in my hand like a lifeline.
When I opened the door, Stephanie looked up, her eyes filled with hope I didn’t deserve. I crossed the room in three quick strides and held out the paper to her.
Her hands trembled as she read, and then she broke down, tears of relief streaming down her face.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m so sorry I doubted you.”
She shook her head, pulling me close, our daughter nestled between us. “We’ll be okay now,” she said softly.
And as I held them both, I made a silent vow: no matter what came our way, no matter who tried to tear us apart, I would protect my family. This was my wife and my child, and I would never let doubt or judgment come between us again.
HOW DOES VICTORIA PRINCIPAL LOOK SO AMAZING AT 74? FIND OUT HERE
“Dallas,” the most successful primetime soap in TV history, is a show I hold dear. I could easily rewatch the entire series just to enjoy Victoria Principal’s performance.
Victoria Principal, known for her memorable role as Pamela Barnes Ewing, was one of the main reasons to watch “Dallas,” along with Larry Hagman, who played the infamous J.R. Ewing.
Now, at 74 years old, Victoria looks incredible. You’ll be amazed when you see her latest photos!
Victoria Principal, now 74, has had a diverse career as an actress, author, producer, and skincare business owner.
Her ability to succeed in many areas might be due to her childhood, which required her to adapt to different places.
Victoria was born on January 3, 1950, in Japan. Her father, a U.S. Air Force Sergeant, was stationed in Fukuoka, so Victoria spent her early months there.
As a child, Victoria and her mother moved frequently due to her father’s job. They lived in England, Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, Florida, and other places.
Victoria Principal attended 17 different schools during her childhood, including the famous Royal Ballet School in England.
Her childhood experiences are a bit mixed. According to the Daily Mail, Victoria and her mother, Ree Principal, had a complicated relationship, and Victoria described her childhood as unhappy in a 2009 report. In a 2012 interview with the Huffington Post, Victoria said she wished she had known earlier that her childhood would eventually end.
However, Victoria has also said, “I was very lucky. My parents raised me in such a way that it never occurred to me that I wasn’t equal.”
Victoria Principal began working early, landing her first job in a TV commercial at just 5 years old.
In 1968, she enrolled at Miami-Dade Community College, planning to become a doctor. However, her path changed dramatically after a serious car accident just months before finishing her first year. The crash forced her to spend months in recovery, and she had to repeat her first year of college.
Deciding to change direction, Victoria moved to New York City to pursue acting. After working as an actress and model in New York and Europe, she moved to Los Angeles in 1971 to chase major film roles. She eventually landed a role in the film “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” playing the mistress of the main character, portrayed by Paul Newman.
Victoria Principal showed she had talent early on, earning a Golden Globe nomination for best newcomer. Her rising fame meant she started getting invited to more parties, but she soon realized that many people were more interested in her fame than in being genuine friends.
After her role in “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean,” Victoria had a hard time finding satisfying roles. Her next film, “The Naked Ape,” didn’t do well, which really affected her confidence.
Victoria Principal wanted to be successful to protect herself from getting hurt. She became very cautious and guarded.
In 1974, she starred in the hit disaster film “Earthquake,” which did really well at the box office. However, while filming “Vigilante Force” in 1975, Victoria felt overwhelmed and collapsed under the pressure of maintaining a perfect image. She admitted that she was so unhappy that she didn’t want to continue living.
Victoria decided to step away from acting and study law. Between 1975 and 1977, she worked as a talent agent, which gave her relief from the constant focus on her looks and body. As an agent, she was valued for her skills and personality.
While working as an agent, Victoria came across the script for the TV series “Dallas.” She was intrigued and knew she wanted the role. She called the casting director and, in a surprising twist, sent herself in for the audition.
Victoria ended up landing the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing, and it became a defining moment in her career.
Victoria Principal knew that “Dallas” was going to be a big success. She loved the show and the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing from the moment she read the script. She felt like she was meant to play that part.
Victoria used her knowledge of the industry to negotiate her own contract with CBS. This gave her the freedom to work on other projects while “Dallas” became a global hit. She was the only cast member who did commercials, acted in TV movies, and wrote books, all while maintaining control over her own image.
Victoria took charge of her career and made sure that no one else controlled her.
In 1978, the TV show *Dallas* premiered and quickly became one of the most popular TV dramas ever. It was so popular that it’s hard for younger people today to grasp just how big of a deal it was worldwide.
The show focused on the Ewings, a rich Texas family involved in oil and cattle ranching.
Victoria Principal, who was 28 when the show started, played a big part in its success. As Pamela Barnes Ewing, the gorgeous wife of Bobby Ewing and sister-in-law to JR Ewing, she became a major crush for many fans of that generation.
During her nine years on *Dallas*, Victoria Principal was nominated for a Golden Globe and two Soap Opera Digest Awards.
Recently, she has shared stories from her time on the show and talked about working with Larry Hagman, who played the iconic character JR Ewing.
Victoria mentioned that working with Larry was always enjoyable. He was a generous actor who would discuss how to make their scenes even better before filming them.
Victoria Principal wasn’t very close with her *Dallas* castmates.
She explained that while they did talk on the phone, they didn’t often hang out together. They had different lives: Patrick, Steve, Larry, and Linda were all married with children, while Victoria was single. Their lifestyles were just too different.
Victoria left *Dallas* in 1987 for a few reasons. She felt that staying on the show longer would make it hard for her to be seen as more than just her character, Pam Ewing. She wanted to avoid being typecast and to explore other opportunities.
Victoria Principal, now 71, has always been in the spotlight, but she’s also made a name for herself off-screen. After marrying plastic surgeon Dr. Harry Glassman, rumors suggested he might have helped her maintain her youthful appearance. However, in a 2007 interview, Victoria denied using any of his services for cosmetic procedures. She stated, “I’ve never had a face-lift. Or a professional peel or lasers.”
Victoria and Dr. Glassman divorced in December 2006 after being together for over 20 years. While she doesn’t have biological children, she grew close with Dr. Glassman’s children from a previous relationship, Andrew and Brooke.
These days, Victoria stays active on social media and spends much of her time on her ranch near Los Angeles, where she focuses on rehabilitating animals. Seeing her happy and thriving brings tears of joy to many of her fans!
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