Kyle Greenbecker had spent a year working on an oil pipeline in Alaska, counting down the days until he could return home to his wife, Lisa. They had been high school sweethearts, married young at nineteen. And despite the distance his job required, Kyle had never strayed—never even been tempted. Lisa was the only woman he had ever been with, and he had never given her a reason to doubt him.

So when his plane landed, he expected to see her waiting for him. Instead, there was no sign of Lisa.

Maybe she had been held up at work. He sent a quick text, letting her know he was on his way home, but there was no response. Shrugging it off, he grabbed an Uber and spent the hour-long ride imagining the moment he’d walk through their front door, wrap his arms around her, and finally feel at home again.

But when he arrived, something was wrong.

The lights were on, but the house felt empty.

Kyle stepped inside and called her name. No answer. He made his way to the kitchen and stopped cold.

Sitting in the middle of the table was a bassinet. And inside it—was a baby.

Kyle’s breath caught as he stared at the tiny infant, waving her arms aimlessly, blinking up at him with wide, curious eyes. For a moment, he thought he was imagining things. Then he spotted a note beside the bassinet, written in a hand he didn’t recognize.

“You had your fun. Now take responsibility for your child.”

His stomach twisted.

Another letter, in Lisa’s familiar handwriting, lay beside it.

**”Kyle, I found this baby on our doorstep yesterday with that note attached. I always suspected you cheated on me during your business trips, but I never held it against you—after all, I had my own flings while you were away. But expecting me to raise another woman’s child? That’s too much. I’ve filed for divorce, and I hope I never see you again.

P.S. Don’t worry about the baby. I only left once I saw you coming up the driveway. Enjoy your new life, Kyle. I certainly plan to enjoy mine.”**

Kyle sank into a chair, his head in his hands.

This couldn’t be real.

He had never cheated on Lisa. Not once.

A small sound pulled him from his shock. He looked up to find the baby staring at him, her tiny fingers curling and uncurling. Tentatively, he reached out. To his surprise, she grabbed onto his index finger with an iron grip.

“Well, kid,” Kyle murmured, his voice hoarse. “Looks like it’s just the two of us. And I have no idea what I’m doing.”

The baby cooed, then suddenly scrunched up her face, turning an alarming shade of red.

A second later, the smell hit him.

“Oh no,” Kyle groaned. “You didn’t.”

A frantic search led him to a large backpack on the floor, filled with baby supplies. Diapers, formula, blankets—whoever had left the child had at least made sure she had what she needed.

After a crash course via YouTube, Kyle managed to change his first diaper—though the baby, now giggling at his struggle, seemed to find it far more amusing than he did.

As he settled her in his arms, rocking her gently, something inside him shifted.

He had no idea where this child had come from, but he knew one thing for certain.

He wasn’t going to let her go.

“You need a name,” he murmured, brushing a finger over her tiny hand. “How about… Lily?”

She gurgled, waving her arms.

“Lily it is.”

From that moment on, Kyle embraced fatherhood. He registered Lily as his child, enrolled her in daycare, and celebrated her birthday on the day she arrived in his life. And though raising her alone wasn’t easy, he wouldn’t have traded it for anything.

Then, on Lily’s second birthday, Kyle’s world was turned upside down again.

A knock at the door.

A woman stood on his porch—tall, blonde, and dressed to be noticed. Her voice was sharp, her expression impatient.

“I’ve come for my baby.”

Kyle just stared.

“Your what?”

“My baby,” she repeated. “I left her here two years ago. Big misunderstanding. I meant to drop her off at my boyfriend’s place, but, you know, I was a little… out of it.”

Kyle’s hands curled into fists. “You abandoned a baby and didn’t notice for two years?”

She waved off his anger. “I realized a week later when Burt stopped answering my calls. But now I need her back.”

“Why now?” Kyle asked coldly.

The woman smirked. “Burt just signed a Major League contract. That baby’s my golden ticket.”

Kyle’s blood ran cold. She didn’t want Lily. She wanted a paycheck.

“Get off my porch,” he said.

But he knew this wasn’t over.

A week later, he was summoned to family court.

Cherish Vegas, as she was called, was contesting his adoption of Lily.

Kyle suddenly found himself under investigation. Social workers appeared at random, his coworkers were questioned, and his parenting was scrutinized.

And then, on the day of the hearing, he saw the man standing beside Cherish in court.

Tall. Athletic. And with the same blue eyes as Lily.

This was Burt—the father.

Cherish sobbed through her testimony, painting herself as a mother who had made a mistake but now wanted to do right by her child.

The judge frowned down at her paperwork. “By ‘left in his care,’ you mean abandoned on his doorstep. Is that correct, Miss Vegas?”

Cherish flushed but lifted her chin. “I’m still her mama! No one can deny that!”

The judge turned to Burt. “Sir, are you prepared to take on full parental responsibilities for this child?”

Before he could answer, Cherish smirked. “He better be! That contract’s worth millions, and Lily’s getting her share!”

The courtroom fell silent.

The judge sighed. “Finally, the truth comes out.” She turned to Cherish. “Tell me, Miss Vegas, what is your daughter’s name?”

Cherish faltered. “Uh… well, she’ll take Burt’s name, obviously.”

Kyle stood. “Your Honor, may I speak?”

The judge nodded.

“My daughter’s name is Lily Greenbecker. She’s had my last name since the day I found her. And since that day, I’ve loved her. She loves me.”

As if on cue, Lily—who had been playing with the social worker’s necklace—looked up and saw Kyle standing.

“Daddy!” she squealed, reaching for him.

The judge smiled. “Well, it seems the principal party has made her choice.”

She turned back to Cherish and Burt. “I hereby confirm Kyle Greenbecker’s adoption and legal custody of Lily Greenbecker. Case dismissed.”

That evening, Kyle and Lily celebrated in the backyard, catching fireflies.

“Stars!” Lily giggled, watching the tiny lights blink in her hands.

Kyle smiled.

The brightest star in his life wasn’t in the sky.

She was standing right in front of him, laughing in the summer air, calling him Daddy.

And that was all that mattered.