Anna Nicole Smith's lawyer , Howard K. Stern says he is a "proud father"

Anna Nicole Smith's longtime lawyer , Howard K. Stern, said on Larry King Live Tuesday night that he is the "proud father" of Smith's newborn daughter, calling her the one "ray of hope" in their lives since the sudden death Sept. 10 of Anna Nicole Smith's son, Daniel reports Eonline.

Daniel Smith, 20, died in his mother's hospital room Sept. 10 while visiting her three days after she gave birth to the baby girl. Authorities are still awaiting toxicology test results to determine the cause of death reports People Magazine.

Stern, who was with the family in the hospital the night Daniel died, told CNN's Larry King "the one thing that is really keeping her going. And through it all, even with all the pain, she has been a great mom, a very attentive mom."

Anna Nicole Smith has name the baby Dannie Lynn Hope

The news may come as a surprise to Smith's ex-boyfriend, photographer Larry Birkhead, who told Entertainment Tonight last week that he believes in his heart that he is the baby's father."

"From the moment that I was told that I was the father, I just had visions of being in that room," Birkhead said. "Even though I hate hospitals and all that, I was really kind of getting prepared to just be there and be a part of it, so it hurts, you know? It hurts a lot. To be shut out, you kind of go numb because you don't understand, and then you try to get your emotions [in check]."

Howard K. Stern added: "We love each other and it's been going on for a very long time and because of my relationship as her lawyer, we felt it was best to keep everything hidden. And we've done a pretty good job of that."

When King asked Stern if he planned to marry Smith, he replied, "I've loved her for quite some time and hopefully the feeling's mutual. At some point, we will. Right now we have to somehow get through what we're going through."

By Fabien Montique posted time [ 3:43 AM]