Chapter 4

• Ryan's POV
• The drive to the hospital was tense. Serena sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching her phone like a lifeline.
• She kept looking at it, her lips pulled together. I wanted to reassure her, but I wasn't sure how.
• “What hospital?" I enquired, breaking the stillness.
• “Private Children's Hospital," she answered, her voice clipped.
• I nodded and sped up. We got to the hospital in record time.
• Serena got out of the car before I could turn off the engine, her heels clicking rapidly against the sidewalk as she rushed inside.
• I followed closely, unable to stop the sinking feeling in my chest.
• At the front desk, she enquired about her daughter with a mix of worry and authority.
• “Amy Winthrop. "Where is she?"
• “Room 208," the receptionist replied.
• Serena did not wait for any additional information. She turned and ran down the corridor, her urgency drawing me along.
• When we arrived at the front of the room, she came to a sudden halt and turned to me.
• Her eyes were full of contradictory feelings. "You don't have to come in," she said.
• I paused, not wanting to interrupt such a private time.
• “I'll wait here," I suggested. She offered a brief nod and disappeared into the room, the door closing behind her.
• I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. My thoughts raced.
• I was almost positive that Amy was Serena's daughter. But was she mine, too?
• Serena's POV
• My heart broke when I walked into the room and saw Amy lying on the hospital bed.
• Her petite frame appeared delicate, her wavy hair tangled, and her blue eyes sad.
• “Mommy!" she wailed, extending her arms. I ran to her side and carefully scooped her up.
• “Oh, my baby. I'm here. Mommy is here." Her arms clung to my neck, and I could feel her tiny body trembling against mine.
• “She's fine," the nurse reassured me while changing Amy's IV. "A little shaken, but nothing serious. "The doctor will be in shortly to confirm."
• "Thank you," I said softly, touching Amy's hair.
• Amy sniffled and drew back slightly, her bright blue eyes staring up at me. "Mommy, isn't that the man from the lift outside the door?"
• I froze, my heart missing a beat. "What man?"
• “The one from yesterday. He held the lift for me," she added, her interest piqued.
• “I think I saw him through the door's little glass window earlier."
• I forced a serene grin. "It's probably just someone who resembles him, honey. Don't worry about it right now."
• Amy bent her head and studied me. "Mommy, he was polite. Very nice."
• “I'm sure he was, baby," I replied, kissing her forehead. "But let's not think about that now, okay?"
• She nodded, her energy diminishing as the nurse returned to take her vital signs.
• As I sat with Amy, my thoughts kept turning to Ryan. I knew he was outside waiting.
• It was exactly like him—stubborn and relentless.
• Ryan's POV
• I paced outside the hospital room in serious concentration.
• If Amy turns out to be my daughter, everything will change.
• I couldn't stop thinking about how Serena had stared at me earlier, her defences raised like a castle.
• I was sure she was hiding something.
• Finally, the door opened, and Serena emerged. Her face was pallid, and her shoulders drooped from fatigue.
• “How is she?" I enquired.
• "She's okay," she murmured softly. "Only a few bruises. The doctor says she'll be able to go home soon." Relief flooded over me.
• “That's good."
• We remained there in awkward silence for a while before I revealed what had been bothering me.
• “Serena, is Amy my daughter?" Her eyes widened, and she looked back at the door, as if she was afraid someone would hear.
• “Ryan, this isn't the time—"
• “It is," I interrupted her.
• “I need to know. Five years ago, I made the biggest mistake in my life. I allowed someone else to come between us, and I served you with divorce papers because I was too blind to recognise what I already had. I thought I was pursuing love, but I had no idea I was leaving it behind."
• Serena's expression darkened. "You're oversimplifying things, Ryan. You didn't just leave me… you broke me."
• Her remarks hit me like a blow to the chest, but I refused to back down.
• “Yes, I did. I will never forgive myself for that. But if Amy is mine, I want to be present in her life. I have to be."
• Serena looked down, her hands trembling.
• For a second, I believed she was going to tell me the truth. But before she could speak, the nurse appeared at the doorway.
• “She's asking for you," the nurse informed Serena.
• Serena nodded and returned her attention to me.
• “We'll talk another time, Ryan," she remarked before entering the room.
• I exhaled softly, frustration and hope battling within me.
• ~~~
• I lingered outside the hospital because I couldn't force myself to leave.
• Amy was still asleep in Serena's arms when she eventually stepped out.
• Her small head lay on Serena's shoulder, and her hair framed her calm expression.
• Serena seems shocked to find me still there.
• “You didn't have to wait," she explained quietly.
• “I was going to drop you off at home," I said. My eyes were locked on Amy, and my heart felt like it was about to burst.
• "You don't need to worry about it. Someone brought my automobile here.” Serena said as she walked towards her car.
• I followed, offering to help. "Let me carry her."
• She looked unsure, but eventually nodded and delicately moved Amy into my arms.
• Holding her seemed weird. She was so little and lovely. My heart ached from emotions I didn't understand.
• We arrived at Serena's car, and I gently placed Amy in her car seat.
• I stepped back and turned to face Serena. "We need to continue our previous discussion," I reiterated.
• She glanced at me with cautious eyes. "Oh, please. "Not now, Ryan."
• I wasn't ready to back down, but seeing how fatigued she appeared, I hesitantly spoke. "Soon, Serena. You owe me an explanation."
• She did not answer, but I noticed the conflicted glances in her eyes as she got into her car and drove away.
• I hurried to my car, got in, and began following her.