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I walk out of the testing room to see Amelia and Charlie walking down the corridor. The two of them look just as exhausted, dropping everything in their lives to be here with me. It goes without saying I appreciated their support, but I am unable to relay my thoughts and put together a coherent sentence to thank them properly.
Charlie mentioned earlier that Amelia left to take care of a few things, and the truth is I was terrified this would all be too much for her. And how could I blame her? If the roles were reversed, there is no way I could watch Amelia have a child with someone else. I might as well be dead.
But seeing her here is enough to settle my anxious thoughts. Amelia has been my pillar of strength through all of this, never once castigating me for my one foolish night, which led to this moment.
I don’t even think I would still be standing here if it wasn’t for her.
My mother suggested the two of them get some rest, something to eat, and shower. Given we had just done the same, I urged them to have a break. It has been non-stop since we arrived, and each of us felt the pressure in different ways.
Charlie left for the hotel leaving Amelia behind. I sensed something different straight away but couldn’t see past the pained stare. It hurt me to see her so broken, knowing it wasn’t just being here which affected her but what happened back in the Hamptons too.
Amelia rubs the back of her neck as her skin bunches around her eyes. Her normally radiant skin is dull, lifeless—and it kills me to know I am doing this to her.
I move closer to her, baring the truth of my fear of losing her entirely. Her reassurance, a simple gesture of caressing my cheek as she’s done so many times in the past—is what caught my attention.
The ring is no longer there.
The entire universe shifts. Everything we were or had become—has been given another life.
We have lived through it to be able to tell our story, but the darkest of clouds still hover above us like a storm on the horizon. If I am the father, what does this mean for Amelia? It’s one thing to love me now, but will she love me if my life will involve taking care of my son? The thoughts place doubt inside my head. In a desperate need to drown out the incessant noise, I wrap my arms around her, placing her head against my chest. The warmth spreads throughout my entire body, straight to my core. I need her to hear how my heart beats for only her, how from the moment she was born, our connection was greater than either one of us could ever imagine.
But above everything else, I need her to know that without her—I am nothing.
Amelia promised to be by my side no matter the outcome. To hear those words come from her is all I need at this very moment. But for tonight, there is nothing either one of us can do but wait.
I run my finger across her bottom lip, conscious of her exhausted stare. “Go get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I don’t want to leave you,” she rushes, almost panicked. “I can sleep another time.”
“Amelia,” I breathe softly, lifting her chin so our eyes meet. “Just as you said, there is nothing we can do right now. I slept today, so I think I’ll stick around and do some work on my phone tonight. I’ve got emails coming from everywhere. It’ll take my mind off things, but I’m really worried about you. You need some rest, please.”
She nods her head, no longer arguing. I slowly plant a kiss on her lips, desperately wanting to feel her beneath me. Still, I know it would be unfair to drown my anxious nerves of the impending results by devouring her body. I want our next time to be special, give us a chance to reclaim what we once had, and not rush ourselves as we did back in the Hamptons out of desperation.
My mother went back to the hotel with Charlie and Amelia. I spent the earlier part of the night responding to every email I could, negotiating terms with Lau, who still refused to back down. By this point, I’ve lost interest. I’m not sure if it is because of everything going on or life suddenly feeling too short. In the blink of an eye, everything can change.
And it isn’t like money is a concern. Yes, the deal will allow my company to reach another milestone, but I’m not exactly going to be kicked out on the streets if the deal with Lau falls through.
My head is unable to concentrate for long, tired of the greedy fuckers trying to screw me over. I exit the ward, taking a walk around the hospital grounds. There’s something eerily satisfying about being alone in the early hours of the morning. The sky is still dark, silence all around me. The only sound heard is the thoughts in my head.
I walked aimlessly for hours, trying to come up with a plan on how to make this work. I run a billion-dollar empire. How on earth can I care for a child? I guess there are nannies, but that isn’t the ideal way to be raised, especially since I work long hours and barely spend any time at home. The kid would never see me.
Then, I remember I don’t even technically have a home; I’m still staying at the Four Seasons. Whichever way I look at the situation, it isn’t without complication and an imminent migraine.
When the sun begins to rise, Amelia, Charlie, and Mom arrive back at the hospital. Everyone looks refreshed, but the anticipation is too much, causing all four of us to remain silent with our thoughts.
Amelia laces her hands in mine, squeezing them tight. I place a kiss on her forehead, allowing myself to inhale the scent of her skin to ease my anxious nerves.
Dr. Rossmore is carrying a chart as he walks toward us.
“Are you ready?” Amelia asks, her posture straight while she keeps her expression hopeful. “We’ll get through this together, Will. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her reassurance gives me the strength to get through this moment. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Dr. Rossmore asks to see me in private, but I refuse to go anywhere. My family is standing beside me, and this will change their lives too, so it’s only right they hear it from him.
As his glance lingers a little too long for my liking, I prepare myself for the truth.
“Mr. Romano, our test is showing you are not biologically related to the child.”
