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.

Ryan sat in his car a few houses down from where Serena had parked, his hands firmly grasping the steering wheel.

The small home, with its well manicured plants and comforting lights lighting inside, told him one thing; Serena had made her life here without him.

He wasn't sure what to expect, but seeing the house triggered a peculiar combination of emotions; shame and longing.

He watched Serena gently carry a sleeping Amy into the house. The sight of his daughter caused his chest to hurt.

He had missed so much, years of her life that he couldn't reclaim.

But right now, he wasn't there for Amy. He needed to see Serena.

Ryan waited until the lights in the house darkened, then calculated how long it would take Serena to tuck Amy into bed.

His mind raced, and memories of their time together came flooding back.

When they were only pals, her laughter would lighten even his worst days. After they married, she gazed at him as if he were her entire universe.

But then, he had thrown everything away.

Not tonight.

Tonight, he refused to let her push him away.

When enough time had elapsed, he stepped out of his car, his resolve unwavering. He came up to her door and rang the bell.

Serena was startled by the sound of the doorbell, and her heart raced.

Who could be here at this hour? She hesitated for a bit before walking to the door.

She noticed him while looking through the peephole.

Ryan.

Her pulse sped, and a rush of emotions washed over her—anger, perplexity, and something else she didn't want to accept.

She opened the door slightly while holding the chain lock in place.

“What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” she asked sternly.

Ryan's gaze was fierce, his eyes fixed on her.

“I could not leave things as they were, Serena. We need to talk."

“There's nothing to talk about," she said, beginning to close the door.

Ryan pressed his hand against the door, using his strength to keep it open.

“Let me in, Serena," he murmured quietly, but with a demanding tone.

She hesitated, sighed, and briefly closed the door to undo the chain.

Ryan did not wait when she reopened it. He walked inside and slammed the door behind him.

“Ryan, I—" Serena began, but before she could finish, he was on her.

His hands cupped her face, and his lips smashed down on hers with such force that she lost her breath.

She froze for a brief minute, taken aback by the ferocity of his kiss. But then her body failed her.

She melted into him, her hands grabbing his shirt as his lips pressed against hers, demanding and relentless.

It had been so long since she felt this, and her carefully constructed defences fell in an instant.

“Ryan," she muttered against his lips, but it came across more as a plea than a protest.

He did not stop. His hands slipped down to her waist, bringing her closer until there was no room between them.

“I've missed you," he said softly, his voice raspy and full of love.

Serena's determination weakened. She'd spent years convincing herself she was over him and had moved on.

But now, with his touch sparking every nerve in her body, all of the falsehoods she had told herself began to unravel.

"Stop," she said quietly, but her body betrayed her as she kissed him back just as hard.

Ryan picked her effortlessly and carried her to the couch. He lowered her carefully, his lips never leaving hers.

"Ryan, we shouldn't…" she started, but his kisses ran down her neck, leaving a trail of heat.

“Tell me to stop, Serena," he said, his voice heavy and desperate.

However, she didn't.

The night passed in a flurry of intensity and intense emotion.

Serena had forgotten what it was like to be touched by him and feel so loved.

She despised herself for giving in so quickly, but nothing else mattered in that moment.

When she eventually fell asleep, her head resting on Ryan's chest, she felt a peculiar sensation of calm that she hadn't felt in years.

~~~~

Ryan left Serena's house early the next morning, the fresh air doing little to quench the fire that remained in his veins.

As he approached his car and took his phone from his pocket, the screen lighted up with several missed calls from Kate, his girlfriend.

His jaw tightened as he looked at the notifications, wondering why she called without returning the call and drove away.

****

Serena awoke to an empty bed.

For a while, she believed it was all a dream. But when she saw the tousled blankets partly on the floor beside her, truth struck her like a tidal wave.

She sat up, holding the blanket to her chest, her cheeks flushed with humiliation.

“What have I done?" she said to herself. The recollections from the night before came flooding back.

She let Ryan back in, allowing him to touch and embrace her. She had allowed him to see a side of her that she had kept concealed for so long.

Serena hid her face in her palms. She felt weak and silly.

Ryan had left her once before, and she vowed never to let him hurt her again. But now she was unsure.

A quiet knock on her bedroom door interrupted her thoughts.

“Mommy?" Amy's tiny voice rang out.

Serena instantly controlled herself and put on a robe before opening the door.

“Good morning, darling. How are you feeling now?" she said, attempting a grin.

“Good morning, I'm feeling better mommy." Amy replied with a drowsy grin.

"Can we have pancakes?"

Serena nodded and rubbed Amy's hair softly, happy for the distraction. "Of sure, Baby. Go wash up, and I'll begin making them."

"You're the best Mommy ever…" Amy exclaimed.

Serena leaned on the doorframe while Amy rushed away.

Her mind was still racing, but she put those ideas aside. She needed to focus on Amy.

But deep inside, she knew it wasn't over. Ryan returned, and things were far from resolved.

Ryan returned to his apartment in the early morning hours, the sun just beginning to rise.

His head felt heavy, and his body ached from the intensity of the emotions that had surged through him last night.

As he entered his apartment, he froze.

Kate was sitting on the couch, her legs crossed, her arms folded tightly against her chest, glaring at him.

“How did you get in?” Ryan asked, his voice strained, still reeling from the night he had spent with Serena.

Kate’s gaze flickered with annoyance as she stood up, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

“Your mother gave me the spare key. I’ve been waiting for you. Where the hell have you been, Ryan? You were supposed to be at my place last night!” She leaned forward, her tone demanding.

Ryan closed the door behind him and let out a long sigh.

He didn’t want to deal with this right now. He just wanted to go to bed.

“I was at the office. You know how it is. Long night. Lots of work.”

Kate’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t immediately respond.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head, studying him.

“Really? The office?” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You expect me to believe that?”

Ryan winced inwardly but kept his expression neutral.

He didn’t want to tell her the truth, not yet.

He wasn’t ready to deal with Kate’s jealousy and anger, especially when it came to Serena.

“Of course, Kate. I told you, I was working late,” Ryan insisted, trying to sound convincing.

Kate raised an eyebrow.

“Then why didn’t you answer your phone? I called you six times.” She stepped closer to him, her heels making a soft click on the floor.

“I’ve been sitting here all night, waiting for you to come back, and you didn’t even bother to call.”

Ryan felt the guilt creep up on him, but he pushed it away.

He couldn’t let her know he was lying.

“I didn’t hear my phone,” he lied smoothly. “I must have left it on silent.”

Kate’s lips curled into a tight smile. She was furious, but she was also a master at hiding it behind a mask of sweetness.

“You’re lying, Ryan. You know I don’t believe you. I was worried sick about you.”

Ryan’s chest tightened as he avoided her gaze.

He knew she wouldn’t let this go, but he didn’t want to get into it.

“Kate, please. I’m tired. I’m just getting in. Can we talk about this later?”

Kate’s smile faltered as her eyes blazed with irritation. “Later? You expect me to just forget about this?” Her voice rose.

“You’re acting like I’m the one being unreasonable here. You’re the one who disappeared for the night without so much as a text! And now you want me to just pretend everything’s fine?”

Ryan ran a hand through his hair, the tension building in his neck. “Kate, it’s not like that. I was working. I’ve told you a hundred times.”

Kate took a step closer to him, her breath now warm against his skin.

“You know,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against his chest, “I’m starting to think maybe you’re hiding something from me.” Her eyes locked onto his, a flicker of suspicion in her gaze.

Ryan stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

She stepped even closer, until they were almost touching.

“Maybe there’s someone else,” she purred, her voice lowering, trying to mask her frustration with an air of seduction.

“Maybe you’ve been with another woman.”

Ryan’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly recovered. He shook his head, a forced chuckle escaping his lips.

“You’re overthinking things, Kate. I’m just tired, okay? I told you I was at the office. Nothing more to it.”

Kate wasn’t buying it. She could feel the distance between them for a while now, and the anger was building inside her.

“I don’t believe you,” she whispered, stepping closer, her body almost touching him now. “I think you’re lying to me.”

“Kate, please,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading. “I’m really not in the mood for this.”

But Kate wasn’t finished.

She reached up and gently cupped his face in her hands, her touch soft but firm.

“Maybe you just need some rest,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.

“You’ve been working so hard, after all.” Her lips hovered near his, and she leaned in, her breath warm against his lips.

Ryan’s mind raced.

He could feel the weight of her touch, the pull of desire.

But something inside him resisted.

He stepped back, breaking the connection between them. “I’m really tired, Kate,” he said, his voice strained. “I don’t think I’m in the mood for…”

Kate’s expression darkened, the mask of sweetness slipping.

“Oh, so now you’re too tired for me?” she spat, her voice laced with venom. “You’ve been at the office all night, and now you’re too tired for me?”

Ryan looked at her, his jaw tightening. He didn’t want to fight with her, but he also didn’t want to give in. “Kate, you’re not being reasonable.”

She laughed bitterly, her eyes narrowing.

“Reasonable? I’m not being reasonable? You’ve been lying to me, Ryan, and now you don’t even have the decency to be honest with me!” She crossed her arms again, her stance defensive.

“I’m done with this.”

Ryan took a deep breath, feeling the anger bubble inside him. “I told you the truth, Kate. Why can’t you just trust me?”

“I don’t trust you,” she hissed. “I don’t trust you when you come up with one excuse after another. And I especially don’t trust you when you’re keeping secrets from me.”

“Kate, I’m not keeping secrets. I’m not seeing anyone else. I swear to you.”

Kate’s eyes narrowed as she studied him, looking for any sign of dishonesty.

“Then why didn’t you come home last night? Why didn’t you call me? Why was I left here, alone, while you…?”

“I was at the office, Kate!” Ryan snapped, finally losing his cool. “That’s the truth. I don’t know what you want me to say.”

Kate’s expression turned to one of cold fury.

“Fine,” she spat, “I’ll believe you. But don’t think I’m just going to forget about this. You can’t keep lying to me.”

Ryan stood there, speechless, as Kate turned and walked toward the door.

But just before she left, she turned around, her face softening slightly.

“You know,” she said, “if you really want to make it up to me, maybe you should show me how sorry you are.”

Ryan’s brow furrowed.

“How?” he asked, his voice wary with tiredness.

Kate smiled, a wicked gleam in her eye. “I’ll figure out whatever you’re hiding. Trust me!” With this, she stormed out.