Page 60 of The Homewrecker's Fate

He chuckled. “I suppose not.” Melinda didn’t laugh, which was weird because she had been in really good spirits the whole time up until a minute or two ago.

“Is everything okay with my baby?” I asked.

“Yes, for sure. Is the biological father’s name going on the birth certificate?”

“Does it have to?” I asked.

“Not necessarily, but he can petition the court to put it there later.”

I huffed in frustration. “Richard Thomlinson is his name.” Melinda gasped just as the door opened.

“Sir, you can’t go in there.”

“My daughter was just born,” Rich called back to whoever tried to stop him.

“Rich?” Melinda asked. His head snapped around and his eyes, the same ones I once looked into lovingly, rounded out in surprise and what looked a whole lot like fear. “What is going on here? You said your wife was pregnant with another man’s child.”

“She is.” The lie rolled off his tongue too smoothly.

“No, she’s not,” I corrected. “The DNA test said it was yours. Mel told us.”

“Mel? His wife?” Melinda asked.

I nodded my head slowly as something Mel kept saying finally clicked. Rich had been dating a nurse who he was trying to keep secret, but the kids had met her.

“Mel, his pregnant wife,” I added.

“But you just said that Richard Thomlinson was your daughter’s biological father.”

“That is correct. He lied to me. I didn’t know he was married or that he had two children already. He got me pregnant while we were dating and managed to go back and get his wife pregnant a few weeks later after me. She’s due in a few weeks. Both children are his – biologically,” I tacked the last on because I wouldn’t give him any credit for being a father.

“Are you kidding right now?” Melinda asked in a sharp tone.

“Mellie, we can talk about this later,” Rich demanded just as Janine gave a loud wail of disapproval for whatever the nurse had been doing to her.

“I just put her ID bracelet on. Yours matches her,” the other nurse, Julie, explained. "I have one for dad as well.” She held it up, but her eyes coasted between Brax and Rich like she wasn’t sure who should get it.

“Braxton gets it,” I stated as I hitched a thumb toward the man who was still quietly standing by my shoulder watching the drama unfold.

“Okay,” Julie stepped forward to put the bracelet on his wrist, but Rich reached out and snatched it.

“I’m the baby’s father.”

“The baby has a name and a gender,” I told him.

“And I’d know it if you told me.” He snarled back.

“You’re an asshole. You’ve been told that I was having a girl since I found out. We’ve said her name around you numerous times as well.” I turned to Julie. “That’s why he doesn’t get the bracelet. Braxton will be staying with me while I’m in the hospital. Rich is only allowed to come see his daughter during visitation hours.”

“You can’t just give him the father’s bracelet," Rich argued.

“I can and I did. You will not be staying here with me.”

“Dammit, Avi, when are you going to clue in that I’ve been in love with you since we met. It’s supposed to be me there by your side with our daughter.”

“Seriously, Rich?” I asked. “Maybe if you’d told me about your wife and children, we wouldn’t even be in this mess. You lying piece of…”

“Shit!” Melinda finished my sentence for me. “I can’t believe you just said that in front of me. You were just talking about getting engaged two weeks ago.” It was my turn for my eyes to widen in surprise.

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