Page 41 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“Yes,” I said firmly, lowering my voice. “But not in front of Ava.”

She hesitated, glancing back at her daughter. “Ava, sweetheart, can you keep playing for a little while? Mommy and Enzo need to talk in the kitchen.”

“Okay!” Ava said brightly, not looking up from her toys.

Summer led me into the kitchen, her movements stiff. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “What’s going on?”

I didn’t waste time.“Summer, I need to know the truth. About Ava.”

Her posture stiffened, and she looked away. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended. “She’s smart, curious, and everything about her feels… familiar. Too familiar.”

“Enzo—”

“She looks like me, Summer,” I said, cutting her off. “She acts like me. And the things she says… It’s not just coincidence.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she stayed silent.

“I’ve been trying to piece it together,” I continued, stepping closer. “You moved to the city around the time she was born. You’ve avoided every question about her father. And now, Ava’s saying things that only make sense if?—”

“Stop,” she said, her voice trembling.

I froze, staring at her.

She looked down, her hands gripping the counter. “Please, Enzo. Just… stop.”

The silencebetween us was deafening. I could feel the weight of her words before she even said them.

“Is she mine?” I asked quietly, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

Summer’s head snapped up, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and guilt.

“Enzo…”

I stepped closer, my chest tightening. “I need to know, Summer. I deserve to know.”

Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out. Her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the counter, and for a moment, I thought she might not answer.

Then, her shoulders slumped, and she let out a shaky breath.

“She’s yours,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The words hitme like a punch to the gut. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe.

“She’s mine,” I repeated, the reality of it sinking in.

Summer nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. “I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought I was doing the right thing—giving you a chance to focus on your career without?—”

“Without knowing my daughter existed?” I said, my voice sharper than I intended.

She flinched, and guilt immediately clawed at me.

“I thought I was protecting her,” she said quickly. “And you. I didn’t want to ruin your life, Enzo.”

“Ruin my life?” I said, shaking my head. “Summer, you didn’t give me a choice. You didn’t give me a chance to be there for her—for you.”

“I know,” she said, her voice breaking. “And I’m so sorry. I’ve regretted it every day.”

---