Page 53 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“I’ve got it,” Enzo said, giving my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before heading to the door.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to stay calm.

The living roomfilled quickly as Enzo’s parents, Elaine and Richard, entered, followed by Beth and her husband. Their familiar laughter and warm smiles made the moment feel both comforting and impossibly heavy.

“Ava!” Elaine called, her face lighting up as Ava ran into the room. “There’s my little angel!”

“Hi, Grandma Elaine!” Ava said, throwing her arms around her.

Richard chuckled, patting Ava’s head. “I see Bunny’s still in charge, huh?”

“Always,” Ava said proudly, holding up her ever-present stuffed companion.

As they settled into the living room, Enzo caught my eye and gave me a small nod. It was time.

Dinner was lively at first,the conversation flowing easily as everyone complimented the food and swapped stories abouttheir week. But as the plates were cleared and the table fell into a comfortable lull, Enzo straightened in his seat.

“There’s something we need to talk to you about,” he said, his voice steady.

The shift in his tone was impossible to miss, and all eyes turned toward him.

“What is it?” Elaine asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

Enzo glanced at me, and I nodded, my throat tightening.

“It’s about Ava,” he began, his gaze moving around the table. “There’s something you don’t know.”

Richard leaned forward slightly, his expression concerned. “What’s going on?”

Enzo took a deep breath, his voice calm but deliberate. “Ava is my daughter.”

The words hung in the air like a bombshell, and for a moment, no one moved.

“What?” Beth said, breaking the silence.

“It’s true,” Enzo said, glancing at Ava, who was happily coloring at the other end of the table, oblivious to the tension. “I only found out recently.”

Elaine’s hand went to her mouth, her eyes wide. “Oh, Enzo…”

Richard’s gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable. “You didn’t tell him?”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “I didn’t. Not until recently.”

“Why not?” Beth asked, her tone sharper than her father’s.

I took a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the table. “When I found out I was pregnant, Enzo was just starting his residency. He was already overwhelmed, and I thought… I thought I was protecting him. And Ava.”

Elaine reached over, placing a hand on mine. “That must have been so hard for you, Summer.”

“It was,” I admitted, tears stinging my eyes. “But looking back, I know I made the wrong choice. Enzo deserved to know. Ava deserved to know.”

Enzo reached over, squeezing my hand. “We’re here now,” he said softly, his voice steadying me.

Richard cleared his throat,his voice even but firm. “And the fake relationship? Was that part of keeping the secret?”

I winced, guilt washing over me. “The foundation’s board prefers to fund families with traditional structures. We thought pretending to be together would help Ava get the funding she needed for her surgery.”

Beth’s husband raised an eyebrow. “So, you lied to everyone?”

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