Page 71 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

I closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks. “I don’t know how to let you do this.”

“You let me do this by trusting me,” he said, his hands gently resting on my knees. “This isn’t just your fight anymore. It’s ours.”

I wiped at my eyes,nodding slowly. “Okay,” I whispered. “But I still don’t understand—how can you just… cover everything?”

“I’ve been saving for years,” he explained. “I didn’t grow up with much, so I’ve always been careful with money. Between savings and investments, I have more than enough to take care of Ava’s surgery and anything else she needs.”

I stared at him, my heart swelling with a mix of gratitude and guilt. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

“Because I knew you’d refuse,” he said simply. “You’re strong, Summer. You’ve been doing this on your own for so long, and I didn’t want to take that independence away from you. But we’re a team now, and I won’t let pride or fear get in the way of helping our daughter.”

His words hit me like a tidal wave, washing away the last of my resistance. “Thank you,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“You don’t have to thank me,” he said, standing and pulling me into his arms. “We’re in this together, remember?”

I clung to him, his steady presence grounding me as my tears soaked into his shirt.

That evening,after Ava fell asleep, Enzo and I sat together on the small couch by the window. The room was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the IV pump.

“I feel like everything’s falling apart,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s not,” Enzo said, his hand finding mine. “It feels overwhelming right now, but we’re going to get through this.”

I looked at him, his dark eyes filled with so much conviction that it made my chest ache. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve seen what you’re capable of,” he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You’ve been fighting for Ava since the day she was born. And now, you don’t have to fight alone.”

His words broke something inside me, and I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice shaking.

“I know,” he said softly, his arm wrapping around me. “I am too. But we’ve got each other, and we’ve got Ava. That’s enough.”

The next morning,I woke to the sound of Ava’s soft giggles. Blinking sleepily, I turned to see Enzo perched on the edge of her bed, holding Bunny up like a puppet.

“And then Bunny said, ‘No way, I’m not climbing that tree!’” Enzo said in a funny voice, earning another round of giggles from Ava.

“Daddy, Bunny doesn’t talk like that!” Ava said, laughing.

“He doesn’t?” Enzo asked, feigning shock. “Well, how does he talk, then?”

“Like this!” Ava said, mimicking a high-pitched voice.

I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them, my heart swelling at the sight of Ava’s laughter and Enzo’s ease.

For the first time in days, I felt a glimmer of hope.

Later that day,as I stepped out of Ava’s room to grab a coffee, a nurse stopped me in the hallway.

“Ms. Bowen,” she said gently. “I just wanted to say… I admire you. You’re doing everything you can for your daughter, and it’s inspiring.”

Her words caught me off guard, and I felt my cheeks flush. “Thank you,” I said softly.

She nodded, her expression kind. “A lot of people here see it, you know. You’re not alone in this.”

Her words stayed with me as I returned to Ava’s room, the weight on my chest feeling just a little lighter.

That night,as Enzo and I sat together by Ava’s bed, I turned to him, my voice soft. “Maybe… maybe we can do this. All of it. Together.”

His smile was gentle, but his eyes were filled with determination. “We can. And we will.”

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