Page 72 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

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SUMMER

The hospital cafeteria buzzed with conversation, the smell of burnt coffee and reheated food filling the air. I sat in a corner booth, my untouched sandwich sitting in front of me. My phone lay beside it, the screen dark, but I couldn’t stop glancing at it as if it might explode.

The fallout had been swift.

The whispers had started among the hospital staff, then spilled into the community. By now, the story of how Enzo and I had fabricated our relationship to secure Ava’s funding had reached places I couldn’t even imagine. My stomach churned at the memory of the headlines:“Doctor’s Family Deception: Pearson Foundation Pulls Support”and“Fake Family Scandal: A Mother’s Desperation.”

I hadn’t left Ava’s side in days, but Enzo had insisted I step out for air. Now I sat here, too numb to eat, wondering how things had gone so wrong.

“Mind if I join you?”Elaine’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked up to see her standing there, her warm smile a welcome contrast to the storm raging inside me. “Of course,” I said, gesturing to the seat across from me.

She slid in, setting her bag on the bench beside her. “How are you holding up?”

“I don’t even know anymore,” I admitted, wrapping my hands around my cup of tea. “It feels like the whole world is against us.”

She reached across the table, placing a hand over mine. “Not the whole world, Summer. You’ve got more support than you think.”

I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. “It doesn’t feel that way. Everywhere I go, I feel the judgment. People think I’m some liar who manipulated the system.”

“You’re not a liar,” she said firmly. “You’re a mother who did what she had to do to save her child. And anyone who can’t see that doesn’t matter.”

Her words brought some comfort,but the knot in my stomach refused to loosen. “I’m scared, Elaine. Scared that this will ruin Enzo’s career, that Ava will grow up knowing her mom’s the reason people look at her differently.”

Elaine shook her head, her expression soft but resolute. “You listen to me, Summer. Enzo’s career is fine. He’s a brilliant doctor, and anyone who knows him can see how much he loves you and Ava. And as for Ava—she’s going to grow up knowing her mom fought for her, tooth and nail. That’s what matters.”

The soundof my phone vibrating startled me. I picked it up and saw a message from an unknown number:

“Hi Summer, this is Jessica Grant fromThe Chronicle. I’d love to hear your side of the story regarding the foundation. Let me know if you’d be open to a conversation.”

My heart sank. “Great. Now the reporters are coming after me directly.”

Elaine leaned over, reading the message. “Maybe that’s not a bad thing.”

I blinked at her. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe it’s time people heard the truth,” she said simply.

That afternoon,back in Ava’s hospital room, I told Enzo about the journalist’s message. He was sitting beside Ava, holding her hand while she colored.

“What do you think?” I asked nervously.

He looked up at me, his expression thoughtful. “I think it’s your decision. But if you want to tell your side, I’ll support you every step of the way.”

Ava glanced up from her drawing, her wide eyes curious. “What’s wrong, Mommy?”

“Nothing, sweetheart,” I said quickly, kneeling beside her. “Mommy’s just talking to Daddy about some grown-up stuff.”

She nodded, turning her attention back to her picture.

The next morning,I called Jessica Grant. Her voice was warm and professional, and we agreed to meet at the hospital’s café later that day.

When the time came, I was shaking as I sat down across from her. She smiled, her notepad and recorder on the table between us.

“Thank you for meeting with me, Ms. Bowen,” she said. “I know this must be difficult.”

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