Page 73 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

“You could say that,” I replied, my voice shaky.

She leaned forward slightly. “I want you to know, my goal isn’t to sensationalize this. I want to tell the real story—the one that shows people why you made the choices you did.”

Over the next hour,I told her everything—how Ava’s illness had changed everything, how I’d been desperate to secure funding for her surgery, and how Enzo had only ever wanted to help.

“I lied,” I admitted, my throat tight. “But it wasn’t about money or manipulation. It was about saving my daughter. I’d do anything for her, even if it means people hate me for it.”

Jessica nodded, her pen moving across the page. “You’re incredibly brave, Ms. Bowen. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

The article cameout two days later. The headline read:“A Mother’s Fight: The Real Story Behind the Pearson Foundation Controversy.”

Jessica had captured my words perfectly, painting a picture of a mother willing to do whatever it took to save her child. She’d even included quotes from Enzo, Elaine, and Richard, all of whom had spoken in my defense.

To my surprise, the article sparked an outpouring of support. Strangers sent messages of encouragement, and several local businesses offered to help with Ava’s medical expenses.

One evening,as I sat with Enzo in Ava’s room, I glanced at my phone and saw a message from a former colleague I hadn’t spoken to in years.

“Saw the article about you and Ava. I just wanted to say, you’re amazing. Keep fighting.”

I handed the phone to Enzo, tears welling in my eyes. “People are starting to see it. They’re starting to understand.”

He smiled, pulling me into his arms. “Of course they are. Because the truth is, you’re an incredible mom, Summer. And anyone who can’t see that doesn’t matter.”

Later that night,as Ava slept peacefully, I sat beside her bed, holding her tiny hand in mine. For the first time in weeks, I felt a sense of peace.

We weren’t out of the woods yet, but with Enzo by my side and a growing network of support, I finally felt like we could face whatever came next.

39

ENZO

The weight of the past week pressed down on me like a storm cloud that refused to break. I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot, gripping the steering wheel, my knuckles white. The voices from the board meeting still echoed in my head, their concerns sharp and relentless.

“This controversy has brought unnecessary attention to the hospital.”

“You should have disclosed the full situation earlier, Dr. Pearson.”

“Your reputation reflects on all of us.”

Reputation. That word had been drilled into me since medical school. It was the cornerstone of a career in medicine, the measure by which you were judged by peers, patients, and the world. And now, it felt like mine was hanging by a thread.

I steppedout of the car, the cool breeze doing little to ease the tension in my chest. As I walked toward the hospital, my mind raced. I thought of Ava, her tiny hand clutching mine as shesmiled up at me, unaware of the turmoil swirling around us. I thought of Summer, her voice breaking as she apologized for the fallout, even though none of this was truly her fault.

And I thought of myself—the choices I’d made, the risks I’d taken, and the way I’d willingly tied my fate to theirs.

Was it worth it?

A sharp pang in my chest answered the question before I could. Of course, it was.

Inside the hospital,the whispers followed me like shadows. Nurses exchanged glances as I walked by, and a colleague gave me a tight-lipped smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

I knew what they were thinking.Dr. Pearson—the golden boy who broke the rules.

“Enzo.”

I turned to see Dr. Cartwright, the head of the cardiology department, standing by the nurses’ station. His expression was calm, but his tone carried a weight that made my stomach drop.

“Can we talk?”

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