Page 8 of Secret Baby's Second Shot

I glanced at Summer, who was smiling faintly. “You’re raising a little athlete, huh?”

“She’s good at just about anything she tries,” Summer said, her tone light but tinged with something deeper.

As we wrapped up the tests, I couldn’t help but notice the little details—the way Ava furrowed her brow when she was focused, the way she tilted her head when she was thinking. They were gestures I’d seen before.

In the mirror.

After the tests,I led them to another room for the scan. Ava climbed onto the table without hesitation, clutching Bunny tightly.

“This part’s easy,” I said, adjusting the machine. “You just have to lie really still, like a statue. Can you do that?”

“I can be a statue,” Ava said seriously, hugging Bunny to her chest.

“Perfect,” I said, stepping behind the screen to start the scan.

Summer stood beside me, her arms crossed. “Is all this really necessary?” she asked, her voice low.

“It is,” I said. “I want to make sure we’re not missing anything before the surgery.”

She sighed, but she didn’t argue.

The scan only took a few minutes, and Ava held perfectly still the entire time. When it was over, she hopped off the table, her face full of pride.

“I was a statue the whole time!” she said.

“You were amazing,” I said, ruffling her hair.

As we walked backto the exam room, Ava skipped ahead, humming to herself. Summer stayed close to me, her posture tense.

“She’s something else,” I said softly.

“She is,” Summer agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, then decided to test the waters. “You know, she reminds me of someone.”

Summer’s steps faltered, and she glanced at me, her expression guarded. “Who?”

I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. “Me, a little. The way she concentrates, the way she talks when she’s excited. Even the way she holds a crayon—it’s like looking at myself as a kid.”

Summer’s grip on her purse tightened. “That’s… a coincidence.”

“Maybe,” I said, though I didn’t believe it for a second. “But I think she gets it from you, too. You were always sharp, always quick on your feet.”

She looked away, her jaw tight. “Enzo, please don’t.”

“Don’t what?” I asked, feigning innocence.

“Don’t start asking questions,” she said, her voice strained. “Not now. Not here.”

I stopped walking, turning to face her. “Summer, I’m not trying to make this harder. But I can’t ignore what’s right in front of me.”

Her eyes flashed with something—anger, fear, maybe both. “Ava is my daughter, Enzo. That’s all you need to know.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Ava ran back to us, interrupting.

“Mommy, can we go now? Bunny’s hungry for lunch.”

Summer seized the excuse, smiling down at Ava. “Of course, sweetheart. Let’s get you something to eat.”

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