“Does she know about Licia?” Mom asked, concern evident in her voice.
“Yes, they met, and Licia was visibly upset. She ran out before I could explain.”
“Have you spoken to Licia since then?” Dad asked.
“Not yet. I haven’t had the courage to approach her, and I don’t have a concrete plan for handling Chloe. I’m afraid Licia might not want to hear from me.”
“Never say never, son.”
I nodded, appreciating his perspective. “Okay.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask why you didn’t inform us about Chloe and Noah earlier.”
“I wasn’t aware Chloe was pregnant. It was a one-night mistake.”
“This is quite a situation. How could she keep such significant news and then disrupt your life like this?”
“As much as I want Noah in our lives, I need to think about my future as well. How about we suggest shared custody? That way, Noah can have a relationship with both parents without missing out.”
“I proposed that, but she rejected it outright.”
“Your mom and I will talk to her. If she can’t reason, we may need to take it to court. We don’t want to hinder her aspirations, but Noah’s well-being is a priority.”
“I agree. There’s no other way.”
“Leave it to us. We’ll handle it from here.
Chapter Twenty One
Licia
You know that feeling when heartbreak becomes so routine that you start to feel numb? That’s exactly where I am right now—hurting, but carrying on with a façade of calm.
I hadn’t heard from Kevin, and I was earnestly hoping not to. This wouldn’t be the first time he went MIA, leaving me to figure things out alone.In a way, his silence made certain decisions easier.
As the nurse manager in the hospital's outpatient unit, I had responsibilities that demanded my full attention. The role came with perks, but it also came with pressure.
"Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,"they say. I was on a mission, fueled by both pain and passion. There hadn’t been a stronger motivator for getting things done right.
“Licia, excuse me. Are you free for a second?” Melony asked, poking her head into my office. Her eyes held that familiar mischievous glint, a look she often used to get her way without anyone suspecting a thing.
I set the documents I was sifting through on my desk. “Do you need me for something?”
“Actually, it depends on how you see it.”
I just knew it.
I waited for her to sit down, but she lingered at the door, scanning my face as if it held the key to some unsolved mystery.
“You don't expect me to offer you a seat, do you? Because if you do, you’ll be standing forever.”
She laughed, finally pulling out a chair. “Sorry, I was distracted. Nice new flower vases, by the way.”
“Mel, I know you’re not here to talk about vases. What do you want this time?”
Ignoring my cynicism, she leaned in with a grin. “Well, I was hoping you could cover for me in the meeting with the director this afternoon. Just come up with a smart excuse for why I had to leave early. I need to be home by 3 p.m.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why, if I may ask? What’s happening at 3?”
