Chapter 61:

Chapter 61:
\-ZOEY ASHFORD-

By the time I got there, the place was its usual mix of noise and calm. I passed a few nurses who waved politely, and I smiled back. Mariah’s office wasn’t far. I didn’t bother texting her I’d arrived—it wasn’t like she’d see it immediately if she was with a patient.

When I got to her door, I reached for the handle, pushed it open, and froze.

She wasn’t alone.

Mariah stood by her desk, facing a man I didn’t recognize. From where I stood, it looked like she was saying something to him quietly, her tone low and serious, her expression a little too tense.

The man was tall and well-dressed, leaning slightly against the desk with folded arms, listening closely. His posture was relaxed, but something about his face—focused and unreadable, made me hesitate.

Mariah’s eyes widened when she noticed me.

“Zoey!” she blurted, her voice sharper than usual.

The man turned toward me, his brow lifting slightly. He didn’t say anything right away, just gave me a polite nod.

“Hey,” I said slowly, holding up the file. “You forgot this. You called earlier.”

“Oh—right!” Mariah quickly crossed the room, taking it from me. Her tone softened, but she still looked… off. “Thank you. I can’t believe I left it behind.”

I glanced at the man beside her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

Mariah shook her head too quickly. “No, no, you’re fine. I was just—um—going over something with a patient.”

The man gave a faint smile, as if trying to play along. “Yeah. She’s lecturing me about following my exercise routine.”

I nodded slowly. “Right.”

Mariah forced a laugh, but it sounded unnatural.

"You can go sir, I'll have your report forwarded when it's done.." She said to the man who stood up and left.

But why do I feel like there's something up and they were both talking about something more serious.

I handed her the folder but didn’t move right away. My eyes flicked between the man who had just left and her.

Whatever they’d been discussing before I walked in clearly wasn’t about therapy. The way she’d lowered her voice, the quick way she tried to change the subject... it didn’t fit.

Still, I didn’t want to make things awkward. “Okay,” I said finally.

“Thanks again,” she said, a little too fast.

She gestured for ne to sit but I decided to take a look around her office.

I can't recall the last time I was here.

"Do you want coffee?.. I must have stressed you for getting me this, right?"

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not stressed. I'm glad I'm here, at least, I get to inhale some fresh air"

"Still, I'll get you a cup of coffee. I'll be right back"

I shrugged my shoulder as she left her office.

,_____________

Mariah insisted on walking me out, even though I told her she didn’t have to.

“I can manage, Mariah,” I said as we stepped out of the hospital doors. “You have other things to do.”

She shook her head.

“I’ll make sure you get home safely first.”

I sighed. “I can just take a taxi. I'm just pregnant, Mariah.. I'm not sick ”

“No.” She tightened her hold on my wrist gently, her tone firmer than usual. “I already booked a ride for you.”

I frowned, confused.

“You booked a ride?”

Before I could say anything else, a black car pulled up in front of us. My stomach twisted the second I recognized it.

It was Chase’s.

I froze, staring at the car like I’d seen a ghost. The driver’s window rolled down, and there he was..calm-faced, unreadable, his gaze flicking between me and Mariah.

“Mariah,” I said quietly, taking a small step back. “What’s this?”

She exhaled and gave me a nervous smile.

“Don’t look at me like that. I just wanted to make sure you got home safe. You know taxis can be unpredictable these days.”

“You called him?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.

“He was the only one I could trust to drive you home,” she said softly. “Please, Zoey. Just this once.”

I looked at Chase again. He didn’t say a word, just waited with that bored look he always had when he didn’t want to deal with me.

“I’ll be fine, Mariah,” I muttered. “You don’t have to”

“Zoey.” Her tone dropped, almost pleading. “Just go. I’ll feel better knowing you got home safely.”

I hesitated for another moment, but she wasn’t letting up. She stood there with her arms crossed, determined, and I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore.

So I opened the car door and slipped inside.

Chase didn’t say anything as he started the engine. The silence felt thick, heavy, and uncomfortable. I kept my eyes forward, pretending to be calm, even though my chest was tight.

We didn’t speak the entire drive. He didn’t even glance my way. I kept wondering when Mariah had started being so… friendly with him.

Last I knew, she didn’t even want to hear his name. And now she was calling him to pick me up?

It didn’t make sense.

When he finally pulled up in front of my house, I reached for the handle immediately.

“You shouldn’t have bothered,” I said, my voice steady but distant. “You could’ve let Mariah call someone else.”

He leaned back slightly, his eyes still on the road.

“I didn’t do it for you,” he said flatly. “I did it because the child you’re carrying might be mine.”

His words hit me harder than I expected, even though I should’ve been used to his coldness by now. I turned to face him, studying his profile. He looked detached, like he was talking about something that didn’t concern him.

“I see,” I said quietly.

I reached for the door again, but before I could open it, he asked, “You’re not going to invite me in?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the question. “No,” I said simply.

He gave a short, humorless laugh. “Didn’t think so.”

Without another word, I stepped out and shut the door behind me. The car didn’t linger. He drove off immediately, leaving behind nothing but the faint sound of the engine fading down the street.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where his car had been, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Why did he even bother showing up if he was going to act like that? Why was he so detached, so careless..like everything between us meant nothing?

Wes was trying. Chase wasn’t. And the contrast between them stung more than I wanted to admit.

I hugged my arms around myself and walked slowly toward the door, my thoughts a tangled mess.

Maybe Chase really had moved on.

Or maybe he just didn’t care enough to fight for me anymore.

Either way, it hurt just the same.