Chapter 18 Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Chapter 18
One month had passed since the day everything nearly fell apart at the park.

For Adrian, the change hadn’t been dramatic or easy, but it had been real.

Lena still watched him carefully, still asked too many questions, still double-checked details she never used to worry about. But she no longer shut him out completely. She no longer ignored his calls. And most importantly, she had begun to trust him again—slowly, cautiously, and only where Milo was concerned.

That alone meant everything to Adrian.

Every moment he spent with his son felt fragile, like something that could be taken away if he made even the smallest mistake. He showed up early. He paid attention. 

He kept his phone on silent when Milo was around. And every laugh, every random story, every small hand slipping into his felt like proof that maybe—just maybe—he was doing something right this time.

That afternoon, Adrian sat alone in his office, most of the staff were busy with work. The city lights glowed faintly through the tall windows as he leaned back in his chair, phone pressed to his ear, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.

It rang twice.

Then three times.

Just as he was about to hang up, Lena answered.

“Yes?” she said, her voice tired, distracted, papers shuffling in the background.

“Hey,” Adrian said gently. “Did I catch you at a bad time?”

There was a pause. “I’m still at work,” Lena replied. “Trying to finish a few things before I leave.”

Adrian smiled faintly. “That’s actually why I called. I was wondering if I could pick Milo up from school today. You sound exhausted.”

She didn’t answer right away.

Adrian waited, already familiar with the silence that meant she was thinking—measuring risk, replaying memories, weighing trust.

“Are you sure?” Lena asked finally. “He still needs to eat properly before dinner. No sweets. And he has homework.”

“I know,” Adrian said quickly. “I’ll make sure he eats something healthy. I promise. No candy, no ice cream, no bribes.”

“Hm,” she murmured. “You sound very confident.”

“I’m a changed man,” Adrian said lightly. “Responsible. Mature. Practically boring.”

That earned him a quiet breath of laughter on the other end.

“All right,” Lena said. “You can pick him up.”

Relief washed through him. “Thank you.”

“And Adrian,” she added, her tone firm again. “Please be careful.”

“I will,” he said without hesitation. “I swear.”

When the call ended, Adrian stared at his phone for a moment, then let out a slow breath. It wasn’t forgiveness. It wasn’t full trust.

But it was progress and for now, that was enough.

An hour later, Adrian stood outside Milo’s school, leaning casually against his car as the final bell rang. The courtyard buzzed with noise—children laughing, parents calling out names, backpacks thudding against small backs.

Then he saw him.

Milo burst through the doors like a small whirlwind, his backpack bouncing, his face lighting up the second his eyes landed on Adrian.

“Daddy!” Milo shouted, sprinting across the pavement.

Adrian barely had time to brace himself before Milo crashed into his legs. He laughed and lifted him easily, spinning him around once before settling him back down.

“Hey, champ,” Adrian said. “Looks like you survived another day.”

Milo grinned. “I did! And guess what—we learned new words today!”

“That sounds very serious,” Adrian replied, opening the car door. “Better tell me all about it.”

Once Milo was buckled in, the talking began—and it didn’t stop.

As Adrian pulled onto the road, Milo launched into a detailed account of his day. His teacher. His best friend. The game they played at recess. The drawing session after lunch.

“And then,” Milo said proudly, rummaging through his bag, “Sophia gave me this.”

He held up a colorful drawing, crinkled at the edges.

Adrian glanced at it, smiling. “That’s really good. What is it?”

“It’s us,” Milo said matter-of-factly. “She said it’s because I’m nice.”

Adrian’s smile froze for half a second. “Sophia, huh?”

“Yeah,” Milo said. “She’s the coolest girl in class.”

“Oh,” Adrian said slowly. “The coolest.”

Milo nodded enthusiastically.

Adrian shook his head. “Well, I might need to have a serious talk with this Sophia.”

Milo giggled. “You’re silly.”

“That’s my job,” Adrian replied as his phone buzzed, interrupting their conversation..

Adrian ignored it at first, eyes fixed on the road. It buzzed again and again.

His jaw tightened when he glanced at the screen and saw its Bella calling.

He pulled over before answering, keeping his voice steady. “Hey, buddy, give me a second, okay?”

Milo nodded, distracted by his drawing.

Adrian answered the call. “What is it, Bella?”

“Where are you?” she snapped immediately.

“At work,” Adrian lied smoothly. “I can’t talk right now.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Bella said sharply. “I’m at your house.”

Adrian’s grip tightened on the phone. “Why are you there?”

“Because we need to talk,” she said. “Now.”

“I told you before—I’m at work and I can’t leave.”

There was a pause. Then Bella’s voice dropped, low and unsettling. “If you don’t come home, I don’t know what I might do to myself.”

The line went dead.

Adrian stared at the screen, his heart pounding.

“Daddy?” Milo asked softly. “Who was that?”

Adrian forced a smile as he started the car again. “Just work, champ. Nothing important.”

But his mind was already racing.

At Lena’s house, Milo ran inside the moment they arrived.

“Mommy!” he called out. “Daddy picked me up and listened to everything!”

Lena smiled at Adrian. “Did he follow the rules?”

“Absolutely,” Adrian said. “Not a single sweet.”

“Good,” she said, studying him. “You look tense.”

“I should get going,” Adrian said quickly. “Early morning tomorrow.”

Lena frowned slightly but nodded. “All right. Thank you.”

As Adrian walked away, the weight in his chest grew heavier.

Bella was waiting.

She sat on his couch as if she owned the place, dressed provocatively, legs crossed, lips curved in a faint smile.

“What are you doing here?” Adrian demanded the moment he walked into his apartment.

Bella stood slowly. “We need to talk. It’s very important that’s why I came over”

“Is it about us?” Adrian asked. “I thought we were done talking about it.”

She stepped closer. “That’s not it, Adrian. I’m here to tell you that we are expecting a baby. I’m pregnant.”

Adrian froze in shock.

“What?” he whispered, his eyes almost bulging out of its socket.

Bella placed a hand on her stomach dramatically, watching his reaction carefully.

“You heard me baby. I’m carrying your child,” she said calmly.

The room spun as Adrian took a step back, his heart pounding. "No... that can't be true. How’s that even possible?”

Bella tilted her head. "Oh, but it is possible, baby. And now... what are you going to do about the pregnancy? Our baby?"

Adrian’s mind went blank as he stared at her, unable to process what she had just said.

Bella kept smiling at him.