Chapter 52

I frowned looking at the two men. Not exactly the people I expected to see at my door at this hour. Scratch that—I didn’t think I’d be seeing anyone at my door at this hour.

“Lily, baby, I know 100% it must be my child you’re carrying,” Felix began to talk sweetly. He sounded delusional. “I realize now how much I have fucked up. Please take me back,” he pleaded, holding his hands together. “I promise I’ll make a fine partner and an even better father to our child.” He sighed, which made Calvin roll his eyes. What was he doing here? Last he said he’d call me, but that day never came. Now, he was at my doorstep with my obsessive ex?

“Get the fuck away from here, Felix,” Calvin growled, glaring at the smaller built man. Having these two side by side reminded me again just how much bigger Calvin was.

“You don’t tell me what to do.” Felix stepped closer to Calvin, looking up into his eyes.

“It’s pathetic you think that child is even yours.” Calvin laughed, which only made Felix much more aggravated.

“What do you want?” I said, crossing my arms as I looked at Calvin. Felix already stated his delusional reason he was here for. Which now made me realize he knew where I lived. How safe was I here now? I didn’t want to move. I’d just gotten comfortable here. If I didn’t get that restraining order, I might have to consider moving. Once again, all because this man couldn’t simply accept we were over, and it was literally all his fault.

“I know I fucked up, and I’m back to make it up to you,” Calvin reasoned, talking in a much more calmer tone rather than the desperate tone Felix was using.

“If you’re willing to give him a chance, just think of how unfair that is towards me,” Felix butted in immediately. This man was grasping for straws that weren't even there. I didn’t understand what was going through his head when he opened his mouth to say such stupid things. “I deserve my second chance as well. Don’t you miss the old times we had together?” Felix said, now switching to his aggressive tone. There it was. I knew he could never be sweet for too long. I was just blinded by him in the beginning. It took me longer than it should’ve to let go of him.

“The past is the past, Felix,” I reminded him shortly, taking a step back just in case. He seemed much more unstable these days. Part of me was happy Calvin was also here. What would I have done if he weren’t here? I was sure Felix would keep pounding on the door.

“See, the past is the past.” Calvin shrugged as he looked over at Felix. Was he feeling himself right now? I rolled my eyes.

“You’ve got nothing to gloat about, Calvin,” I reminded him and wanted to just shut the door in their faces.

“Listen, man, you’re ruining my chances of having a happy family.”

“You stay the fuck away from Lily.”

I couldn’t process quickly enough to follow what happened next. I saw Felix’s anger getting the best of him, and I saw him swinging, but somehow, he was now on the ground. It didn’t just stop there—he got back up and started throwing punches at Calvin who was doing just the same. I grew nervous as it got worse and worse and neither of them would listen to me to stop. They were both being pathetic. I grew anxious, and suddenly, I felt a wave of pain in my stomach and fell down to my knees.

I don’t remember anything else but me closing my eyes. When I opened my eyes again, I noticed I was in the hospital. I looked around the room and saw both Calvin and Felix again. Maybe if I closed my eyes, they’d both disappear out of the room. Oh my god, the baby. I looked down at my stomach and noticed everything looked the same, only the pain became worse and worse.

“Oh good, baby, you’re awake.” Felix rushed to my side. I noticed his pale skin was covered in dried blood. His crooked nose looked even more crooked now. His blue denim shirt he wore had blood stains as well, and his knuckles looked messed up. Fuck, what happened to him? I worriedly looked over at the other man in the room, but he looked much better than Felix. If anything, he looked just bruised, and the blood on his shirt didn’t look like it belonged to him.

“Man, get out.” Calvin got up and yanked Felix away from my side. “You went into early labor. They mentioned it’s due to stress,” Calvin explained to me, a glint of guilt in his eyes.

“Yeah, all the stress you’ve been giving her,” Felix scoffed then smirked as he looked at the man, knowing some part of it must be true, and, well, he wasn’t lying. These past few days, I’ve been stressing out a lot.

“You want to go for another round? The hospital is right here for you to tend your broken bones afterwards,” Calvin asked, his tone rather low and sending shivers down my spine. He stood tall.

“So help me god, I will end you both if you dare to fight again.” I glared at them both when I realized they were getting ready for round two. I noticed a few nurses walking into the room and starting to check my vitals.

“Miss. Marino, we have to prepare you for birth. We can’t wait much longer.” One of the nurses turned to me and helped me with my pillow. “Which one of these men are staying?” she then asked awkwardly but not in a judging way. Rather a professional way.

“I’m the father!” both the men yelled, which made me groan so loudly. This had to be the most stressful day of my life, and I worked as a kindergarten teacher for rich, spoiled toddlers.

“Sent him outside. Mr. Cartwright is the father of her child,” a familiar man said, and when I looked over, I saw it was Dr. Julia! He came? I thought he wouldn’t make it.

“What do you know, hmm?” Felix scoffed, as if he knew more than the actual doctor. Didn’t he know this private practice floor belonged to Julia?

“I’m the OBGYN here, you know.” Alec crossed his arms. “I remember you. You’re the stalker.” He squinted his eyes as he looked at Felix then turned to one of the nurses. “Have him kicked out right now,” he ordered. Within seconds, the nurse had guards coming in and took Felix out unwillingly.

“Lily, this isn’t over!” he yelled, kicking his legs around. “I will fight for us, for our family,” he said lastly before the door was closed. Suddenly, a wave of pain hit me. I yelled out in pain.

“I promise I’ll never leave your side again.” Calvin took my hand in his and pressed a kiss to it.

“Do you want him in the room? Is there anyone we need to call for you?” the nurse asked me.

“I don’t care, just get this baby out of me safely,” I moaned in pain.

Third-person POV

Suddenly, her monitor was displaying she wasn’t doing good. Alec realized they’d have to move quickly. Once again, there would be an intense birth. He and the nurses did their best to make sure the baby would be delivered safely, but things started out dangerously for both the baby and Lily. There was quite a lot of blood lost in the process, but in the end, they managed to take care of everything. Lily had never been more scared in her life. Everything happened in a blur. All she remembered was holding onto Calvin’s hand for her dear life. It was quite a stressful birth, and the story she had to tell wasn’t exactly a pleasant one, but her baby was born. Due to the blood loss, however, she didn’t get to hold her child. The doctors were busy tending her while the nurses escorted Calvin out and cared for the newborn baby.

When Lily woke up, she looked around and saw her parents sitting on the couch, both stressed out. She looked around and panicked when she didn’t see her baby or Calvin around. Her parents noticed she was awake, and both ran over to hug her then got the nurse for her. Everything checked out for her, and the baby would be brought in.

“Are you ready to meet your baby boy?” the nurse asked as she carefully handed over the baby. Lily’s eyes welled up as she saw her son for the first time, her fingertips gently caressing his skin. This little one was what she was waiting for for almost nine months. He was worth everything she had to go through. It was a moment of pure bliss.

Lily frowned when she realized the father of her son wasn’t in the room. He promised to be by her side, yet he was gone. Did it all become too real for him? She wouldn’t be surprised, but damn, it hurt her. She cried silently and held onto her son. She looked over the little boy and kissed his forehead.

“Cassius Jor Marino,” she decided right there and then. That was the name of her baby boy.