Chapter 44 What We Can't Deny
Three Days Later - Wednesday
Alexander didn't go to work.
He called Victoria, told her he needed time, and ignored every text that followed.
He stayed in his apartment, phone in hand, waiting for a message that never came.
Elena didn't call.
Didn't text.
Nothing.
He tried once on Monday morning: How is he?
Four hours later: He's fine.
That was it.
Every other message went unanswered.
By Wednesday, he felt like he was losing his mind.
Elena's POV
They discharged Leo on Tuesday afternoon.
The bruises on his face had turned from red to purple to a sickly yellow-green. The bandage on his forehead was smaller now.
But he was healing.
Physically, at least.
Emotionally—
"Mama, when is Alexander coming?"
Elena kept folding laundry, didn't look up. "I don't know, baby."
"Can we call him?"
"Not right now."
"But I want to show him my excavation kit! We didn't get to use it yet!"
"Maybe later."
"When's later?"
"Leo, please." Her voice was sharper than she meant. "I said later."
He went quiet for a moment.
Then: "Did Alexander go away?"
Her hands stilled on the shirt she was folding.
"No, sweetheart. He's just... busy."
"But he promised he wouldn't leave."
"I know."
"So why isn't he here?"
Because I told him to stay away. Because I can't look at him without seeing three years of struggling alone. Because I don't know how to forgive him.
But she couldn't say that.
"He'll visit when he can," she said instead.
"Today?"
"I don't know."
"Tomorrow?"
"Maybe."
"But—"
"Leo, enough!" The words came out too loud, too sharp.
Leo flinched.
His face crumpled. "I just want to see him."
"Well, you can't right now, okay? So please stop asking!"
Tears welled in his eyes. "But I miss him."
"Leo—"
"I want Alexander! I want to play with him!" His voice rose to a wail. "Why won't you call him? Why is he gone?"
"He's not gone—"
"Then why isn't he HERE?" Leo was crying now, full sobs. "You made him leave! You made him go away!"
The accusation hit like a slap.
"That's not—" Elena's voice broke. "Baby, it's not that simple."
"I hate this! I hate it!" Leo ran to his room, slamming the door.
Elena stood in the living room, surrounded by half-folded laundry, shaking.
She pressed her palms to her eyes, trying not to cry.
This was exactly what she'd been afraid of.
Leo getting attached. Leo getting hurt.
And now—
Now he was crying for a father who'd appeared out of nowhere and might disappear just as quickly.
A knock at the door startled her.
Mrs. Chen stood in the hallway, holding a container of soup.
"Hi," she said gently. "Thought you might need this. And someone to talk to."
Elena's composure shattered.
Mrs. Chen stepped inside, set down the soup, and pulled Elena into a hug.
"It's too much," Elena sobbed into her shoulder. "I don't know what to do."
"I know, sweetheart. I know."
They sat on the couch while Elena cried—great, heaving sobs that had been building for days.
When she finally quieted, Mrs. Chen handed her tissues.
"Tell me what happened. The real story."
So Elena did.
The graduation party. The stranger. The pregnancy. And now—Alexander. Leo's father. The man she'd fallen in love with without knowing who he really was.
Mrs. Chen listened without interrupting.
When Elena finished, she was quiet for a long moment.
Then: "That boy in there is crying for his father."
"He doesn't understand—"
"Maybe not. But he knows what he feels." Mrs. Chen's voice was firm but kind. "And you keeping Alexander away isn't protecting Leo. It's hurting him."
"You don't know what Alexander did—"
"I know he didn't know about Leo. I know he's been trying to make things right. And I know that little boy loves him." She paused. "Don't you?"
Elena's throat tightened. "That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair, sweetheart. But punishing Alexander by keeping him from Leo? That's punishing your son too."
"I'm trying to protect him—"
"From what? From having a father who loves him?"
"From getting hurt when Alexander realizes this is too hard and leaves!"
There it was.
The truth she'd been avoiding.
Mrs. Chen's expression softened. "Is that what you're really afraid of? That he'll leave?"
"Everyone leaves," Elena whispered.
"Not everyone. I'm still here. And that man—he's been sitting in hospital waiting rooms, texting you every day, waiting for permission to see his son." She squeezed Elena's hand. "That doesn't sound like someone planning to leave."
Elena wiped her eyes. "It's more complicated than that."
"Most things are." Mrs. Chen stood. "But right now, you have a crying child who wants his father. And a man who wants to be here. Maybe start with that."
She headed toward Leo's room, knocked softly.
"Leo? Can I come in?"
A muffled response.
Mrs. Chen disappeared inside.
Elena sat alone, staring at her phone.
She could hear Mrs. Chen's gentle voice through the door. Leo's quieter responses.
Minutes passed.
Then Mrs. Chen emerged, Leo's hand in hers.
His face was blotchy, eyes red.
"Leo has something to say," Mrs. Chen prompted.
He looked at the floor. "I'm sorry Mama."
Elena's heart cracked. "Oh, baby. Come here."
He ran to her, and she pulled him into her lap, holding tight.
"I'm sorry too," she whispered into his hair. "I shouldn't have yelled."
"I just really miss Alexander."
"I know you do."
"Can we call him? Please?"
Elena looked at Mrs. Chen, who raised her eyebrows meaningfully.
Elena took a shaky breath.
"Okay," she said quietly. "We can call him."
Leo's head shot up. "Really?"
"Really."
He scrambled off her lap, bouncing. "Now? Can we call him now?"
Elena pulled out her phone, hands trembling.
She found Alexander's contact. Stared at it.
Then pressed call.
He answered on the first ring.
"Elena?" His voice was rough, desperate.
"Leo wants to see you," she said, not trusting herself with more.
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Alexander—"
But he'd already hung up.
Leo was practically vibrating with excitement. "He's coming? He's really coming?"
"Yes, baby. He's coming."
"I have to get my excavation kit! And my dinosaurs! And—"
He ran off, chattering to himself.
Mrs. Chen smiled. "You did the right thing."
"I don't know what the right thing is anymore."
"Then just do the next thing. One step at a time."
Alexander arrived in eight minutes.
He must have driven too fast.
Elena opened the door to find him standing there, looking wrecked—hair messy, shirt wrinkled, eyes shadowed.
"Thank you," he said immediately. "Thank you for calling."
"This is for Leo. Not for you."
"I know."
"And we need to talk. After."
"Whatever you need."
Leo appeared behind Elena, eyes lighting up. "ALEXANDER!"
He launched himself forward.
Alexander caught him, lifting him carefully. "Hey, buddy. I missed you."
"I missed you SO MUCH. Mama said you were busy but I knew you'd come back because you promised!"
"I always keep my promises."
"I know! Come see my excavation kit! We can dig for dinosaurs!"
"I'd love to."
Leo wriggled down, grabbing Alexander's hand and dragging him inside.
Elena stepped back, watching them.
Mrs. Chen touched her shoulder. "I'll leave you three alone. Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you."
After she left, Elena closed the door.