Chapter 69:

Chapter 69:
\-ZOEY ASHFORD-

The silence in the living room was deafening. Even the ticking clock on the wall felt louder than usual. Mariah sat across from us, her expression unreadable as her eyes darted between Chase, Wes, and me.

My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it against my ribs.

She took a slow breath, then set a folded sheet of paper on the table.

“The DNA test results are out,” she said, her tone calm but heavy. “And…” she paused, glancing at me before continuing, “it matches with that of Wes.”

For a second, no one moved. My breath caught halfway in my chest. Then Wes shot up from his seat, his face lighting up in pure excitement.

“Are you serious?” he said, turning sharply to Mariah, then to me. “It’s me? I knew it! I freaking knew it! I knew I wouldn't just hit the right spot without scoring a perfect goal”

I cringed at his response. Doesn't he thinks before using words.to.describe how excited he is? Does he have to be blunt about everything?

Before I could even blink, he wrapped his arms around me from where I sat. His excitement filled the room, but my body felt frozen. I didn’t hug him back. I just sat there, stiff, my mind blank.

Wes pulled back slightly and laughed softly.

“You hear that, Zoey? Our baby..our baby is mine.”

I didn’t say a word. My eyes darted toward Chase. He’d gone pale, his lips pressed tightly together. He stood up slowly, his jaw clenched.

“I guess that’s it then,” he said, his voice low but steady. “I should leave. I don’t have any business here anymore.”

Wes turned toward him, a faint smirk forming on his lips.

“Come on, man. You’re not going to say congratulations?”

Chase let out a humorless laugh.

“Congratulations?” He shook his head and looked away. “That would make me a hypocrite, Wes. So, no… I’ll save it.”

“You do that,” Wes replied, his tone sharper now. “And since the results are out, I think it’s time you stopped showing up here. Zoey doesn’t need confusion anymore, and my baby doesn’t need two men fighting over who’s more responsible.”

Chase’s eyes flicked toward me briefly, and something in my chest tightened. There was disappointment , pain, maybe..but he didn’t say another word. He just walked out, shutting the door behind him with a quiet click.

I stared at the door long after he was gone. Wes, on the other hand, looked far too satisfied. He turned back to me with a grin that almost made me want to scream.

“I told you, Zoey,” he said, leaning closer. “I’ve known it all along. I could just feel it. You and I
...this was bound to happen. You can’t deny it now.”

I didn't know what to feel at the moment.. either to be happy or sad. My emotions are just mixed and how Chase walked out, keeps me bothered.

I stood abruptly, forcing a smile that didn’t even reach my eyes.

“I’m tired, Wes. It’s been a long day. I just need to rest.”

He looked a bit surprised, but he shrugged.

“Sure. I get it. You need time to take it all in.”

“Yeah,” I muttered and turned toward my room. The moment the door closed behind me, I pressed my back against it and exhaled shakily. My chest felt tight.

I walked to my bed and sank onto it, staring blankly at the ceiling. My thoughts were a mess. The room was quiet..too quiet. And before I knew it, a tear rolled down the side of my face. Then another.

Why was I crying? I should be relieved, right? The father of my baby has been confirmed. No more confusion. No more guessing. But instead, my heart ached in ways I couldn’t explain.

I just couldn't stop my tears from spilling out.

The door creaked open softly. I turned away, pretending to be asleep. But I knew that voice too well.

“Zoey,” Mariah said quietly, her weight dipping the bed as she sat beside me. “You okay?”

I didn’t answer. I just shook my head slightly.

She sighed.

“Then why are you crying? You should be happy, right? The uncertainty is over.”

Her tone was gentle, but her words stung a little. I turned slowly to face her, my eyes still wet.

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “I really don’t. I thought I’d feel relieved… but instead, it just hurts.”

Mariah tilted her head.

“Hurts? Zoey, are you saying you didn’t want it to be Wes?”

I bit my lower lip, struggling with the words. Then I let them out, barely above a whisper.

“I was wishing for it to be Chase.”

She stared at me for a long moment, her expression softening. “Oh, Zoey…”

I wiped at my face, embarrassed by the tears.

“I know it sounds stupid. I just..he’s been distant, and cold, and frustratingly hard to understand, but still… there’s something about him I can’t let go of. Perhaps, I would have forgiven him regardless”

Mariah reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

“Sometimes we wish for things we can’t have. But life doesn’t always go our way, Zoey.”

“I know,” I murmured. “But it feels like I’ve lost something I never even had.”

She smiled sadly.

“You just have to endure it, Zoey. We don’t always get everything we want, no matter how much we wish for it. Wes is still a good guy”

I nodded slowly, though my heart still felt heavy. “Yeah… I guess you’re right.”

Mariah gave my hand another squeeze before standing up.

“Try to get some rest, okay? Tomorrow will be easier.”

As she left the room, I turned back to the ceiling, my mind spiraling again. Maybe she was right. Maybe it’s time to stop hoping for things that were never meant for me.

B
ut even as I closed my eyes, one thought refused to leave my mind.

If I could choose… it would’ve been Chase.