Chapter 19

One Month Later

Leonard never showed up after we returned from our so-called vacation that ended on a sour note. It felt like a punch to the gut, especially because I thought we were getting closer. But deep down, I wasn’t surprised. This wasn’t the first time he had vanished without warning. Still, I never got to ask him what happened that night or why he disappeared. After a few days of obsessing over it, I finally let it go. It wasn’t my burden to bear.

In the meantime, I patched things up with Clara. We were back to our old routines—breakfast in bed, lunch and dinner together, baby shopping, and even exercising. Clara was always there, a comforting presence, and I knew my days were numbered. Soon, everything would change, and I wanted to enjoy the calm while it lasted.

It was noon, and Clara and I were lounging on the couch, watching *To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before* and sharing a bowl of popcorn. The doorbell rang, pulling us out of our movie haze. Clara got up to answer it, but I already had a sinking feeling about who it was. Leonard was the only one who ever visited.

And I was right. He walked in, hands casually shoved into his pockets, looking nothing like the Leonard I remembered. No crisp suit today. He was dressed in simple trousers and a shirt, which, somehow, made him look even more attractive. Everything always looked good on him.

"Good day, Miss Eva," he greeted, as if the past month hadn’t happened.

I stared at him, my irritation rising. "I’m not even going to ask where you’ve been for the last month."

"I was busy," he said flatly, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Of course." I rolled my eyes, my frustration bubbling over. "You disappear for weeks and then come back expecting to play the doting father? Let me break it to you, you’re a lousy father."

Leonard said nothing, just stared at me with an unreadable expression. Then, without warning, he stepped forward, closing the distance between us until he was standing just inches away.

"Would you go to lunch with me?" His voice was soft, almost gentle.

What? My mouth fell open, the words caught in my throat. Was he serious? He had the nerve to act like nothing had happened, completely ignoring my outburst. How could someone be this infuriating without even trying?

"I want to make it up to you," he added, as if that explained everything.

I scoffed. "Pretty sure that’s not in the contract, Leonard."

I pushed myself off the couch, my body feeling heavier than usual. I was about to walk past him when he spoke again.

"Need help?"

"No, I’m fine," I snapped, annoyed that he was offering help after being MIA for a month. Where was Clara? She always seemed to vanish whenever Leonard was around.

I walked away from him, needing space. But as I turned, I caught him staring at me, no, not just staring, his eyes were trailing over my body. It was then I realized I was wearing just a sports bra and shorts, my pregnant belly fully on display. Heat flushed my skin, embarrassment and something else mixing in a confusing cocktail of emotions.

His gaze met mine, intense and unwavering. For a moment, I was frozen under the weight of it, my pulse quickening. And then, he moved closer.

“How’s my baby doing?” he asked, his hand gently resting on my stomach.

My body stiffened at his touch, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. His hand on my belly was intimate in a way that felt both comforting and completely overwhelming.

"The baby’s fine," I managed to say, stepping around him quickly. But before I could get too far, he grabbed my hand, sending an unexpected jolt of electricity through my skin. I yanked my hand away, startled by the intensity of the moment.

"Sorry," he murmured, his gaze dropping for a second before returning to me.

"Still up for lunch?" he asked again.

"No, thank you," I said firmly. "I’m not hungry."

He smiled, as though my refusal amused him. "Aren’t pregnant women always hungry?"

I shot him a glare. "I don’t want to go anywhere with you, Leonard."

"Okay," he said, his smile widening. "I’ll just order some pizza, and we can watch your movie together."

What? I blinked at him, dumbfounded. He wasn’t leaving? I fought the urge to scream in frustration. How could he be so calm and collected while I was unraveling?

Just then, his phone rang. He answered it, and I caught the words "Hello, doctor." My ears perked up. Was it about me and the baby? Or was it about that night he coughed up blood?

My mind raced with possibilities, but I didn’t have time to dwell on them. Leonard stepped into the kitchen for privacy, his voice a low murmur.

I sighed, sinking back onto the couch and grabbing another handful of popcorn. My thoughts were all over the place, but mostly, I was pissed. Pissed at him for being so cryptic, for disappearing, for making everything so damn complicated.

Then, a loud crash from the kitchen jolted me out of my thoughts. My heart leaped into my throat. I stood up, ready to rush in, but Leonard emerged before I could move. His face was blank, emotionless, like nothing had happened.

"Leonard, are you okay?" I asked, but he ignored me, heading straight for the door.

"Leonard!" I called after him, raising my voice in frustration.

He stopped, turning slowly. "Stay out of my business," he growled, his tone cold and final.

And just like that, he was leaving again. My chest tightened painfully.

"If you leave again, don’t bother coming back," I said, my voice cracking slightly.

He turned, his eyes narrowing as he stalked back toward me. Each step was deliberate, predatory, like a wolf closing in on its prey. I stood my ground, even though every instinct screamed at me to back away.

"You’re carrying my child," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"Yes, and I’m not just a vessel. I’m a person, Leonard," I shot back. "I need support, not this, his cold, distant version of you."

His hands went through his hair in frustration. He walked away, his back to me as he muttered, "I don’t have much time."

"For what?" I asked, confusion and fear twisting inside me. "What’s more important than your own child?"

"I’m dying," he said, his voice breaking.

The words hit me like a truck. I stood there, stunned, my heart pounding in my ears.

"I have leukemia," he continued, his voice thick with emotion. "I’ve been dealing with it since I was a kid. I thought I’d beaten it, but it’s come back. Worse. And now, I’m out of time."

Tears filled my eyes as I watched him. This was not the Leonard I knew, the tough, emotionless man who scared everyone around him. This Leonard was broken. And I didn’t know how to help.

Without thinking, I walked over and wrapped my arms around him. He stiffened at first, but then he relaxed, leaning into the embrace.

"I’m so sorry," I whispered, my voice choked with tears.

He pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes with a mixture of sadness and something else. "That’s not the only reason I stayed away."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I was falling in love with you," he admitted quietly.

My breath caught in my throat. I had suspected it, but hearing him say the words made my head spin. Before I could react, his face moved closer to mine. His lips brushed mine, tentative at first, and then he kissed me, gently, like he was afraid I might break.

For a moment, I gave in to the kiss, until Clara’s voice shattered the moment. I pulled back, my eyes wide with shock.

Clara wasn’t the only one watching us.

Kelvin stood outside, his expression unreadable as he stared through the glass door.