Chapter 4

Ryan's POV The drive to the hospital was tense. Serena sat stiffly in the passenger seat, clutching her phone like a lifeline. She kept looking at it, her lips pulled together. I wanted to reassure her, but I wasn't sure how. “What hospital?" I enquired, breaking the stillness. “Private Children's Hospital," she answered, her voice clipped. I nodded and sped up. We got to the hospital in record time. Serena got out of the car before I could turn off the engine, her heels clicking rapidly against the sidewalk as she rushed inside. I followed closely, unable to stop the sinking feeling in my chest. At the front desk, she enquired about her daughter with a mix of worry and authority. “Amy Winthrop. "Where is she?" “Room 208," the receptionist replied. Serena did not wait for any additional information. She turned and ran down the corridor, her urgency drawing me along. When we arrived at the front of the room, she came to a sudden halt and turned to me. Her eyes were full of contradictory feelings. "You don't have to come in," she said. I paused, not wanting to interrupt such a private time. “I'll wait here," I suggested. She offered a brief nod and disappeared into the room, the door closing behind her. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms. My thoughts raced. I was almost positive that Amy was Serena's daughter. But was she mine, too? Serena's POV My heart broke when I walked into the room and saw Amy lying on the hospital bed. Her petite frame appeared delicate, her wavy hair tangled, and her blue eyes sad. “Mommy!" she wailed, extending her arms. I ran to her side and carefully scooped her up. “Oh, my baby. I'm here. Mommy is here." Her arms clung to my neck, and I could feel her tiny body trembling against mine. “She's fine," the nurse reassured me while changing Amy's IV. "A little shaken, but nothing serious. "The doctor will be in shortly to confirm." "Thank you," I said softly, touching Amy's hair. Amy sniffled and drew back slightly, her bright blue eyes staring up at me. "Mommy, isn't that the man from the lift outside the door?" I froze, my heart missing a beat. "What man?" “The one from yesterday. He held the lift for me," she added, her interest piqued. “I think I saw him through the door's little glass window earlier." I forced a serene grin. "It's probably just someone who resembles him, honey. Don't worry about it right now." Amy bent her head and studied me. "Mommy, he was polite. Very nice." “I'm sure he was, baby," I replied, kissing her forehead. "But let's not think about that now, okay?" She nodded, her energy diminishing as the nurse returned to take her vital signs. As I sat with Amy, my thoughts kept turning to Ryan. I knew he was outside waiting. It was exactly like him—stubborn and relentless. Ryan's POV I paced outside the hospital room in serious concentration. If Amy turns out to be my daughter, everything will change. I couldn't stop thinking about how Serena had stared at me earlier, her defences raised like a castle. I was sure she was hiding something. Finally, the door opened, and Serena emerged. Her face was pallid, and her shoulders drooped from fatigue. “How is she?" I enquired. "She's okay," she murmured softly. "Only a few bruises. The doctor says she'll be able to go home soon." Relief flooded over me. “That's good." We remained there in awkward silence for a while before I revealed what had been bothering me. “Serena, is Amy my daughter?" Her eyes widened, and she looked back at the door, as if she was afraid someone would hear. “Ryan, this isn't the time—" “It is," I interrupted her. “I need to know. Five years ago, I made the biggest mistake in my life. I allowed someone else to come between us, and I served you with divorce papers because I was too blind to recognise what I already had. I thought I was pursuing love, but I had no idea I was leaving it behind." Serena's expression darkened. "You're oversimplifying things, Ryan. You didn't just leave me… you broke me." Her remarks hit me like a blow to the chest, but I refused to back down. “Yes, I did. I will never forgive myself for that. But if Amy is mine, I want to be present in her life. I have to be." Serena looked down, her hands trembling. For a second, I believed she was going to tell me the truth. But before she could speak, the nurse appeared at the doorway. “She's asking for you," the nurse informed Serena. Serena nodded and returned her attention to me. “We'll talk another time, Ryan," she remarked before entering the room. I exhaled softly, frustration and hope battling within me. ~~~ I lingered outside the hospital because I couldn't force myself to leave. Amy was still asleep in Serena's arms when she eventually stepped out. Her small head lay on Serena's shoulder, and her hair framed her calm expression. Serena seems shocked to find me still there. “You didn't have to wait," she explained quietly. “I was going to drop you off at home," I said. My eyes were locked on Amy, and my heart felt like it was about to burst. "You don't need to worry about it. Someone brought my automobile here.” Serena said as she walked towards her car. I followed, offering to help. "Let me carry her." She looked unsure, but eventually nodded and delicately moved Amy into my arms. Holding her seemed weird. She was so little and lovely. My heart ached from emotions I didn't understand. We arrived at Serena's car, and I gently placed Amy in her car seat. I stepped back and turned to face Serena. "We need to continue our previous discussion," I reiterated. She glanced at me with cautious eyes. "Oh, please. "Not now, Ryan." I wasn't ready to back down, but seeing how fatigued she appeared, I hesitantly spoke. "Soon, Serena. You owe me an explanation." She did not answer, but I noticed the conflicted glances in her eyes as she got into her car and drove away. I hurried to my car, got in, and began following her.