Chapter 4

"Leila, you weren't scared just now, were you? Don't let someone like him get to you. It's not worth it, especially not for the baby," Dennis said.

I patted the back of his hand, letting him know I was fine.

"Honestly, he's not even worth my energy anymore. He's just a joke. Give it a few days and he'll be out of the picture," I said.

Hearing me say that, Dennis finally relaxed, his tense shoulders dropping.

He fluffed the pillows back into place for me, then headed to the kitchen and poured me a glass of warm milk, handing it over with a gentle smile.

"You're right, he's not worth your peace of mind. I'll stick around these next few days, and if he dares show up again, he'll have to answer to me," Dennis promised.

For the next three days, Mike didn't call or show up once.

I went about packing up the house, boxing up all of Mike's things.

Whenever he finally decided to face reality, he could come get his stuff himself.

On the morning of the third day, I went to the hospital for my scheduled prenatal appointment.

While I was waiting in line, my phone suddenly rang; the screen flashed Mike's name.

I frowned, but answered anyway.

"Leila, have you made up your mind yet?" Mike's voice came through, sounding as arrogant as ever.

"Just apologize to me, and I'll pretend none of this ever happened. We can go back to how things used to be," he said.

I just scoffed.

"Mike, we already signed the divorce papers. What's left to think about? If that's all, I'm hanging up. I've got things to do," I replied.

He paused, clearly not expecting me to react like that.

Then he picked up the background noise of the nurse calling patients on my end, and his voice suddenly grew tense.

"Where are you? Why's it so loud?" Mike snapped.

"At the hospital," I said.

I didn't hide anything.

"What are you doing at the hospital?" Mike's voice jumped, sounding a little panicked.

"You're not seriously thinking about getting rid of the baby, are you? Leila, I'm telling you, don't even think about it. That's my kid too. You don't have the right to decide what happens to it," he shouted.

I wasn't about to waste my breath on him.

"That's none of your business," I replied coldly.

I was about to hang up.

But Mike's voice suddenly came through, urgent and desperate.

"Just wait. I'm coming right now. If you dare touch that baby, I won't let you get away with it,!" Mike barked.

I shook my head in exasperation, hung up, switched my phone to silent, and kept waiting for my turn.

It wasn't long before hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, along with Mike's furious shouting.

"Leila, where are you?" Mike was shouting down the hall.

I looked up and saw Mike pulling Julian with him, storming straight toward me.

Mike stormed over the moment he saw me and seized my wrist in a rough grip.

"Leila, I know you're trying to force me back by threatening to abort the baby. Fine, you win. I agree not to divorce you, and I'll move back home, but Julian has to live with us too. The three of us will live together," Mike shouted.

His words made everyone in line turn to look at us. I felt a wave of disgust wash over me.

I yanked my hand away from him.

"Mike, are you crazy? Who wants the three of us living together? And what makes you think this baby is yours?" I snapped.

Mike paused for a moment, then started laughing like it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.

"Leila, quit pretending. Who else would you even be with if not me? If this baby isn't mine, who else could it belong to?" he sneered.

Just as he finished speaking, a familiar voice came from nearby.

"This baby is mine," Dennis said.

Mike turned and saw Dennis standing there. He froze for a couple of seconds.

But then he burst out laughing, holding his stomach.

"Dennis, I know you always stick up for Leila, but is this really something you want to joke about? Do you think I'm blind or stupid?" he sneered.

He jabbed a finger at Dennis, his tone full of contempt.

"All these years, you've been living off me, eating my food, staying in my house, and now you're helping an outsider lie to me? Don't forget who made you what you are today," he snapped.

Dennis didn't crack a smile. He walked over and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close.

"I'm dead serious," Dennis said.

He didn't raise his voice, but the whole place instantly went silent.

"The baby Leila's carrying is mine," Dennis declared.

Mike's laughter died instantly, his face turning livid.

He stared at me, then at Dennis, as if trying to confirm something.

I moved closer to Dennis, guided by his arm around my waist.

Then I looked up, meeting Mike's gaze, and spoke, enunciating each word.