Tcouldn’t get what Mc. Johnoon told me out of my head all night, i zayed amani, ongoing has the while Lydia fought for her lifa
“You don’t look well,” Daniel held my gaze from the marlem minor, he a
sounded somet
“Tmckay” lied. He had taken Julia home perderday but couldn’te back to the settore formed tog time to myself
Daniel didn’t seem to be satisfied with my reply, but he didn’t put and is grand fort
singins arres
He turned the steering wheel to the right, swerving into herne. My shone seoses, and brought out A mage from e
in
She wants me toe to the Hospital What’s word Wet the scvelly gentand the rodes, reche more time, almost mming into a speeding truck. “What’s wrong with her? Canis ached
Itschap
“I have no idea. It’s early, I took a peep at my wristwatch Danial dropped me off the hospital anda
In ten minutes, I was already in the hallway leading to the room Zoe had mentioned. The moment was greeted with
ing. The words dear, but it was obvious that Mom was causing
he
Lydia was there too, and the first thought that crossed my mind was that Zoe was not fine and lydia hade to visit our Wom had refused. That was until I saw Zoe. She was standing between them, ask and g
But Lydia was supposed to be away on a business trip. Did the lie sout that?
The words got clearer “No, Mom, I won’t. That child inside this room is my niece. She is Mason’s child, and not ever you can me from saving her.” I furrowed my brows, now standing a few feet away. I dragged my feet on the floor slowly
“My child?” My brows drew together in confusion
“I’m sorry, I just had to tell him.” There was a pause, and the expression on their faces proved that I had just discovered someth shouldn’t
“What are you talking about?” I walked to the middle, standing between Lydia and my mom “What does Zoe mean? questioned moving my eyes across their faces.
“It’s nothing you should bother yourself with. Why are you even here?” Lydia sounded imitated. Her eyes moved over to Zoe, who lowered her gaze.
She looked more frustrated than betrayed.
“Not after what I just heard.” Nothing prepared me for that statement, nothing!
“Pretend you didn’t hear anything, Mason, you can go about your day. You probably have a meeting or something Go attend to ” The chill in her voice was unmistakable.
The hell I’ll take a step outside this hospital without an answer. Someone was sick. It wasn’t Zoe
Lydia didn’t seem ready to give me a reply, so I turned to Zoe. “Zoe. What child? What am I not aware of?” She bites her lower lip.
her eyes flickering towards Lydia for a brief second.
“Well, Lydia was,” she paused and inhaled, tears slid down her eyes, “She has your ch.”
“Zoe,” Lydia yelled, and Zoe pressed her lips together. Lydia shook her head, as if to tell her to stay quiet
“The surgery is in three minutes, and you need to get ready for it.” Lydia moved to the side, and for the first time since got there, my eyesnded on Marcus.
He entwined his hand in hers and stood close, too close to her. I squinted, fisting my hand by my side. “Zoe won’t be getting ready for anything. Zoe, let’s go,” Mom said.
“Fine, I won’t force her.” Lydia started, “However, Zoe is an adult and she can make decisions herself.” She turned to Zoe, “if you decide to break your promise right now, I won’t hold it against you<b>.</b>”
“Let’s get out of here, Zoe.” My mom pulled Zoe and tried to drag her away, but Zoe pulled back.
“Will someone exin what’s going on to me?” I am confused, and they weren’t making it easy<b>. </b>Why is it so hard for someone to exin?
What surgery? Who needed surgery? Why is Zoe needed? And most importantly, why is Mom trying to stop Zoe?”
Questions brewed within me. Zoe ced her arms around her wrist and gave it a light squeeze.
“Mnie needs a kidney transnt, and I’m a match.” Who is Mnie? I wanted to ask, but didn’t get the chance to. Zoe continued, “You may be wondering who Mnie is.”
“Zoe, you promised not to tell him,” Lydia said, disappointed.
<b>“</b><b>No.</b>” Zoe turned to Lydia, “I promised to set things right. Everything.” What is she talking about? “Mnie is your daughter, and she needs a kidney transnt. I need to go prepare for the surgery. I promise to tell you everything afterwards.” My world stopped.
Her words kept reying in my head. I have a daughter. I have a child I am not aware of.
She walked towards the door, then paused, “I’m sorry it took me this long.” She stepped in without looking back.
Lydia has her hand fist on her side. “Let’s go inside,” Marcus said, cing his hand on the small of her back.
“Lydia, we need to talk. What is Zoe saying?” She moved her hand away before I could hold it..
“I have nothing to talk about with you.” Her eyes lingered on my mom before she stepped inside with Mia and Marcus trailing behind her.
I pushed my hand over my hair and walked to the door. I needed answers, and I’m still yet to grasp what they just said.
I tried to open the door, but it didn’t budge, Lydia, open up, let’s talk.”
I
felt <b>a </b>tap on my back and stopped knocking. When I turned, I saw a nurse. She held <b>a </b>stainless tray.
“Excuse me, sir, I’m sorry but you aren’t allowed inside. You can wait in the corridor,” she then pointed to a bench.
1 passed my hand over my hair.
Mom immediately started pacing around in the hallway, “I warned her not to do this. Why can’t Zoe listen for once?”
“You knew about this?” She stopped cing one hand over the other before shaking her head, “The
The smell of antiseptic is in the air. A doctor with a microscope hanging over his neck walked past uning horse.
Did Zoe call mom, too? “Did Zoe tell you toe over? She didn’t get the chance to reply The door opened again, and the from earlier stepped out.
“Miss Alissa <b>doesn’t </b>want anyone in the hallway, I’m sorry, but you need to leave.”
All this didn’t make sense, I do told me she lost the pregnancy. <i>Wa </i>
talk” I stopped and almost lumped into ady
<b>“</b>Sorry.” I apologised and watched her walk away.
Mom got to where I was standing and I walked towards the exit with her beside me.
I
Before she started speaking, I sent a text to Daniel toe pick me up. “Mason, I know this is a surprise and you probably didn’t expect.”
“The only thing I want to hear is why I have a child with Lydia, who is about to undergo a transnt, and had no idea along” My heart broke with every word, and I closed my eyes and drew in a long breath.
“If you don’t have an exnation, I’d like to be alone.” I know I shouldn’t cut her short or snap at her. But I couldn’t help it. She offered to drive me back to my office, but I declined,
Daniel was on his way to pick me up.
20 minutester. I am seated in the back of the car with Daniel driving. My hands shook as I brought out my phone and ced a call to Mr. Johnson.
I informed him that I will being to his office. He did not give an excuse<b>, </b>which I was grateful for, not that his excuses would have stopped me. Immediately. I got into his office. I dropped into his chair.
He offered tea or water, but I wanted none. All I wanted right now was to know the truth, but I did not know where to start. My chest tightened as Zoe’s words kept ringing in my head.
I have a daughter called Mnie.
I have a daughter!
That didn’t make sense, and as a private investigator, Mr. Johnson should be able to get this sorted out in an hour. That’s all I had
to give.
One hour.
“You told me, Lydia was in aa. Did you not?” He nodded. “But I just found out that Lydia had ghter.“1 paused suddenly, feeling the walls crawling <b>closer </b>to me.
“She has a daughter, and that daughter is mine. Did you not know about this?”
I wanted to know, because there was no way such crucial information would not have gotten to him. Except he tried to hide it. Did he lie to me? He has no reason to.
Mr. Johnson adjusted on his chair ufortably. He refused to meet my eyes.
“Is there something? I am missing.”