“I’m twelve weeks,” she said, her tone light, almost smug. “A little surprise. Zach is over the moon.”
My breath hitched. I didn’t want to look, but I did. A blurry little bean floating in a sea of static glossy paper. My hands trembled slightly as I pushed it back toward her.
“You’re delusional if you think this baby gives you a claim over Liam.”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “It’s not about claiming him. It’s about building a family. Zach wants us to raise them together. Liam deserves stability. And frankly—he deserves better than watching his mother spiral every time I’m in the room.”
I stood abruptly, the chair scraping the floor. “You think I’m spiraling? I am fighting for my son. For everything you destroyed!”
Celine stood too, unbothered. “Just don’t be surprised when the court agrees with us. A happy home, two siblings, and two unified parents. That’s what judges like to see.”
She gathered her coat and folder, then offered one last, venom-laced smile. “You can keep hating me, Arianne. But soon… Liam won’t be calling you for goodnight kisses. He’ll be calling me Mommy, too.”
I stood up, slowly and deliberately. Celine remained seated, her smile fixed like stone.
“Congratulations,” I said, my voice calm but cold. “I hope you enjoy what you stole.”
She blinked, surprised by the restraint.
“But remember this,” I added, leaning slightly toward her. “A love built in a lie cannot survive. Trust me, he’ll eventually dismantle you. And no, you cannot take my son away from me!”
I didn’t go back to the waiting area right away. My legs took me outside the hospital building, where the sun blazed like it had no idea my world was falling apart. The heat did nothing to chase away the chill inside my chest.
Celine’s words rang in my ears like cruel lullabies: “He’ll be calling me Mommy, too.”
The audacity. The cruelty. The threat. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, steadying myself before heading back up to the pediatric wing. I had to be strong. For Liam. For the only reason I was still breathing after everything Zach had done.
When I reached the hallway outside Dr. Beltran’s office, the door was already open. Liam was sitting on the cushioned bench, swinging his legs, humming to himself like nothing was wrong in the world.
“Hey, love,” I said softly, kissing his forehead.
He grinned. “Done already. Dr. B said my lungs sound better!”