He carried her in his arms like she weighed nothing. His chest tightened with panic. The neighbors watched in silence as the sleek black car reversed and sped off.
At the hospital, doctors rushed her into emergency care. Leo couldn’t sit still. He paced, bit his lip, tapped his foot, then paced again.
Finally, a doctor walked out. “Mr. Leo?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“She’s stable, but we found something urgent. She has intestinal cancer—early stage, treatable—but she hasn’t received any attention. Malnutrition, no medication. Her body is already weakening.”
Leo’s jaw clenched. He felt like the air had been knocked out of him.
“Do everything,” he said, voice low and tight. “Whatever she needs. The best. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Yes, sir.”
They moved her to a quiet private room with light yellow walls and soft beeping machines. Leo sat silently by the bed. His mind was racing, his heart heavier than it had been in years.
How could the same woman he once pushed away be here now—sick, frail, and alone?
He looked at her pale face and whispered, “What happened to you?”
Hours passed. Then Faith stirred. Leo stood quickly and leaned over. “Faith?”
Her eyes opened slowly, and when they saw him, confusion morphed into instant fury.
“What are you doing here?” she croaked.
“You fainted. I brought you here. You needed help.”
“Why are you here, Leo?” she whispered. “After all these years, what are you doing in my life again?”
Leo inhaled deeply. “I didn’t come looking for you. I didn’t know you were here. I met… I met your daughter at Silverline Junction.”
Faith blinked. “You what?”
“She ran to me, called me daddy. I didn’t understand it. I couldn’t forget her. I kept going back. Then I sent someone to follow her. And I… that’s how I found you.”
Faith turned her face toward the wall, her voice trembling. “You shouldn’t have come. We don’t need your help. We’ve survived without you.”
Leo knelt by the bed. “I know, but I couldn’t walk away. Not this time. Not again.”
“You already made your choice years ago.”
“I made the wrong one,” he said, voice cracking. “I was stupid, scared. I chose my work over you. I told you to get rid of the baby. I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Faith closed her eyes and one tear escaped down her cheek.
“You gave me money,” she whispered, “like I was a mistake you wanted to erase. Do you know what that did to me?”
Leo’s voice shook. “I looked for you. After I made it, I searched. But you were gone. I asked everyone. Nobody knew where you’d gone.”
“I disappeared because I had to. I had no one. I had a baby to raise and no roof over my head.”
Leo looked at her desperately. “Is she mine, Faith?”
Faith paused. Her eyes stared at the ceiling. “I raised her. I gave her everything I had. I made her strong. Whether she’s yours or not, she’s mine. Mine first.”
Leo lowered his head. “Please, just let me try. Let me be there for her, for you, for whatever is left. Give me a chance.”
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