"Good morning, my baby," Angela greeted as she found Clark in the kitchen, busy preparing breakfast. She had been forced to stay at his apartment after he stopped her from returning to her own place. He said she could go back once he was sure she was feeling well. Her condition was delicate, especially since she had a history of miscarriage.
"Good morning, my baby," Clark replied as he handed her a glass. "Here's your milk."
She gave a slight smile and accepted it. On the table were pancakes, bacon, eggs, and ham. Nearby, Clark was slicing fresh fruit for her.
"I don't know how fat I'll get after this pregnancy," Angela joked as she looked at the generous amount of food.
Clark smiled. "Why?"
"Because you keep cooking so much. There's only the two of us, but you cook like you're feeding an entire family."
Clark brushed the hair from her forehead and gently held her chin.
"Just a reminder, my baby. Angela Marie Adriano, there's another life inside your womb. You need to eat enough and nutritious food for both of you. I let you request your breakfast, but we'll balance it out with lunch and dinner, okay? Processed food isn't healthy for you."
Angela looked down at her belly and gently touched the slight bump. Although she hadn't expected her life to change this quickly, she was doing her best to embrace each day with courage.
They ate quietly. Clark cleared the dishes and cleaned up afterward. She was used to him handling everything in the morning now—something she never imagined Clark would do, especially after all those years of conflict, secrets, and... silence.
For days now, a familiar voice kept echoing in her mind. Just one line, but over and over again:
"So important."
She couldn't tell if it was a dream or a memory. But she couldn't explain why her chest felt heavy again the night before.
A few moments passed before she spoke again.
"Baby, I think it's time I talk to him."
Clark froze. "Darius?"
She nodded. "Yes. I don't think I should not delay this any longer. We both knew this day would come."
Clark hesitated before asking again. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. But I have one request."
"What is it, baby?"
"Can he come here instead? I'm not comfortable talking somewhere else."
Clark was silent, but after a few seconds, he nodded.
"Of course. When do you want to talk to him?"
"Today, if you're not busy. And if he agrees."
Clark had no choice but to agree with her decision. Even though he'd spent the whole night thinking about how to explain his feelings to Angela regarding the matter, he remained neutral. He couldn't show how he really felt. Angela hadn't asked for his opinion anyway, so he chose to stay quiet.
Before stepping out of the room to call Darius, a worry crossed his mind.
"What if after they talk, Angela realizes she still loves Darius and not me? What will I do then? Can I accept and face that?"
He sighed and forced himself to brush away the doubt. This wasn't about him. It was about Angela and closing a chapter in her life.
Meanwhile, Angela sat at the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breathing.
"I can do this. It's time to end the past. It doesn't matter whether he forgives me or not. What matters is that this is end. We have our own lives now. And I don't have anything to fear anymore—I'm not the same woman who used to fall apart... even if some shadows keep trying to return."
By eleven o'clock, the doorbell rang. Clark's heart pounded.
But when he opened the door, it wasn't Darius—it was their grocery delivery. He paused and shook his head. Meanwhile, Angela stayed in her room, unwilling to come out until Darius arrived.
Half an hour passed. An hour. Two hours. Three hours. Still no Darius.
They had already eaten lunch, but there was still no text or call from him. Clark tried calling, but there was no answer.
"I wonder why he changed his mind?" Angela asked softly, confused.
Clark shook his head.
"I don't know either. I'm sure he wants to know the truth. He wouldn't have come to the hospital just to talk to me if he wasn't serious."
Silence stretched between them before Clark spoke again.
"Were you really ready earlier? Will you answer everything he asks?"
Angela thought for a moment before replying.
"Maybe. I'll answer only what he asks."
Clark looked at her.
"Does that include questions about your child?"
He nearly said, "What if he asks about the two of us? Can you tell him face-to-face that I'm the one you love now?" but he kept his mouth shut. He didn't yet have the courage for that.
Angela paused. A long silence passed before she let out a deep sigh.
"He doesn't need to know. He has no idea I was pregnant before, and there's no point in telling him now. He's married. They're having a child. What's the use?"
Clark hesitated before asking again.
"But do you want to ask him something?"
Angela fell silent for a moment, then replied in a soft voice.
"Yes... but I don't know if I can ask it."
"What is it?"
She let the silence grow heavier before finally answering.
"Why did they need a surrogate mother for their child? There's nothing wrong with his wife... right? Or am I just overthinking this?"
Clark swallowed hard.
"I don't know either. But I guess... it's not bad to ask."
***
Elsewhere...
Darius stood at the door of his hotel room, ready to leave for Angela's place. But just before he could open it, someone knocked.
When he opened the door, a familiar face greeted him.
"Gosh! So, it's true—you're really here!" said Kitty.
"Kitty? I thought you were in London?" he asked, surprised.
Lance, her husband, replied,
"There's something you need to know, my dear cousin."
But before he could ask anything, a voice stopped him cold.
"So important." Just two words, but they were enough to make his chest tighten in panic.
His eyes widened when he recognized the speaker.
"D-Dylan...?"