We'll see. And Ethan didn't tell Lena about the meeting, not yet. But when he got home that night, Mia was waiting for him in the kitchen. Dad?
We need to talk. His heart sank. About what? Mia crossed her arms.
About why everyone at school is asking me if my dad got his boss pregnant. Ethan froze. Mia? Is it true?
He wanted to lie. He wanted to tell her it was just a rumor, that people were making things up, that everything was fine. But he couldn't. Yeah, he said quietly.
It's true. Mia stared at him. Are you serious? Yeah.
Dad, what the hell? I know. You got your boss pregnant? It's more complicated than Is she keeping it?
Ethan nodded. Mia sank into a chair, her face pale. So, I'm going to have a a sibling. Yeah.
She was quiet for a long time. Then she looked up at him, her eyes red. Are you going to leave? What?
No, Mia, I'm not Mom left. Her voice cracked. She left, and she never came back. Are you going to do that, too?
Ethan crossed the room and knelt in front of her, taking her hands. No, he said firmly. I'm not leaving. Not you.
Not this baby. I'm staying. I promise. Mia's tears spilled over.
You promise? I promise. She pulled him into a hug, her shoulders shaking. Ethan held her tight, his own eyes burning.
I'm sorry, he whispered. I'm so sorry. It's okay, she said into his shoulder. Just don't leave.
I won't. Three weeks later, Lena called an all-hands meeting. The entire company crammed into the main conference hall, over 200 people. Ethan stood near the back, his pulse hammering in his ears.
Lena walked onto the stage, composed and steady. She didn't look nervous. She looked like someone who'd made a decision and wasn't going to apologize for it. I know there's been a lot of speculation, she began, her voice carrying across the room.
And I'm here to end it. Yes, I'm pregnant. Yes, I'm keeping the baby. And no, I'm not stepping down.
A murmur rippled through the crowd. I'm not going to apologize for my personal life, Lena continued. And I'm not going to let rumors define me or this company. We have work to do.
And I intend to keep doing it. She paused, scanning the room. If anyone has a problem with that, my door is open. Otherwise, let's get back to work.
She walked off the stage to scattered applause. Ethan felt something loosen in his chest. She was standing her ground. And so was he.
What? The weeks that followed were brutal. Gossip, stares, passive-aggressive comments in meetings. But Ethan kept his head down and did his job.
And slowly, something unexpected happened. Lena started letting him in. It started small. A text about a doctor's appointment.
A question about prenatal vitamins. An offhand comment about how exhausted she was. Then one night, she called him. Can you come over?
Now? Yeah, I just She sounded tired. I don't want to be alone. Ethan grabbed his keys.
I'll be there in 20. When he arrived, Lena was on her couch in sweats and an oversized hoodie, looking more human than he'd ever seen her. Sorry, she said. I know it's late.
It's fine. He sat down across from her. You okay? No.
She laughed weakly. I'm terrified. I have no idea what I'm doing, and my mother won't stop calling. Ethan smiled.
Yeah, she's persistent. Lena's eyes widened. Wait, did she She offered me half a million to disappear. She what?
I turned her down. Lena stared at him. You turned down $500,000? Yeah.
Why? Because I'm not leaving, Ethan said simply. I told you that. For a moment, Lena didn't say anything.
Then she looked away, her voice soft. I don't know how to do this, Ethan. I don't know how to be a mom. I don't know how to rely on someone.
Me, neither, he admitted. But I think we figure it out together. Lena looked back at him, and for the first time, she smiled, really smiled. Together, she repeated.
Yeah. Together. Then, by the time Lena's second trimester rolled around, the worst of the rumors had died down. People had bigger things to worry about.
And slowly, quietly, Ethan and Lena built something that looked almost like trust. He went to her appointments. She asked his opinion on baby names. They argued about strollers and paint colors, and whether or not a nursery needed a theme.
And Mia, after a few awkward, emotional conversations, started coming around. She met Lena for the first time at a coffee shop. It was tense at first, both of them circling each other like wary cats. But by the end of the hour, Mia was asking questions about the baby, and Lena was answering them honestly.
When they left, Mia turned to Ethan. She's not what I expected. Yeah? Yeah, she's okay.
Ethan smiled. Good. The months passed. Lena's belly grew.
The gossip faded. And Ethan kept showing up. He showed up when Lena's morning sickness got so bad she couldn't leave the bathroom. He showed up when her mother made another thinly veiled threat.
He showed up when she cried at 2:00 in the morning because she was convinced she was going to ruin everything. And slowly, she started to believe he wasn't going anywhere. One night, a week before her due date, Lena sat on her couch with Ethan beside her, her hand resting on her swollen stomach. You know, she said quietly, I didn't think you'd actually stay.
I know. Why did you? Ethan thought about it. Because I made a promise, and it and I keep my promises.
Lena looked at him, her eyes soft. Thank you. For what? For not being the guy I thought you were.
Ethan smiled. You're welcome. Elena Rose Cole-West was born on a rainy Tuesday morning, weighing 7 lb 3 oz. Ethan was there.
So was Mia. When the nurse placed the tiny squirming baby in his arms, Ethan felt the world shift. This was real. This was his daughter, and he wasn't going anywhere.
Lena watched him from the hospital bed, exhausted but smiling. You okay? She asked. Ethan looked down at the baby, then back at Lena.