My Ex Husband Treated My Son Without Knowing He Was His Chapter 05

My Ex Husband Treated My Son Without Knowing He Was His Chapter 05

Northshire Memorial Hospital. Pediatrics.

Dr. Mirren drew blood again and ran the full panel.

“Ms. Sterling, his eosinophil count is elevated, but it’s not critical. I’d recommend an allergy

screening and a follow-up in two weeks.”

“Thank you, Dr. Mirren.”

I took Liam’s hand and walked him down the front steps.

A black Panamera was parked at the curb.

The door opened.

Nathan stepped out.

White button-down. No white coat.

He’d come straight from work.

I tightened my grip on Liam’s hand and steered us left.

“Evelyn.”

He stepped into our path.

“You blocked me.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m his attending physician. I need to communicate with you about his condition.”

“I switched hospitals. You’re not his doctor anymore.”

His gaze dropped to Liam.

Liam looked up at him. Big eyes blinked.

“Mommy! It’s the doctor from the other night!”

Liam took a happy step forward.

I yanked him back.

“Liam. We’re going.”

“But Mommy-”

“Now.”

I scooped him up and headed for the parking lot. Fast.

Footsteps behind me.

“Evelyn. Wait.”

“Nothing to talk about.”

“How old is he?”

My stride hitched.

“Four.”

“Four.” He repeated it like he was tasting the word.

I opened the car door, strapped Liam into his seat, clicked the buckle.

When I shut the rear door, his hand landed on the frame.

“Evelyn. Four years ago. When you found out you were pregnant-”

“It’s none of your business.”

I shoved his hand off, pulled the driver’s door open, and got in.

Engine on.

In the rearview mirror, he stood there. Didn’t chase.

But his face held something I’d never seen on him before.

Suspicion. Uncertainty. And something else I couldn’t name.

He was putting it together.

All he had to do was check the timeline. Do the math.

Divorce date. Plus ten months.

Liam’s birthday fell exactly ten months and three days after we signed the papers.

If he wanted to know, he’d know.

But so what?

He didn’t get to be the father.

He’d made his choice back then. He knew exactly what he did.

That night. Elaine came over.

She spotted the note in the trash. Pulled it out and read it.

“Nathan? Your ex’s handwriting?”

“Yeah.”

“He knows about Liam?”

“He’s guessing.”

Elaine sank onto the couch and hugged a throw pillow.

“Evelyn. How long are you planning to hide this?”

“Forever.”

“You can’t hide it forever. He’s going to start elementary school. There will be paperwork, medical

records. And his blood type, his face… Anyone paying attention is going to see it.”

“I know.”

“So what’s the plan?”

“Liam’s registered under my name. Father’s name on his birth certificate left blank. Unless

someone gets a court-ordered paternity test, there’s no legal standing.”

“Legal standing is one thing. You know how the Hayes family operates. If Arthur Hayes finds out he

has a grandson out there-”

“He won’t.”

“He sat across from you today. He recognized you. You think if he digs into your background, he

won’t find Liam?”

I didn’t answer.

She was right. Every word.

But what was I supposed to do?

Hand my son over to the Hayes family? Let him grow up in that cold, gilded cage? Turn him into

another Nathan?

Not a chance.

“I’m pushing the Apex contract through. Once it’s signed and the first payment clears, we’ll have

the cash flow. If it comes to that, at least I’ll have the capital to fight them in court.”

Elaine looked at me.

“You shouldn’t have to carry this alone.”

“I’ve been carrying it for four years.”

She crossed the room and wrapped her arms around me.

“You know I’ve got your back. Always.”

“Yeah.”

In the middle of the night. I couldn’t sleep.

I opened my photo album.

Scrolled all the way to the bottom.

One picture. Dated five years ago.

It was our wedding portrait from the courthouse..

We sat in front of a simple white backdrop-my smile was wide and unguarded, his was tight and

reserved.

Back then, I thought he loved me.

I swiped the photo up and locked the screen.