Alex had read the letter at least a dozen times.
Each word carved deeper into his chest like a wound that refused to close. He couldn't sleep. Couldn't eat. His heart throbbed with one name alone—Lisa.
He went through every contact, every location, but all trails were cold.
Until one day, a quiet knock sounded at Zia's hospital room door.
"Zia," Alex said gently, stepping in. "Please. I know she trusts you. Just tell me... where is she?"
Zia hesitated, eyes brimming with tears. "I promised her, Alex..."
"She's carrying my child," he whispered. "I didn't even know. I was blind. Selfish. But I want to be a father... I want to protect her. Love her."
Zia bit her lip, then finally nodded. "She's at my family's beach house. Near Larian Bay."
Alex didn't wait. Within hours, he was on the road.
—
Lisa sat on the porch, rubbing her swollen belly gently as waves kissed the shoreline.
"You're going to be strong, right, little one?" she whispered. "We don't need anyone else..."
Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain, slicing through her back and abdomen.
"Nghh...!" she gasped, clutching her belly.
"Lisa?!" Zia shouted from inside the house, rushing toward her.
"I think... it's time...," Lisa whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Zia called the emergency line immediately.
Minutes later, as the ambulance pulled up and medics helped Lisa onto a stretcher, a black car screeched to a stop in front of the house.
"Lisa!" Alex shouted, running toward her. Their eyes met.
Lisa's heart jumped. "W-Why are you here?"
"I'm not letting you go again," he said breathlessly. "I know everything now. Lisa, please—let me stay. Let me be with you."
Lisa groaned in pain. "I can't... do this alone...!"
"You won't." Alex grabbed her hand, tears flooding his eyes. "I'm here. I swear, I'm not leaving."
—
The ambulance raced through the night. Lisa's contractions grew closer. She screamed, breath ragged and fists clenched.
Alex never let go of her hand.
"You're doing so good," he whispered, his voice shaking. "Just a little longer..."
And in that quiet, panicked night—where pain, fear, and love tangled together—a child's cry pierced the air.
Lisa collapsed in exhaustion. The nurse smiled gently.
"It's a girl."
Tears rolled down Lisa's cheeks. "She's... beautiful..."
Alex stared in awe at the baby in the nurse's arms. Then slowly, carefully, he walked over and held his daughter for the first time.
His voice cracked as he whispered to her:
"Welcome to the world, Little Pumpkin."