Chapter 5 FIVE

{ZAYN'S POV}

The moment I stepped inside, my expression blanked at the scene before me. The bottle in Mara's hand slipped, hitting the floor with a dull thud. It didn't break, but the contents spilled.

She shoved Jack off and wiped her lips, then walked out without a word. Our shoulders brushed as she passed.

Jack bent to pick up the bottle, and I felt a pang of guilt. It was painful,watching the woman he loved walk away from him... because of me. Because she was my baby mama.

He got to his feet but didn't meet my eyes, no matter how hard I tried to catch his gaze.

We were like brothers. We shared everything-personal or professional.

"She's nothing to me," I said,to reassure him. It's not just a reassurance, it's the fact. Mara is nothing to me and will never be.

"She's connected to you. Don't make this worse."

"What situation? I'm not chasing Mara. She's my secretary, that's all. You know I hate relationships, love, family-all of it," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

He was drunk and swaying. I held him up.

"I love her," he whispered.

"She doesn't feel the same," I replied gently.

"No... she's just scared..." His words were slurred. I helped him to his room and laid him on the bed.

It was late. The DNA results confirmed that Jewel was mine, but I still hadn't decided what to do-whether to keep her or walk away.

What was there to think about? Jack was right. I'd always run from responsibilities.

If I chose to take Jewel in, how would I even care for her? I didn't know how to care for anyone except myself.

My own father had abandoned me. According to my mother, he was obsessed with women and hated commitment. He only came into my life a year before he died-just to tick off a box on his deathbed.

Mara might've handled things the wrong way-lying to me, pretending to be the mother-but honestly, if she had told me the truth from the start, I would've asked her to get rid of the baby.

I've always hated the idea of family. All I've ever wanted was to build my company. That's what I married-my career.

But last night changed everything.

I heard the baby's soft cries again in my mind. My face softened.

Mara snapped her fingers in front of me. "I'm done," she said, bringing me back to reality.

My eyes shifted from her to the babysitter.

"Where to?" I asked.

"I'm leaving-with my baby. I'll write down my address so you can visit. And the debit card-" she raised the card I'd given her "-I'll return it. Don't worry. No one will find out we had a child together."

She bent to caress Jewel's cheek.

I stared at her for a long moment, then pulled her gently up.

"I'm ready," I said.

She blinked. "Ready for what, Zayn?"

"Have you been dying to call me by my name all these years we've worked together?" I teased.

"Yes, Zayn. You've already fired me, so what's left to discuss?" she snapped.

"You're annoying," I muttered.

Mara smiled slightly, looking at the baby with the same affection that had kept her here. A soft silence fell between us as we both looked at Jewel.

Her lips curled into a small smile. Warmth filled my chest. I'd never felt this way before. Her smile lit something inside me I thought had long since died.

"I'm saying... I'm ready to take full responsibility for Jewel."

"Of course you are. She's your daughter," Mara said with a faint smile.

"I mean, I want her to live with me. I want her to stay here."

"You're joking, right?" she asked, alarmed.

"No. And if you're worried about her, you can stay too."

"Why the sudden change of heart? She's my daughter-"

"She's also my daughter," I cut in. I took a deep breath. "Let her stay with me for a month. After that, if you still want to leave, you can."

She looked around, trying not to laugh. But I was serious.

"You're joking, right? You hated her just hours ago."

"Mara, I know I was harsh and rude. But give me a chance to prove-"

"Prove what, Mr. Norman?" she raised a brow.

I fell silent. I hadn't even convinced myself yet. How could I convince her?

"Nothing. I have rights too. And if you don't agree, we'll settle this in court." My tone was final. I turned to leave.

{MARA'S POV}

I grabbed his hand just as he turned.

I was in deep trouble. If he ever found out I wasn't Jewel's real mother-but her aunt-I'd lose everything. I'd lose her.

What had my sister dragged me into? No, she hadn't dragged me-I'd come willingly. And now, I had to live with that choice.

"You have one month," I said. "I'll stay and watch over her. Let's see what kind of father you really are."

He smiled arrogantly. It irritated me.

"Good." He knelt beside Jewel and gently lifted her into his arms, swaying her the way I always did.

"Can you take care of her until morning?" I asked, still unsure.

"Delilah will do it. She took care of her the night you abandoned her."

"Must you keep making me feel guilty?"

"Yes. You don't just leave a baby like that. What if I hadn't come home that night? She would've cried herself to sleep."

I understood his point-even though I wasn't the one who'd done it. Clara was. But maybe Clara knew he'd be back that night. She was calculating like that.

"Fine. I'm counting on you." I was about to say more when my phone rang. It was Shawn.

Why is he calling? Did he find out something?

"I have to go now. Please take care of her. I'll be back in the morning." I placed a soft kiss on Jewel's forehead and rushed out.

Zayn shook his head, unbothered. Delilah came in to take Jewel.

"She should move to a new room with her mother-not the guest room," he told her.

Delilah bowed politely.

{NAOMI'S POV}

I opened my eyes slowly. My body felt too heavy to sit up. The smell of antiseptic and medicine told me I was in a hospital.

I remembered what happened-collapsing in my apartment-but not how I got here.

"She's awake," someone said.

It was Shawn.

He handed me a glass of water. I took a small sip.

"You..." I started, trying to sit up. He helped me, propping me with pillows.

The nurse left to give us privacy-not that I wanted it.

"Naomi, don't tell me you went back to Don," he said, half-yelling.

"I didn't. And even if I did, it's none of your business."

"Don is dangerous. He's going to kill you with those drugs!"

"Don't worry about my life. Worry about yours. Stay away from Sam. I know why you're with her."

"You think I'm still in love with you? That I'm dating your friend to get back at you?"

"I never said that," I whispered. "You said it yourself."

Shawn clenched his jaw and grabbed my face, anger flashing in his eyes.

"I'll scream-"

He let go immediately, brushing my hair aside and smiling darkly.

"Naomi, we've always-"

"Stop," I cut him off. "Everything we had is in the past. Let it stay there."

"I can't. Naomi, I can't-" he whispered, gripping my hand.

"You already did. The day you slept with someone else..."

Just then, the door burst open-and Samara stepped inside.

She froze when she saw our hands locked together.