Page 81 of Accidental Doctor Daddy

“It has,” I said delicately.

Gina beamed and her voice shot high. “You’re seeing someone?”

“I am?—”

She smacked Leonardo’s shoulder, but his icy gaze didn’t change. She asked him, “What’s the matter with you? We’ve been saying he needs to start dating.”

He chucked his chin up at me. “There’s more. There’s always more, isn’t there, Dad?”

“There is. The summer fling…she got pregnant.”

“What?” Gina whispered in a gasp.

“I have twins,” I said bluntly, voice pitched low. “Infant daughters, almost three months old.”

For a moment, silence reigned. Gina’s jaw dropped. Leo’s eyes went wide before his expression hardened. “You got some random summer fling pregnant?”

“I met her on vacation, and things…you know how it goes. I didn’t know until recently that she was pregnant.”

Gina set her coffee down, shock etched on her face. “Dad, this is…insane. You never said anything?—”

“Because I only found out about them a few months ago,” I insisted quietly. “And I needed to be sure of everything before talking to you two.”

Leonardo’s eyes flashed. “So you’re a father again, out of nowhere?”

My stomach knotted. “Yes. And there’s more. The mother—her name is Ella.”

“And?” he prompted.

I braced myself, focusing on him. “She’s…your ex. The one who—who left because you body shamed her. Mariella Green.”

His face went pale, then dark with fury. “The same Ella I told you about?”

“Yes.”

Gina’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God.”

A thick silence fell. Leonardo stared at me, betrayal stamped on every line of his face. It felt like an eternity before he spoke. His voice went raw. “You’re telling me you fathered kids with my ex?”

“It wasn’t intentional. We didn’t know who the other one was before we hooked up. But I love her now. And the twins—they’re everything.” I forced a calm note. “I want you both to be part of their lives, if you can handle it.”

Gina’s gaze darted between us, horrified. “Leo…”

He let out a ragged exhale. “I can’t…I can’t believe this.” Without warning, he stood up fast enough that his chair fell behind him. He stormed out, the apartment door slamming.

“Dad?” Gina whispered, eyes wide, as if uncertain whether to chase him.

I felt numb, grief rolling in my chest. “Go. I’ll be okay.”

She hesitated, then squeezed my hand. “I’m so sorry,” she breathed. “He’ll come around, I’m sure.”

I nodded wearily, watching her hurry after him. The brunch I’d prepared sat untouched—pastries growing stale, fruit losing its shine. I sat there, hollow, mind replaying Leo’s shock and anger.At least it’s out in the open.

But the raw ache of his abandonment cut deeper than I’d expected.

Eventually, I cleaned up the table in a daze, tossing pastries in a container, dumping untouched coffee. My phone stayed silent, no calls from either of them. When I finally forced myself to text Gina, she replied that Leonardo had taken off, ignoring her too.

Great.

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