Page 94 of Accidental Doctor Daddy

My mind flashed to what Seth would look like with a black eye. Instead, I turned, letting out a measured chuckle for the audience. “And I respect everyone’s kindness,” I replied, picking up one of the pastel cupcakes from a nearby tray. “This is quite the surprise, and I’m happy to see such support from the hospital administration.”

Behind Seth’s veneer, I spotted the flicker of frustration.He wanted me to blow up, or at least confirm I was stepping aside.

Not happening. I took a deliberate bite of the cupcake, ignoring the swirl of tension in the room, and forced a pleasant hum. “That’s delicious,” I lied. It tasted like chalky sugar. “Seth, you really went all out.”

He gave me a shark-like grin. “Anything for a colleague,” he repeated, gazing toward Roxanne and the other suits. “Afterall, we’re a team here, even if some of us have more leadership capacity than others.”

You want to play that game? Let’s fucking play.

I turned to Roxanne. “Actually, I’ve found fatherhood has sharpened my focus. My time is precious, so I’m more efficient when I’m here these days. When I was a young father, I had more energy, but less direction. Now, my perspective has shifted. I understand better how to utilize my time here and at home. My increase in patient care is evident in my reports.” With a smile, I face off with Seth. “It’s a pity you’ll never get to experience this kind of clarity, Dr. Bowan. Late-in-life fatherhood is better than Adderall for keeping your head straight.”

Because I refused to cave, Seth’s smile turned angry, his words clipped. “Well, then. Congratulations.”

Roxanne nodded, looking somewhat relieved that I wasn’t folding. Another administrator, Dr. Patel, raised a cup of punch. “To Dr. Mortoli, may your daughters thrive, and your career continue to flourish.”

The others toasted me, and I forced a grin, lifting my half-eaten cupcake in solidarity. The entire scene felt surreal—a baby shower turned pithy battleground. My mind flitted to Ella, the twins, and how they’d hate being used this way if they saw it.

They deserve better than Seth’s petty sabotage.

His expression tightened, but he kept up the charade. “Yes, cheers to Dom. And, of course, if you find the demands of fatherhood too taxing, we’ll understand if you bow out gracefully.”

A few uncertain laughs. I locked eyes with him, forcing my voice to remain friendly. “Thank you, but I have no intention of bowing out. My family is the reason I work so hard. They’re not a hindrance, don’t worry.”

Roxanne clapped her hands, stepping forward. “Yes, well, we should let Dr. Mortoli get back to his duties,” she said, apparently sensing the tension. “This was a lovely gesture, Dr. Bowan, but we can’t keep everyone from their rounds.”

Seth gave a nod, feigning disappointment. “Of course, we wouldn’t want to hinder patient care.” His eyes flicked to me, brimming with smug satisfaction. “Dom, truly, congrats on the newborns. We’re all behind you.”

Of course, he’s behind me. Stabbing someone in the back is hard if you’re not behind them.

“Thanks, Seth,” I said flatly, stepping away from him. My fists clenched behind my back, nails digging into my palms. I scanned the parting crowd, giving quick nods and thanks, ignoring the swirl of whispers I could practically feel behind me.

I had kept my cool, but the damage was done.

As soon as it was polite to do so, I slipped out, heading down the hall at a brisk pace. The breakroom door closed behind me, the clamor of forced celebration fading. I turned a corner, leaning against the cool tile wall to catch my breath. My heart hammered, blood roaring in my ears.

I let out a slow exhale, fighting the urge to punch something. Administrators were a fickle bunch, always reading into every detail. Seeing me blindsided by a baby shower and hearing Seth’s insinuations about fatherhood might be enough to plant seeds of doubt.

Exactly what he intended.

A quiet cough from behind startled me. I glanced back to see Roxanne approaching, expression soft. “Dom, I just wanted you to know, we’re not idiots. We know what he was doing with the party, and we’re not jumping to conclusions about your ability to handle administration.”

My spine stiffened, forcing a smile. “I appreciate that.”

She hesitated, glancing around. “I know Seth can be intense. He pitched this idea as a morale booster, but I worried it’d devolve into that side show in there.” She folded her arms and her face tightened. “I’m not supposed to say anything, but you still have my vote, as things stand currently.”

I wasn’t sure it was safe to relax yet. “Oh?”

“Even if I didn’t prefer you to him before this debacle, I do not want this kind of backbiting, high school bullshit within the administration. We have too much to do for the hospital without someone who plays these sorts of games, and I’m going to say as much as soon as we reconvene.”

Relief flickered, though I remained cautious. “Thank you. I won’t let fatherhood compromise my commitment to this hospital.”

She offered a small nod, stepping back. “Then show us that. Keep doing your work, keep the department running smoothly. I’m counting on you to be successful, Dom. I do not want that asshole for my colleague.”

With that, she left, leaving me with a kernel of hope.Maybe not all is lost.But I still felt tainted by Seth’s stunt, uneasy at how easy it had been for him to spin my new fatherhood as a liability.

My thoughts darted to Ella, how she’d react if she knew about this fiasco. Probably outraged, maybe guilty, definitely worried. She had enough on her plate—no need to pile more stress. Yet the thought of keeping her in the dark weighed on me. We’d agreed to share our burdens, but I wasn’t sure if telling her about Seth’s baby shower ambush would just feed her insecurities.

I sighed, pushing off the wall.Later.Right now, I had to finish my rounds, then dive into the next meeting. My phone buzzed in my pocket—a text from Gina.Hey Dad, you busy?

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