Page 82 of Secret Baby for Dr. Billionaire

“Mother, can you please—”

“I’ll go see what they have in the cafeteria.” Janice stood, and Ben replaced her beside me. He circled his arms around me and kissed the top of my head.

“Baby. Look at me. Please.” I did, and I saw how tired Ben was, yet he was still here by my side, assuring me and taking care of me.

“I can’t lose her. I can’t,” I whispered. I knew I wouldn’t survive it if something happened to Sofi. I’d lose my mind. What was the point of living?

“We’re not losing her.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I do. Because I know the doctors here, and I know that they will do everything they can.” Ben cupped my cheeks and kissed me so softly and tenderly that I wanted to get lost in him again. “I’m sorry, Chloe. I’m so fucking sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Tonette wasmyex. If I had just done something about her, she wouldn’t have come back to bite me in the ass. I should’ve gotten her help instead.”

I looked up at the man I loved and saw a lone tear roll down his cheek. I returned the kiss before leaning my head against his shoulder, closing my eyes as I sent a silent prayer to whoever was listening.

“Doctor Hayes,” an unfamiliar voice called before sleep could consume me. To say that I was exhausted was an understatement.

Doctor Malik was wearing Winnie-the-Pooh patterned scrubs under his white coat. His mahogany skin glinted under the fluorescent light as he gave us both a reassuring smile.

“Doctor Malik.” Ben stood up to shake his colleague’s hand.

“Are you guys the parents of Sofi Kennedy?”

“We are.”

“She’s having an allergic reaction to the strawberry gelato she had, but she got here just in time for her not to be anaphylactic.”

“So she’s okay?” I asked. When Doctor Malik nodded, it was like I was breathing again after so long underwater. The relief was so overwhelming that my tears started again.

“For now, she just has a severe skin rash and some welts. I would recommend letting her stay overnight so we can monitor any digestive issues that could arise.”

“And how about any bruises, lacerations?” asked Ben.

“We found no trace on her of any bruises, bumps, or scratches.”

“Oh, thank God. Can we see her?”

“You can.”

I practically bolted towards Sofi’s room when the doctor said we could see her. And the euphoria of seeing Sofi in one piece was unlike anything else.

She was crying, but she was okay. She was pink from her rash, but she was breathing. That was all I could ask for. I took her from the nurse who was cradling her. She gave us a smile and promised to bring Sofi something to eat in a little bit.

“Hi, Sofi,” I cooed, and the hug that she gave me was so tight it was like she was telling me never to leave her again.

“Mama,” Sofi cried, her cheeks painted with tears, her voice hoarse from all the crying.

“Oh, baby. Mama’s here.” I rocked her from side to side and felt Ben’s strong hands circle us in a hug. Then he planted a kiss on Sofi’s head.

“We’re okay,” he whispered.

“We’re okay, Ben.”

“I promise you, Chlo. I’m going to fix this all. No more Franklins and Gwens and Tonettes.”

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