~~**ROME**~~
Rome took the last bag and placed it carefully into the trunk of the car. He glanced over at Jess, who stood by the passenger door, her hand resting on her swollen belly. Despite her condition, she had insisted on helping with the packing. Her determination amazed him.
“Careful,” he said gently, moving to open the door for her. She smiled back, a mixture of gratitude and fatigue in her eyes, and eased herself into the seat with a sigh of relief.
He sighed too, but for different reasons. As he turned back to grab the final bag, his thoughts drifted to Phoenix. The abrupt and painful end to their relationship still haunted him. He had genuinely liked her, maybe even loved her, but now he was engulfed in confusion and heartbreak, uncertain of what to believe or how to move on.
He walked around the car to the driver’s side, his mind still lost in the past. Just as he reached for the door handle, his phone rang, jolting him back to the present. He pulled it from his pocket and saw Camilla’s name flashing on the screen. He scoffed, memories of how strained interactions their relationship has become came flooding back, and answered the call with a mix of curiosity and annoyance.
“Camilla,” he said curtly.
“Rome,” she replied, her voice shaky and breathless.
“What’s up, Camilla?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though a knot of anxiety began to form in his stomach.
“You need to get here now,” Camilla said, her words rushed and disjointed.
“What are you talking about, Camilla?” Rome demanded, irritation creeping into his voice. He had no patience for her usual dramatics.
“It’s Mom… I think she’s dead,” Camilla said, her voice breaking.
“What the fuck?” Rome cursed, his body going rigid with shock. His mind raced, refusing to process the words. His mother? Dead? This had to be a sick joke.
“Yeah, she was shot. Please come to the hospital now. I have to go save Phoenix,” Camilla said, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush before abruptly ending the call.
“Save Phoenix?” he echoed, staring at his phone in disbelief. The call had ended, leaving a void filled with panic and confusion.
His heart pounded in his chest, a wild, uncontrollable rhythm. First, he hears his mother might be dead, and now Camilla was talking about saving Phoenix? None of it made sense.
He quickly got into the car, his hands trembling as he started the engine. The urgency in Camilla’s voice echoed in his mind, pushing him into action.
“What happened?” Jess asked, her eyes wide with concern as she watched him. But Rome didn’t answer. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and unanswered questions. He pressed the accelerator, the car lurching forward as he sped towards the hospital.
The drive felt like a blur. Memories of his mother flashed through his mind-her laughter, her stern lectures, her unwavering support. The thought of her being gone was unbearable. And Phoenix-why did Camilla mention saving her? What had happened?
As he neared the hospital, dread settled in the pit of his stomach. He parked hastily, barely registering Jess’s worried gaze. He turned to her briefly, his face pale and strained.
“I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but it sounds bad. Stay here, I’ll be back,” he said, his voice tight with emotion.
Before she could respond, he was out of the car, running towards the hospital entrance. The doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, and he was greeted by the sterile smell of antiseptic and the chaotic buzz of a busy emergency room.
“Where’s my mother?” he demanded at the reception, his voice raw with urgency.
The nurse looked up, startled by his intensity. “Name?” she asked, her fingers poised over the keyboard.
“Roma Dante,” he replied, barely able to keep his voice steady.
She typed quickly, her eyes scanning the screen. “She’s in surgery,” she said finally, her voice softening with empathy. “Room 305, third floor.”
Rome nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He turned and bolted towards the stairs, taking them two at a time. His mind raced with questions and fears. What would he find when he got there? And what did Camilla mean about saving Phoenix?
He reached the third floor, breathless and anxious. The hallway was a blur as he searched for Room 305. Finally, he found it and burst through the door, his heart in his throat.
Inside, a doctor looked up from a clipboard, surprise flickering across his face. “Are you family?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m her son,” Rome said, his voice cracking. “What happened?”
The doctor sighed, setting down the clipboard. “Your mother was brought in with a gunshot wound. We’re doing everything we can, but it’s critical.”
Rome felt the world tilt around him. He gripped the edge of the door for support, his legs threatening to give way. “And Phoenix? My sister said something about Phoenix.”
The doctor’s expression darkened. “Your sister mentioned Phoenix was in danger. We have security on alert, but we need more details.”
Rome nodded numbly, his mind struggling to keep up. He needed answers, but first, he needed to see his mother. He stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the figure lying in the hospital bed, surrounded by a tangle of tubes and monitors.
“Mom,” he whispered, his voice breaking. He reached out, taking her hand in his. It was cold and unresponsive. Tears blurred his vision as he squeezed her hand gently.
“We’re here, Mom. We’re going to get through this,” he said, more to himself than to her. He had to believe it. He had to believe she would survive, and that they would find a way to make it possible.
~~
Rome stood outside his mother’s hospital room, his mind in turmoil. The shock of the day’s events had left him in a daze, and he had completely forgotten that he had left Jess alone in the car.
He was jolted back to reality when he saw Camilla rushing down the corridor towards the ward. He moved quickly to intercept her before she could enter the room.
“What happened with Phoenix?” he asked, his voice trembling with concern.
“She’s on the second floor, Room 209. Doctor Phil is with her,” Camilla replied, her face etched with worry. Rome nodded, relief and anxiety mingling within him.
“Look after Mom,” he said, then sprinted towards the stairs without waiting for her response.
When he reached Room 209, he opened the door slowly. The first person he saw was Doctor Phil, standing beside the bed. Rome’s gaze shifted to the bed, where Phoenix lay with a baby suckling at her breast.
He stopped in his tracks, staring in awe and confusion. He took a few hesitant steps forward, his mind racing.
“Mr. Rome,” Doctor Phil said, noticing him. Rome barely acknowledged him, his attention focused on Phoenix. She turned to look at him but remained silent.
Rome stood, stunned, trying to process the scene before him. Whose baby was she feeding? He moved closer, his eyes darting between Doctor Phil and Phoenix, seeking answers.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Doctor Phil said, exiting the room and leaving Rome and Phoenix in a heavy silence.
Rome sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he gathered his thoughts. He approached the bed, his steps slow and deliberate. He took a closer look at the baby’s face, and recognition struck him like a lightning bolt.
He had only seen his son once, but there was no denying it-this was his child.
His heart pounded as he knelt beside Phoenix, his eyes full of questions. She avoided his gaze, focusing instead on the baby in her arms.
“Phoenix…” he began, his voice trailing off as he struggled to find the right words. He was overwhelmed by the unexpected reunion with his son and the emotions it stirred within him.
He reached out tentatively, his fingers trembling. “How… how did our son get back here?” he asked, his voice a mix of wonder and confusion.
Phoenix finally looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and relief. She remained silent, her emotions too complex to articulate.
Rome knelt there, absorbing the reality of the moment. He looked at his son, who was contentedly nursing, then back at Phoenix. The weight of the day’s events pressed heavily on him, but amid the chaos, there was a glimmer of hope.
He reached out and gently touched Phoenix’s hand, his voice soft.
“I know I messed up, and I was so stupid for doing those things to you. Like…” Rome paused, his voice thick with regret.
“I was a fool, yes, and I am still a fool. I should have done more investigation instead of making the stupidest mistake of my life,” he said, his hands not leaving hers.
“And I am sorry for saying that he isn’t your son. He is, even if you aren’t his biological mother,” he added, his eyes pleading for forgiveness.
Phoenix looked at him, her expression softening. “He is my son, Rome,” she said firmly.
“Yes, he is,” Rome agreed, nodding.
“No, I mean, he is my biological son,” Phoenix clarified.
Rome nodded again, still not comprehending. “I agree, he is.”
“No, you don’t get what I’m saying here, Rome,” she said, adjusting their son who continued to nurse.
“I don’t understand. I know he is our son,” Rome insisted, confusion etched on his face.
Phoenix shook her head. “Yes, he is our son, but your ex-wife isn’t his real mother. I am,” she said, catching Rome off guard.
“What do you mean?” he asked, shock widening his eyes.
“Well, Doctor Phil didn’t actually use Georgia’s egg because it didn’t survive. He knew how devastated you were, and telling you that would have broken you even more. So, he used your sperm that was kept frozen because when you and Georgia were trying for a baby through IVF, your sperm was stored here as a precaution. He used your sperm to fertilize my egg,” Phoenix explained.
Rome stared at her, stunned into silence. The revelation hit him like a tidal wave, washing over his confusion and guilt. He looked down at their son, his heart swelling with a mix of emotions-relief, awe, and an overwhelming sense of love.
“You mean… he’s ours? Truly ours?” Rome whispered, his voice trembling.
Phoenix nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. “Yes, Rome. He’s our son. Our biological son.”
Phoenix looked at him before sighing
deeply. She knew fully well that Rome wouldn’t take it lightly when he found out that his wife, whom he had loved so much, was alive and had been the one who kidnapped their son.
TBC