Damian sat in his study, the phone pressed against his ear, his hand gripping it tightly. The deep voice on the other end had just said words that sent a chill down his spine: “I heard you have my daughter.”
He froze, his mind racing. His grip tightened, the edges of the phone digging into his palm. “Who is this?” he demanded, his voice sharp and full of tension.
The man chuckled coldly. “That’s not important right now,” he replied smoothly, his tone calm and collected.
Damian’s patience was already running thin. “It is important,” he snapped, pacing the room. “If you’re claiming Aurora is your daughter, I need to know who you are. Now.”
The man stayed silent for a moment, and Damian could hear faint background noise-a car horn, the hum of voices. The stillness made Damian’s frustration grow.
“You don’t need my name,” the man said finally. “You only need to know that I care about her.”
Damian’s eyes narrowed as he stopped pacing. “If you care so much,” he said coldly, “why weren’t you there when she needed someone? She’s been through hell, and now you’re just… calling me?”
The man didn’t answer immediately, but when he did, his voice was quieter, almost thoughtful. “You don’t understand the choices I had to make,” he said.
Damian’s jaw clenched. “No, I don’t,” he growled. “But I do know Aurora doesn’t need someone like you. She needs people who won’t abandon her.”
The man’s voice turned hard again. “And what are you, Damian? Her savior? You think you can protect her?”
“Yes,” Damian said firmly. “She’s under my care, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.”
The man laughed softly, the sound grating against Damian’s nerves. “She’s carrying your child, isn’t she?” he asked, as if testing Damian’s reaction.
Damian froze for a moment, his heart pounding. “How do you know that?” he asked slowly, his voice low and dangerous.
“I know more than you think,” the man replied. “That’s why I called. Take care of her, Damian. Don’t make me regret trusting you with this.”
Damian’s temper flared. “If you know so much, then you know I don’t need your trust,” he snapped. “I need your name. Who are you?”
“I’m not giving you that,” the man said simply.
Damian slammed his free hand on the desk, the sharp sound echoing in the room. “If you don’t tell me,” he said through gritted teeth, “I’ll find out myself. And when I do, you won’t like how this ends.”
The man chuckled again, the sound low and unsettling. “You’re a bold one, aren’t you?” he said.
“Don’t test me,” Damian growled.
The man’s tone turned cold. “Just keep her safe, Damian. That’s all that matters.”
And with that, the line went dead.
Damian stared at the phone in his hand, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. His thoughts were chaotic, questions swirling in his mind. Who was that man? How did he know about Aurora and the baby?
He sank into his chair, rubbing his temples. He felt a mixture of anger and unease. Aurora was already vulnerable, fighting for her life in the hospital. And now there was a man lurking in the shadows, claiming to care about her.
Damian’s jaw tightened. “I’ll find out who you are,” he muttered to himself. “And when I do, you’ll have answers to give.”
Just as he was piecing his thoughts together, his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and saw it was the hospital calling. His heart skipped a beat, fear creeping into his chest.
He quickly answered. “Hello?”
“Mr. Wolfe?” the voice on the other end said.
“Yes, this is Damian,” he replied, his voice tense.
“This is Dr. Harris,” the caller said. “We need you to come to the hospital immediately.”
Damian’s pulse quickened. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Is Aurora all right? Is it the baby?”
“Please don’t panic,” Dr. Harris said. “But we need you here as soon as possible. There’s been a development in her condition.”
Damian’s chest tightened. “I’m on my way,” he said quickly, ending the call without waiting for more details.
He grabbed his coat and keys, his movements hurried. His thoughts were racing, fear mixing with determination. Whatever was happening, he needed to be there for Aurora.
The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity. The city lights blurred as he sped through the streets, his mind filled with worst-case scenarios.
When he arrived, he parked hastily and rushed into the hospital. The receptionist recognized him immediately and directed him to Dr. Harris’s office.
Damian pushed the door open, his face set in a grim expression. “What’s happening?” he demanded.
Dr. Harris looked up from his desk, his expression serious. “Thank you for coming so quickly, Mr. Wolfe,” he said. “Aurora’s condition remains stable, but we’ve noticed some changes that require further attention.”
Damian’s hands clenched at his sides. “What kind of changes?” he asked, his voice low and steady.
Dr. Harris gestured for him to sit, but Damian remained standing. “Aurora’s oxygen levels fluctuated earlier,” the doctor explained. “It wasn’t life-threatening, but it’s something we need to monitor closely.”
“And the baby?” Damian asked, his voice quieter now.
“The baby is fine for now,” Dr. Harris said. “But stress on Aurora’s body could create complications.”
Damian exhaled slowly, his mind still reeling. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just be here,” Dr. Harris said simply. “She needs stability, even if she can’t respond right now.”
Damian nodded, his jaw tight. “Thank you for telling me,” he said.
As the doctor explained the next steps, Damian’s thoughts drifted back to the phone call. The mysterious man had known about the baby, about Aurora. His claim of being her father didn’t sit right with Damian.
“I’ll protect her,” he muttered to himself as he left the office.