Ellie Foster stared at Antonio Costello and then back at her husband. Antonio and River had been rivals for a while now, and she knew River was itching to kill him right now. Or at least, badly hurt him. But unfortunately, he had his sister and her newborn baby to think about.
But did Antonio just say he signed Valerie's baby's birth certificate? Ellie's eyes widened, and she instinctively tightened her hold on the baby. "What do you mean, accidentally?" she asked, her voice a mix of incredulity and disbelief. Antonio shrugged nonchalantly, the grin still plastered on his face. "When Valerie was being rushed in, there was a lot of confusion. The nurses asked me to fill out some forms, and I...well, I might have put my name down as the father." He glanced at me, his expression oddly proud. "So, it seems I am now officially the father of this adorable bambino." Ellie was speechless, and River looked like his anger was momentarily eclipsed by sheer shock. "You...you can't just do that," River stammered. "That's not how parenting works!" Antonio raised an eyebrow, his demeanor suddenly serious. "Relax, Foster." "Don't tell me to relax, asshole!" River growled. "Get the doctor in here and fix this mess right now!" But Antonio dismissed River's anger with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Why the fuss, Foster? The deed is done. And let's be honest, I'm a far more respectable figure than that pitiful excuse for a father Julian could've been." Both Ellie and River stood dumbfounded, staring at his nonchalant posture as he leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Ellie knew River had half a mind to punch that smug grin off his face. But he knew better than to start a fight in the hospital. "Respectable?" River repeated incredulously. "Antonio, your history of trouble is longer than your family's lineage!" He snorted at this, still looking oddly amused by the whole situation. "At least I am here, Foster. I didn't choose the fatherhood. The fatherhood chose me." River moved forward, and Ellie could tell he was planning to hit Antonio. "River, don't," Ellie warned, her voice tense with apprehension. It was at this point that the doctor finally arrived. Clearly unaware of the tension in the room, he glanced between Antonio and River. "Is everything okay in here?" he asked, his professional demeanor at odds with the awkward atmosphere. "No," River stated firmly before Antonio could interject. "There has been a mistake. This man is not the father of the baby." "Sure I am," Antonio interrupted, stepping closer. "How is the mother doing?" "Yes, is Val awake?" Ellie asked anxiously as she cradled the baby boy. The doctor looked at everyone, clearly perplexed by the tension in the room. "Valerie is stable and awake," he said, addressing Ellie. "She did very well considering the circumstances. She'll need to stay hydrated and get some rest. She is requesting to see the baby now." "Yes, of course. Let's go," Ellie said. Antonio nodded before he turned his attention back to River. "See, Foster? Everything is fine." "No, everything is not fine," River shot back, stepping closer to Antonio. "You need to get your name off that birth certificate. Because once Valerie finds out what you did, even I wouldn't be able to save you from her." "Please, let's not keep fighting," Ellie warned. "Valerie must be waiting." River and Antonio began to argue in hushed tones, but Ellie was determined to keep the peace and prevent any further escalation. With a deep breath, she stepped between them and placed a calming hand on each man's shoulder. As they approached Valerie's room, the atmosphere in the hospital hallway seemed to lighten, and the tension that had been palpable just moments before began to dissipate. Ellie let the nurse take the baby first then motioned to River and Antonio that it was time to see Valerie. The doctor had managed to secure the privacy of the room, and as the door opened, a small gasp of surprise escaped Valerie when she saw them.Valerie's eyes flickered open. Blurry ceiling tiles came into focus above her, and the sharp scent of antiseptic burned her nose. Where was he? Where was her son?She heard his faint cry before she passed out, so she knew he was alive.She craned her neck, peering around the small hospital room. Empty. Panic bubbled in her chest. Where was her son!?"Nurse!" Her throat was raw. She winced, swallowing hard. "Where's my baby?"A woman in pink scrubs hurried to Valerie's bedside. "Please try to relax, Miss Foster.""Relax?" Valerie rasped. "How can I relax? Where is he?""Oh god, did something happen to him? But the doctor said he was healthy when they checked last time. Is he okay?" Valerie breathed.The nurse checked Valerie's IV, avoiding her gaze. "The baby is perfectly healthy. He is in the nursery with his dad."His dad?"My baby doesn't have a dad," Val said.Heck...he didn't even have a name yet.I want to see him," Valerie struggled to sit up, clutching the thin blanket. "Bring
Antonio's smirk faltered for a moment as he glanced at River. "Well, Cara," he began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. At that moment, with that stupid expression on his face, he almost looked like a little boy who had done something wrong. "What is it?" Valerie asked, feeling dread pulling in her stomach as she imagined the worst. Why did he look so guilty? "There was a bit of a mix-up with the paperwork when you were rushed in. A... uh... misunderstanding." He hesitated. Valerie frowned, her gaze shifting between the two men. "What kind of misunderstanding?" River took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Antonio...he signed the birth certificate as the baby's father." Val stared at the two men, uncomprehending. "He...WHAT?" she cried when she realized what was said, then quickly lowered her voice, remembering she was at the hospital. "I don't understand," she hissed. "By accident," Antonio interjected quickly. "There was confusion, and the nurses needed the forms filled
Ellie Foster didn't know if she should laugh or cry at the whole Valerie and Antonio situation.This whole situation was absolutely ridiculous. Valerie looked at Antonio like she wanted to tear his dick off, but Antonio still stood there with a smug expression on his face.And River...he was livid. Ellie stayed on guard in case River decided to make the hospital room into a battleground.Oh boy."No," Valerie said. Ellie could tell she was trying to make her voice as steady and firm as possible, but it wavered slightly. "I won't marry you, Antonio."He cocked his head. "You sure?""I am sure.""Well, that's a shame," Antonio murmured, feigning disappointment. His devilish grin never faded. "It would have been such an entertaining spectacle.""You're one sick man, Costello," River growled, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Do you think relationships are games?"Ignoring River's comment, Antonio sauntered over to Valerie's hospital bed and looked down at Landon, who was sleepin
The floorboards creaked under Antonio's feet as he paced back and forth in his room, unable to shake the feeling of confusion and disbelief. Valerie Foster had rejected him—at the hospital of all places, right after she gave birth to their child.Okay...the baby wasn't actually his, but so what? His name was attached to him now, accidental or not. He was his son now. Because he had already claimed him to be!"Can you believe this?" Antonio muttered to himself, throwing his hands up in the air. His heart raced with anger and frustration. And a bit of sadness. "I offered to make her son legitimate. And she just...rejected me."He couldn't comprehend it. The pieces weren't fitting together in his head. How could she turn down such a generous offer? It felt like a slap in the face.He had never wanted to get married and had never cared about having children, but he had thrown himself out there. For her."Unacceptable!" he growled under his breath, clenching his fists at his sides."Bene,"
"It's raining," Valerie whispered to Landon as she stared out the window.It had been three days since she had brought Landon back home. Lucas and Tiffany were overjoyed to see their cousin, and they were eager to help her put Landon to sleep or tell him stories that they had just heard from their mom.The house felt warmer with the sound of the kids' laughter and Landon's tiny coos. Despite the storm outside, there was a sense of peace within these walls.Valerie glanced down at Landon, his tiny hand curled around her finger. "Your cousins are quite the storytellers, you know," she murmured, smiling. "We are going to be very happy here."As if understanding her words, Landon gave a little yawn and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Valerie gently placed him in his crib, tucking him in snugly. Standing there, watching him sleep, she felt a mix of overwhelming love and fierce protectiveness. Landon was her world now, and she would do anything to keep him safe.The past few days ha
River's voice thundered through the room. "Absolutely not!""River," Ellie started, placing a hand on his arm, but he glared at her before turning back to Valerie."Under no circumstances do you need to be seeing Antonio again," he insisted.Valerie took a deep breath, trying to remain calm in the face of her brother's anger. "River, I understand your concern, but we need to sort out what Antonio wants from me. We never got to put that whole Julian thing to rest because I went into labor!" she exclaimed."You have bigger things to worry about now, Valerie. I will set things straight with Antonio Costello. All you need to worry about now is being a mother to your son," River argued."And what if he won't stop, River? What if ignoring him just makes things worse?" Valerie asked, frustration seeping into her voice. "We can't pretend he doesn't exist. He has already intruded into our lives, and we need to know what he really wants.""Valerie, you're not dealing with an ordinary man," Rive
"I need you to be honest with me, Antonio," Valerie said.Antonio sat across from Valerie, his eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "I will always be honest with you, Amore," he said, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.Valerie's expression twisted into a scowl, her distaste for endearments evident. "Stop it with the nicknames," she barked.It was clear that she wouldn't tolerate any form of affectionate language from him, but Antonio found it all the more entertaining to push her buttons. He lifted his arms in mock surrender and offered her an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry," he said, meeting her intense gaze. "But I can't seem to help myself."Her body grew taut with tension as she glared at him, demanding answers. "What is your game, Antonio? Why are you forcing yourself into my life?"Antonio leaned in closer, his expression grave as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Would you believe me if I told you that all of this was for the chance to win your affection?" The
Valerie's head was spinning when she returned home. Antonio's words played like a broken record in her mind.A family. With Antonio?She laughed out loud at the absurdity of it all. Who did he think he was, her knight in shining armor?River was waiting for her in the living room, shooting out of his chair as soon as he saw her. Meanwhile, Ellie sat on the couch with her eyes wide open, waiting for the drama to unfold."What did that asshole say to you?" River demanded with a growl.Valerie looked at Ellie. "Sometimes I think men are great idiots," she declared, earning a snort from Ellie.River's face twisted with confusion and concern. "What do you mean by that, Valerie?"Valerie shook her head, trying to make sense of the chaos in her mind. "Antonio... he said he wants us to move in with him. Me and Landon. He wants to be a family."River's expression darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. "What?""Yup, and what's worse is, I think he is actually serious!" Valerie exclaimed. "