Chapter 4 - The Hospital Confession
The sterile white lights of the emergency room hummed above them.
Evan sat in an uncomfortable plastic chair next to Leah’s bed.
Ellie had finally fallen asleep across his lap.
Leah’s shoulder had been set and heavily bandaged.
The heavy painkillers were making her eyelids droop.
"Why did you run away?" Evan asked softly.
He needed to know the truth.
Leah let out a long, shuddering sigh.
"Your family hated me, Evan," she whispered.
"Your mother told me I was nothing but a gold digger," she confessed.
Evan clenched his jaw in anger.
"She offered me a massive check to disappear," Leah continued.
"I tore it up and left anyway," she said.
"I found out I was pregnant two weeks later," Leah explained.
Evan felt his heart shatter in his chest.
"Why didn't you call me?" he asked.
"Because I saw the engagement announcement in the newspaper," she replied.
"You were moving on with Sabrina," Leah said softly.
"I thought you had forgotten about me," she added.
Evan shook his head vigorously.
"My family arranged that engagement to save the company," he explained.
"I never loved Sabrina," he admitted.
"I only loved you, Leah," he confessed.
Leah closed her eyes as tears slipped down her cheeks.
"I needed a job that provided housing," Leah continued.
"When I saw the ad for the estate manager position, I applied," she said.
"I did not know it was your property until after I signed the contract," she admitted.
"And then you just hid in the guest house for four years?" Evan asked.
Leah nodded slowly.
"I made sure Ellie was never outside when you were home," she said.
"I was terrified you would take her away from me," Leah sobbed.
Evan reached out and gently held her uninjured hand.
May you like
"I would never take her from you," he promised.
"But I am never letting either of you go again," he vowed.
