ALEX

The night had passed slowly, each minute dragging like a weight pulling me deeper into a pit I couldn't escape. Zoe was still unconscious, and the doctors said it might take days, weeks, even longer before she'd be awake enough to remember anything. It was hard to breathe, harder to think. Every time I tried to focus on something other than her, my mind went back to the moment I nearly lost her. I couldn't bear the thought of what could've happened if I hadn't been there, if I hadn't gotten her out.

I hadn't left her side since the accident, staying in the sterile hospital room, feeling every ounce of guilt as if it were my punishment for the mistakes I'd made. I hadn't even bothered to answer my phone when it rang a couple of times earlier. I couldn't care less about anything outside this room, outside of Zoe. But then, the phone rang again—an unknown number.

A chill ran down my spine as I stared at the screen. Something about it felt different this time, urgent. Maybe it was a sign, maybe a reminder that the world wasn't going to stop for me, no matter how much I wished it would.

I took a deep breath and pressed answer, my heart already racing.

"Hello?" My voice came out hoarse, as if it hadn't been used in days.

"Alex," a voice replied, distant but clear. It sent a shock through my system, a cold wave washing over me. It was my dad. "Where the hell are you?"

I froze. My dad. It had been months, maybe longer, since I last heard from him. The last conversation we had ended with him telling me to figure things out on my own. He told me I needed to learn to take care of myself, that I was old enough to stop leaning on everyone. My dad had never been one to offer much comfort, and hearing his voice now, after all this time, only brought back the same anger and resentment that had built up over the years.

"What do you want?" My voice came out bitter. I could hear him sigh on the other end of the line.

"I'm in trouble, Alex. And I need you to come home. Now."

The words hit me like a slap to the face. Trouble? My dad, always the one who made things worse, always the one who dragged me into his messes. I felt my chest tighten with frustration, but I pushed it aside.

"I'm not coming," I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. "I have something else to deal with right now."

"Something else? Are you seriously ignoring me for this?" He laughed, but there was no humor in it. "You don't have the luxury of ignoring this. This is important, Alex. You can't run away from your responsibilities forever."

I wanted to scream, to tell him how he'd never been there for me, how he'd never even tried to understand the mess he left behind. But I didn't. I couldn't. Not now. Not when Zoe was in that hospital bed, clinging to life, and I didn't know if she'd even wake up.

"I'm not leaving Zoe," I said firmly, my heart pounding. The silence on the other end was suffocating.

"You think you're doing the right thing, huh? By playing the hero for her?" My dad's voice was low now, almost menacing. "You're just like your mother, Alex. Always putting others before yourself, thinking you can fix everything. But this... this isn't something you can fix. You're in way over your head, and you're going to regret it."

I gripped the phone tighter, my knuckles white. His words felt like daggers. I could hear it now, the bitterness and anger he always had toward my mom, toward me. It was like nothing had changed, not even after all these years.

"I don't care what you think," I snapped, my voice growing louder. "I'm staying here. Zoe needs me."

"You don't get it, do you?" His voice cracked, his usual tough exterior gone. "There's something you need to know. It's about your mother. And about me."

My heart stopped. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My mother. That name alone had the power to break me, to remind me of everything that was wrong with my family. But hearing my dad mention her now, after all this time, made the air feel thick with tension.

"What about her?" I asked, my throat dry, fear creeping into my voice. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm not your real father, Alex," he said, the words almost a whisper, but they hit me harder than anything else he could've said. "I didn't want to tell you this, but you deserve to know the truth."

I felt dizzy, my thoughts spinning out of control. "What are you saying?" My voice barely worked. This couldn't be real. My dad, the man who raised me, the one who had always been there—he wasn't my real father?

"You were adopted, Alex," he continued, his words cutting through the fog in my mind. "Your mother... she didn't want you to know, but the truth is, she had you with someone else. Someone... someone important. Your real father is someone with power, someone who could change everything for you."

I wanted to scream. I wanted to deny it all, to shut him up and pretend this was some kind of cruel joke. But the weight of his words settled on my chest, suffocating me.

"You're lying," I managed to say, my voice trembling.

"No, Alex. I'm telling you the truth. You're not just some ordinary kid. You could have everything you've ever wanted, if you just come back home."

Everything I'd ever wanted? This couldn't be happening. I didn't want his offer, didn't want anything from him. Not after all the years of neglect, of pain. I had Zoe to think about now, not some twisted family secret that didn't matter anymore.

"I don't care," I whispered, the words barely audible. "I'm not coming back."

The line went silent for a moment, and when my dad spoke again, his voice was colder than before. "You'll regret this, Alex. You can't keep running from your past forever."

I ended the call before he could say anything else, the weight of his words still lingering like a shadow over my mind. My family, the lies, the truth—it didn't matter anymore. None of it mattered as much as Zoe did.

She needed me. I couldn't leave her. Not now. Not ever.

I turned my gaze back to her, her face peaceful despite everything. She was still here, still breathing. And that was all I cared about. For the first time in a long time, I knew what I had to do. And it was here. It was with her.

No matter what my dad said, no matter the truth about my past, Zoe was my future.

Leah and Ava exchanged a quick glance, clearly surprised by this revelation. "Your dad? After all this time?" Leah asked cautiously.

"Yeah. I haven't talked to him in months. But now he says he's in trouble, and he needs me to help," I muttered, frustration bubbling in my voice. "It's like... he's trying to drag me back into something I don't want any part of."

Ava gave me a small, understanding smile. "It's complicated, huh?"

I nodded, feeling torn. I wasn't sure what to do. My gut told me to stay with Zoe, but another part of me—something buried deep in the back of my mind—was urging me to go, to at least see what my father wanted.

Leah took a step closer, her tone more serious. "You should go, Alex. You don't have to stay at home forever, but at least check it out. You've been carrying around a lot of weight for a long time. Maybe this is your chance to understand what's really been going on."

I exhaled sharply, exasperated. "I don't know. I just... feel like if I leave her, I'll lose her. I can't risk that."

Ava reached out, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You won't lose her. But you won't be any good to her if you don't take care of yourself too. I think your dad is just trying to get under your skin. But whatever happens, you'll be there for Zoe. You can still be there."

I let their words wash over me, my mind conflicted. Finally, I gave a reluctant nod. "Okay. Fine. I'll go. But I'm coming back, no matter what."

Ava smiled. "We're here for you."

I left the hospital, heading to my childhood home. It was a house I hadn't stepped foot in for years, but now it felt like a place I couldn't avoid anymore. The drive felt like it took hours, and when I finally pulled up, my heart pounded like a drumbeat in my chest. I parked and took a deep breath before stepping out of the car.

Inside, my mom greeted me at the door, her face full of a mixture of surprise and warmth. "Alex," she said, her voice trembling slightly as she wrapped her arms around me. "I didn't expect you to come. But I'm glad you did."

Her hug was like a weight lifted off my chest. I hadn't realized how much I needed that until she gave it to me. She stepped back, studying me with an almost wistful expression. "You look just like your father, you know. He was always so stubborn, but I think that's why I loved him so much."

I felt a strange pull at my heart as she spoke. "Mom, I need to talk to you about something."

"Of course, Alex. Let's sit down," she said, leading me to the living room, where Clara, my younger sister, was sitting on the couch.

Clara looked up at me, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Big brother's home!" she said, running over to hug me. I smiled, hugging her back tightly.

Once we were all seated, my mom looked at me, her eyes soft with concern. "What's going on, sweetheart?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "You never told me... you never told me the truth about my real father. I just found out today."

Her face tightened, but she nodded slowly. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you found out. Your father, the man you thought was your dad... he's not your biological father. I'm sorry I kept it from you."

A knot formed in my stomach. "Who is he then?"

"You'll see soon enough," she said, her voice low. "I think it's time you meet him."

A few hours later, after I had time to process everything, my mom drove me to the place where my biological father lived. I felt my pulse quicken as I approached the grand house. It wasn't like anything I expected—it looked like something rich people would own, a mansion.

When we arrived, my mom led me inside. The man who greeted us at the door was tall, with sharp features and a commanding presence. His dark hair was starting to turn gray at the temples, but there was a striking resemblance to me. He held out his hand, his eyes studying me with an intensity that was both unsettling and comforting at the same time.

"Alex," he said, his voice deep and calm. "I'm your father. I'm glad you came."

I shook his hand, unsure of what to say. "It's... a lot to take in."

He smiled, a slight chuckle escaping his lips. "I imagine it is. But I'm not here to overwhelm you. I just want to know you. Get to know the man you've become."

We sat down in his study, the conversation flowing easily as we talked about everything and nothing. Slowly, the tension I had been feeling began to fade, and I started to relax. This man—this stranger—felt strangely familiar. He had a kindness in his eyes, a strength that wasn't like my adopted father's harshness.

"You know," he said, leaning back in his chair, "you remind me so much of your mother. She was stubborn, but kind-hearted. And you—well, I can see a lot of her in you."

The words hit me harder than I expected. A warmth spread through me as I realized I had a place in this man's life, a connection that I hadn't known was missing.

As we laughed together, sharing stories about life, love, and regret, I felt a sense of belonging I had never known. It wasn't perfect, but it was real. And it felt like home.

"Zoe will be lucky to have you," my dad said suddenly. "But you need to remember that love is about giving, not just taking."

I nodded slowly, the truth of his words sinking in.

After a while, I excused myself, my mind already back on Zoe. I had to get back to her. No matter what I learned today, she was still the most important thing in my life.

By the time I got back to the hospital, it was nearly 10 p.m. I sat beside Zoe's bed, gently holding her hand, and told her everything—about my dad, about the call, about my newfound family. I told her how happy I was, how I felt complete in a way I never had before. But most of all, I told her how all I needed now was for her to wake up, so we could face whatever came next—together.

"Please, Zoe," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "Just wake up."

And I waited, hoping that someday soon, I wouldn't be the only one speak