Chapter 4 - A Whisper of Hope
Back in Room 408, the gentle hum of the heart monitor provided a rhythmic backdrop to the quiet room. Dr. Sterling sat in a chair beside Clara’s bed, holding a glass of water for her as she drank slowly.
"He won't accept him easily, Clara," Richard said gently. "Julian has built high walls around himself."
"I don't need him to accept me, Dr. Sterling," Clara whispered, her fingers stroking the soft cheek of her sleeping son. "I only need him to know that this baby is innocent. He deserves a father who isn't afraid of the truth."
The door creaked open, and Julian stepped in alone. The sleek suit jacket was gone, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked tired, stripped of the corporate polish that usually defined him.
He walked to the edge of the bed and looked down at the baby. The infant opened tiny, hazel eyes—the exact shade of Julian's own.
"What is his name?" Julian asked quietly.
May you like
"Leo," Clara replied softly. "After your father. The man who taught you how to be brave before the world made you forget."
Julian reached out a trembling hand. For the first time in years, the cold exterior melted as his finger brushed against Leo's tiny palm. The baby’s little fingers instinctively curled around Julian's thumb.
