Daisy had been struggling to get pregnant for years. She spent countless hours in doctors' offices, desperate for a stroke of luck. She knew, or at least she feared, that if she couldn't conceive, her beloved husband, Nick, would eventually leave her for someone else—someone who could give him the joy of fatherhood.
The truth was that as much as Nick wanted children, he adored Daisy and had no intention of walking away. He supported her through everything, but lately, Daisy had become impossible to live with. She constantly picked fights, demanding that Nick leave her now because "he'd only do it later anyway," and she didn't want to wait for the heartbreak to get worse.
Nick did his best to reassure her, but Daisy eventually decided to force his hand. She wanted to do something unforgivable so he would have no choice but to hate her. The opportunity came at a friend's house party. Daisy began flirting brazenly with a handsome young stranger, and by the end of the night, Nick walked into a room to find them alone together on a sofa.
It was a devastating blow. Nick didn't make a scene or ruin the party for everyone else, but he packed his bags and left that very night. He moved in with his mother and refused to see Daisy. It was only then that the weight of what she had done hit her—and the realization became even more crushing when she discovered she was actually pregnant.
"Nick, please, honey, I'm so sorry!" Daisy sobbed into the phone. "I messed up so badly. But I have news—news that changes everything, I know you'll forgive me! Please, let's just meet and talk!"
"I don't want to talk to you, and I don't want to see you," Nick replied coldly.
"Nick, please, don't hang up—" But the only answer was the dial tone.
The next time she called, his mother answered.
"Listen to me, Daisy. Nick moved away and he isn't coming back. I'm not telling you where he is. You couldn't hold onto my son, so go find someone else. He wasted five years on you and your constant drama. He's had enough."
"Did Nick... did he complain about me?"
"You clearly don't know your husband at all, dear. He never complains. He keeps everything bottled up inside. Но I'm not blind. I know exactly what you're like. Oh, and one more thing—he's leaving the house to you. Live there and be happy. You'll get the divorce papers in the mail. Don't call here again. In fact, I'm moving to join him soon. Maybe I'll actually get to spoil some grandkids one day."
Daisy slowly lowered the receiver, sat down, and wept. She had been so foolish. She had destroyed everything herself. And now there was this baby—a child she felt no one wanted. She considered an abortion, but she had waited too long. She spent the rest of her pregnancy harboring a growing resentment toward the unwanted life inside her.
When the time came, Daisy gave birth to a boy. She left him at the hospital and walked away without a second look, abandoning the infant to a life without a mother's love.
***
Six years passed. Daisy had left her small hometown and moved to the city. She was married again and raising a young daughter.
Her husband, Peter, knew he was her second husband, but he never pressed for details and considered himself lucky to have her. They lived comfortably; Peter was a deputy chief of police, while Daisy focused on the house and their daughter.
She never thought about her past life, her son, or her ex-husband, believing that everything happens for a reason. Daisy had no idea that Nick was living in the same city, working as a senior physician at the regional hospital.
Nick's mother had recently passed away. Her dying wish was to be buried next to his father back in their hometown. Nick had returned there briefly for the funeral and came back again months later to visit the grave.
He sat there pensively, looking at the grey headstone, when he heard a small, thin voice behind him.
"Mister? Do you have any candy?"
Nick turned around quickly and saw a boy of about six. He was filthy, his clothes were tattered, and his hair was a mess. But even through the grime, Nick noticed the boy's piercing dark eyes and straight nose.
"You want some candy?" Nick asked. The boy nodded.
"You know, buddy, I don't have any candy on me. Но if you're hungry, come with me and I'll buy you a real meal. What do you like?"
The boy swallowed hard but shook his head.
"I have to bring back candy or money. Or else Billy will pull my ears again."
"Who's Billy?"
"He's the boss. He's big, so everyone's scared of him. Me too. But on Easter," the boy bragged suddenly, "I got the most candy and cookies of everyone. There were so many people here, and everyone gave me food. I had a whole bag."
Nick closed his eyes, his heart aching for this child forced to beg for a living.
"What's your name?"
"Joey. What's yours?"
"My name is Nick."
Suddenly, Joey swayed and broke into a violent fit of coughing, instinctively clutching his chest.
"Whoa, easy there, Joey. You look sick. Let me feel your forehead... Yeah, you've got a fever. Come on, kiddo, you're coming with me."
"But what about Billy?"
"We'll deal with Billy later. Right now, we need to take care of you."
Nick took the boy's small, thin hand and led him to his car. He took him home, bathed him, fed him, gave him medicine, and tucked him into bed. The next morning, he took him to his clinic for blood work.
The results were as expected: pneumonia. The doctors began immediate treatment. Nick spent every spare moment with his little patient, and they became fast friends. Cleaned up, the boy looked fragile, his pale face making his deep black eyes look even larger.
A nurse named Sophie watched them together and raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Dr. Miller, you and Joey look so much alike. Anyone would think he's your son."
"I wish he was, Sophie. But unfortunately, that's impossible."
"I'm telling you, the resemblance is uncanny. Look—he even purses his lips the exact same way you do."
Nick looked at the boy and went quiet. That evening, he started digging through his own childhood photos. He went cold: the face looking back at him from the old pictures was Joey's.
The next morning, Nick ordered a DNA test for himself and the boy. When the results came back, he put his head in his hands. He spoke to Sophie in a daze.
"How is this possible? How did I not know I had a son? This boy has been alone for six years, begging and crying in the streets. But Daisy... she couldn't have just had him and dumped him. Something must have happened to her. Maybe she needs help too?"
"If you want, we can find out," Sophie said. "My cousin is on the police force. It would be easy for him to look into what happened, especially since it wasn't that long ago."
"Please. Help me find out."
"Come over to my place for dinner tomorrow. I'll invite him, and we can talk through everything then."
***
The following day, Nick arrived at Sophie's apartment. It was his first time there, and he immediately noticed her warm, inviting style. The place felt like a home, and delicious smells were wafting from the kitchen. Sophie was wearing a casual dress; it was strange but lovely to see her without her white lab coat.
"Sophie, you look wonderful," Nick said. "And you're clearly a great cook."
"I try," she smiled. "Maybe one day someone will be crazy enough to marry me."
She gave him a look so playful that Nick felt a flush of embarrassment, but he quickly recovered.
"I'd do it in a heartbeat, but there's a catch—I'm ten years older than you. Maybe a whole lifetime older. I've been married once, and I thought that was it. I was wrong."
"You know, I had a thing with someone my age once," Sophie said. "It was like a movie—flowers, moonlit walks, the whole thing. Then I found out he had a fiancée. A pregnant one. So much for young love."
"Life is complicated, Sophie. But you'll find your prince. He'll be head over heels for you, and I'll be the one who's jealous."
"Oh, stop!" Sophie blushed and waved him off. "Go on, make yourself comfortable."
A few minutes later, Sophie's cousin, Peter, arrived. He wasn't alone; he brought his wife and their young daughter. Sophie went to greet them, teasing them for staying away so long. As the guests entered the room, Nick froze. Standing before him was Daisy.
"You?" she gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"Wait, do you two know each other?" Peter and Sophie asked in unison.
"Yes," Nick said, his voice hard. "This is my ex-wife. The woman who cheated on me, then gave birth to my son and abandoned him at a hospital to beg on the streets."
"Daisy, is this true?" Peter asked, but she didn't seem to hear him. She just kept repeating:
"You found him? You found him? So... he really was yours!" She let out a hysterical laugh that turned into a sob. "Where is he now?"
"In the hospital. A few more days and he would have died of pneumonia. You have no idea what you've done."
"I want to see him."
"No. You've lived perfectly fine without him all this time. I'm raising Joey myself."
"His name is Joey?" Suddenly, she turned on Nick with pure venom. "I hate you! Why did you have to show up again? Who asked you? You already ruined everything once! This is your fault! You're the one to blame!"
Nick apologized to Sophie and walked out. He couldn't stand to look at the woman he had once loved for another second.
***
The next morning, Nick went to Joey's bedside and took his hand.
"Joey, I found out that I'm your father. And I want you to come live with me. I love you so much, son. I'm going to make sure you're the happiest kid in the world."
"You're my dad? My real dad?" Joey's eyes filled with tears. "Daddy! I waited for you! Everyone laughed at me, but I knew! I knew you'd come!"
"I'm here now," Nick whispered, fighting back his own tears as he pulled the boy into an embrace. "Everything is going to be okay. Do you hear me?"
"Yeah!" Joey wiped his eyes and then looked up hopefully. "Will my mommy come too? Is she coming to find us? Do I have a mommy?"
Nick felt a sharp pang in his chest, but before he could find the words, a woman's voice came from the doorway.
"Of course you do, honey. And I'm right here."
Nick turned slowly to see Sophie standing there, tears streaming down her face. Joey jumped up and hugged Nick and Sophie at the same time, pulling them together.
"Mommy and Daddy... Daddy and Mommy," the little boy sobbed. Nick held him tight, then reached out and kissed Sophie.
"Well," he smiled through the emotion. "I guess we're having a wedding?"
Sophie and Joey both laughed. They were finally home.
***
Three years passed. Joey was thriving in school, Nick was still practicing at the clinic, and Sophie was at home with their young daughter, Angelina.
Every day, they all looked forward to the evening when they could finally be together. They knew now that they could never be truly happy apart.
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