Episode 15

Time marched on swiftly.

Prince had expected to have more time, but nearly a year and a half had passed since the birth, and things couldn't stay the same. Taylor was always there, and often he'd take Cassi out to avoid suspicion. He'd take her for walks and spoil her with many things.

She'd learned to take a few steps and could say a few words, though she hadn't yet outgrown diapers.

Children get sick. Illness is omnipresent, regardless of age or weather. Right now, Prince was tending to a sick Cassi. Panic was taking hold because Taylor was away, and his mother wasn't answering her phone. He called until he realized she'd left her phone on his bed that morning.

Cassi couldn't stop crying, and her fever wasn't subsiding. He tried everything to cool her down, recalling how his mother or father did it, but to no avail.

When he took her temperature, it read thirty-eight degrees, and fear engulfed him. The clinic was over twenty blocks away, and he knew he had to go. He looked for clothes to wrap her up, aware that journalists swarmed downstairs due to rumors about his supposed marriage which was, undoubtedly, untrue. He had no intention of marrying, but being seen with Reich had sparked speculation.

Some months had passed with Prince ensuring Reich knew nothing as well. Trustworthy as Reich had been over the months, Prince wasn't ready to reveal that he had a daughter he'd hidden all his life, fearful of Maiston.

"Cassi, come on, no more crying, please. I'm scared and there's no one I can call," he murmured.

He grabbed his phone to pocket it and just took her; he wouldn't allow anything bad to happen to her. Leaving the apartment, he knew a car awaited him downstairs and upon reaching the lobby, he saw the crowd of people anticipating him at the entrance.

He considered exiting from the back, but there wasn't time. He had to go through them. He adjusted the blanket over her head as she kept crying and moved as swiftly as he could.

"When's the wedding?"

"Where will the marriage take place?"

"How long have you been living together?"

"Did you cheat on your ex-husband with him leading to the divorce?"

"Were you the villain in the relationship?"

He tried to block out their words, and the chauffeur helped to hasten their exit.

"Is it a boy?"

"Do you have a child with Reich Valencia?"

"Enough!!" he yelled forcefully. "Let me through!"

He had never reacted like this to the press, so they were momentarily taken aback, retreating. Prince used those seconds to hurry into the car amid the snap of cameras, realizing he could no longer hide the secret. He knew Maiston would find out everything.

Upon reaching the clinic, Cassi was immediately seen.

He roamed, hoping for good news while weeping. He'd never felt so frightened and alone. He couldn't tell his mother, nor worry Taylor, who was practically on the other side of the globe. He dried his tears, aiming to find solitude to cry when the doctor emerged.

"Are you Cassi Jones's mother?"

"Yes, is she alright?" he asked shakily.

"She's lucky. Her temperature was dangerously high, and any further delay could've been fatal. Fever in young children is grave, but we've got it under control now."

He nodded, tears falling anew.

"May I see her?"

"Not yet, maybe in a few hours. She'll be under observation until tomorrow, just in case. We conducted some tests and found deficiencies in iron, sodium, and vitamins. Is she eating well?"

"Yes, she's always monitored. She's up-to-date with vaccinations and I buy her the best food."

"And the father?"

Prince fell silent, unsure of what to say, then looked down before saying, "He doesn't know."

"I understand. It's just a routine inquiry."

"Do you think she's ill because she's never been with him?"

The doctor shook his head.

"It was just a severe cold due to a weak immune system."

"She often cries at night, and I have some of his clothing. When she smells it, she calms down."

The doctor regarded him for a moment, noting his fear and tear-streaked cheeks, his body trembling.

"It's possible that she might be dominant when older, hence sensing the father's pheromones. However, it's not so much about her knowing the absence of her father, but the scent of you might unsettle her because she still misses him. Omegas often need their Alpha during pregnancy, and her reaction could be from his absence. Excuse me, I have other patients, but Cassi is stable now."

Silently, he watched the doctor leave.

He sat, sighing, trying to regain composure, relieved Cassi was alright. He swallowed hard, wiped his face, and headed to the clinic's cafe for something to eat or drink. He ordered coffee but left it untouched, lost in the steam, feeling alone again.

He wanted to be brave and thought he had been doing well, but now he felt otherwise. Things had worsened since he'd seen Maiston, and dealing with the press had been unbearable. Eventually, he drank his cold coffee and went to see if he could visit his daughter.

On receiving an affirmative answer, he smiled.

He walked in to find her asleep, his heart breaking at her tiny form and sat by her side. Her temperature had normalized. He smoothed her brown hair and smiled at her long lashes like Maiston's.

Perhaps she didn't share his skin tone, but she'd inherited most of his features.

"I'm sorry, Cassi, for my foolish, cowardly decision to keep you hidden; you nearly suffered. I'm sorry I wasn't as brave as I promised, but now I must face the consequences of my actions."

He shut his eyes tightly.

"Maybe when you meet your dad, you won't want me around for keeping him from you, and he might want to distance you from me, but I'll do everything to prevent that. I've lost him; if I lose you, I'll have nothing."

He let out a sob and cried again. Only once he had wept enough did he feel able to stand and face what was to come. A glance at his phone's news confirmed the story was out, and it wouldn't be long before Maiston came forward to confront him.

He knew it was pointless to claim she belonged to someone else or even Taylor; the timelines made clear she was Maiston's.

Returned to his apartment, he confronted it all again. They waited outside, like vultures, ready to tear everything apart, but he didn't flinch. He stepped out with his daughter in his arms, ignoring their shouts and the camera flashes.

And he wondered how much time he had left.

Maybe two days.

Maybe one.

Or perhaps just a few hours before her father made his presence known.

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