Holding the newborn baby in the arms for the first time believed to be the purest joy in the world one could experience in life. Alexander was reliving one such moment.

The baby was so beautiful that he couldn’t take his eyes off. The little bundle of joy decided to open her eyes, and Alexander’s heart melted at the sight of the most beautiful eyes. Tears of joy filled his eyes.

“Goodness! You’re beautiful, little one, and an exact replica of your father,” he said, kissing both of her eyelids one after the other. “Let’s go and meet your mama, shall we?” He cooed at the baby, admiring for a few more seconds.

He looked at one of his trusted bodyguards signalling him to hold the baby for a while. Carefully, he placed the baby into his arms and walked in.

Alexander felt nauseous as his eyes landed on the sleeping form of Mariana, clad in hospital white gown. All he could see was Felicity’s feeble body lying on the bed, struggling to breathe, and Alexander’s heart jumped into his throat..

He was frightened to the point where he felt his throat tightening. Shaking his head, Alexander tried to get out of that terrifying illusion. He looked away from the bed and held on to the door for support.

After taking deep breaths several times, he moved his feet towards the bed, measuring his footsteps on the wooden ceramic tiles. His eyes wandered restlessly around the room, as they took in the sight of the white bedspread and the pillows, and the doors to the bathroom, cabinets, the table beside her bed, and a single chair next to it, everything was grey coloured.

At last, Alexander looked at Mariana. She was still asleep and half of her face covered with the strands of her wet brunette hair. He brushed away a few stray hairs from her face, tucking it behind her ear and cupped her cheek with his palm. He saw her eyelids fluttering, and she opened her eyes. He looked at her with nothing but pure affection.

“How are you feeling, Anna?” Alexander asked, and she gave him a faint smile in reply. She looked too tired, and her pale skin looked paler than usual. He took one of her hands resting on her stomach into his hand, stroking it affectionately as in to boost her energy.

“Do you want to meet your daughter? She’s beautiful, Anna. Thank you so much for bringing her into this world. Shall I bring her in?” Alexander asked, waiting for her to reply. Mariana smiled at his warm, welcoming eyes. But her reply made his smile vanish from his face.

“No, Xander. I don’t want to see her. I’ve kept my promise. Now it’s your turn to keep yours. Please take her away from my life,” Mariana said.

Alexander couldn’t believe he heard her right. He stood there, stunned, speechless, and beyond shocked. Mariana sighed sadly at his shocked expression. “Don’t look so shocked, Xander. You very well knew I never wanted this baby. You didn’t let me have an abortion. I didn’t have any choice but to give birth to her. Now she’s all yours. You’ll be her sole legal guardian. I’m ready to hand over her full custody to you as I promised,” she said, trying to persuade him while her tired eyes fought the sleep.

Alexander shook his head in disbelief and disappointment. “How can you be so heartless, Anna? She’s your own flesh and blood. You can’t abandon her just like that,” his voice was soft and pleading as he begged, but she looked away, refusing to meet eyes.

“I want to move on with my life, Xander. You can’t force me to be a part of her life. You wanted her, and you get to keep her. I want nothing to do with her. I don’t want anything in my life that reminds me of her father. Let me go, Xander,” she said. Though her face displayed no other emotion, she couldn’t hide the resentment lacing her tone.

“She needs her mother, Anna. Can’t you stay for at least two months?” He asked, voice filled with desperation. She smiled sadly as her brown eyes turned misty, and she couldn’t stop the tears from escaping her eyelids anymore.

“Don’t worry, Xander. I’m sure your wife will raise her like her own. My daughter can’t get a better mother than your wife. I know my best friend, Xander. She’ll love her to the moon and back. I trust you and Felicity with my daughter’s life.” The trust lacing her tone made Alexander smile in appreciation. He squeezed her hand, and with a heavy heart, he asked, “Where’ll you go, Anna? Is there anything I can do to make your life better?”

“I’m grateful to you and Felicity for what you’ve done for me. I don’t need anything else. I’m going home to my parents. Just keep your promise, Xander. Give her a nice life,” Mariana said, and her resolute tone confirmed that she’d made her decision.

Alexander agreed and nodded in understanding. He took out his phone and dialled a number while Mariana watched him ordering someone on the phone to bring the papers.

“My legal team is here. You’ll have to sign some papers before you go, Anna,” he said, and she agreed.

Within a few minutes, two men dressed in a black suit and white shirt entered her room and presented some papers for her to sign. Mariana scribbled her signatures wherever they asked her to sign, without bothering to read.

“You have my word, Anna. I’ll protect her with my life. She’s my responsibility now,” Alexander said with assurance. He looked thoughtful for a moment before asking her once again. “Sure, Anna, you don’t want to meet her? Don’t you want to see your daughter once?” He asked, trying one last time and hoping she would change her decision.

“I’m her mother, Xander. And I know that the moment I see her, my maternal instincts will compel me to change my decision. I don’t want that. Let me move on, Xander, please,” her voice quivered and turned into a whisper at the end. He cupped her face in his palms, bent his head, and kissed her on the forehead.

“Thank you for everything, Anna. I’ve settled the bill already. You’re free to go whenever you’re ready. Two of my bodyguards will accompany you until you reach home safely. Just remember, if you ever need anything in life, I’m just a phone call away.” With that promise made, Alexander walked out of her room and out of her life.