Love in the ER

CHAPTER 27

The following days were tense. Oliver's confrontation with his father weighed heavily on him, but he refused to let it show. He had made his choice—Paris was his future, and he wouldn't let anyone or anything take that away from him. But the fallout from his decision was starting to creep into other areas of his life. The Salameda name carried a lot of weight, and while Oliver had always worked hard to make his own way in life, he knew his father's influence could make things difficult for him.

Paris could see the toll it was taking on him, though Oliver tried to keep a brave face for her. She admired his strength, but she worried about the pressure building around them. Denise was still hovering in the background, trying to involve herself with Oliver's family, and Paris couldn't shake the feeling that Denise had something more up her sleeve.

One afternoon, as Paris was leaving the hospital after a long shift, she noticed Denise standing in the parking lot, leaning against her car. The sight of her immediately put Paris on edge. She had been avoiding Denise ever since the pregnancy news had come out, but it seemed that Denise had decided it was time for them to talk.

With a deep breath, Paris squared her shoulders and walked toward her car, ready to avoid a confrontation if possible. But as she passed Denise, the other woman called out.

"Paris."

Paris stopped, turning to face Denise with a calm expression. "What do you want, Denise?"

Denise pushed herself off the car and stepped closer, her eyes sharp. "I think we both know why I'm here. We need to talk—about Oliver, and about this baby."

Paris clenched her jaw but forced herself to stay composed. "There's nothing to talk about. Oliver's made his choice."

Denise's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "Has he? Because from where I'm standing, this situation is far from over."

Paris crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. "I know what you're trying to do, Denise. You think you can manipulate your way back into his life, but it's not going to work. Oliver loves me, and nothing you do is going to change that."

Denise's smile faltered slightly, but she recovered quickly. "You really think you can just sweep this under the rug? The fact is, I'm pregnant, and if this baby is Oliver's, he's going to be in my life whether you like it or not."

Paris's heart tightened, but she didn't let Denise see her fear. "If the baby is his, he'll be there for the child, but that doesn't mean you're going to have the kind of hold on him that you want. Oliver is committed to me, not you."

Denise's expression darkened. "We'll see about that. Don't be so sure that things won't change once the baby is born."

Paris felt a surge of anger, but she took a deep breath, refusing to let Denise get under her skin. "You can play whatever games you want, Denise, but I'm not going anywhere. Oliver and I are stronger than you think."

Denise tilted her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. "If you say so. But don't be surprised when things start falling apart. You can't control everything, Paris."

Paris stared at her for a moment, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts, but she knew better than to engage any further. Without another word, she turned and walked to her car, her heart pounding in her chest. Denise was playing a dangerous game, and Paris wasn't sure what her next move would be.

Later that evening, Paris arrived at Oliver's apartment, still shaken by her encounter with Denise. She didn't want to bring more tension into their already complicated situation, but she couldn't keep it from him either. Oliver needed to know what Denise was trying to do.

As soon as she walked through the door, Oliver greeted her with a smile, but it faded when he saw the look on her face.

"What's wrong?" Oliver asked, concern filling his voice as he stepped closer to her.

Paris sighed, setting her bag down and running a hand through her hair. "I ran into Denise after work."

Oliver's expression hardened. "What did she say?"

"She's still trying to make it seem like you're going to come back to her once the baby is born," Paris said, her voice tinged with frustration. "She's not backing down, Oliver. She's determined to use this baby to keep herself in your life."

Oliver let out a slow breath, his jaw tightening. "I'm sorry, Paris. I've been trying to keep her at a distance, but she's not making it easy. I don't know what else to do."

Paris shook her head, stepping closer to him and taking his hand. "It's not your fault. I know this is a mess, and I know you're doing your best. But we need to be ready, Oliver. Denise is going to try everything she can to drive a wedge between us."

Oliver squeezed her hand, his eyes filled with determination. "She won't win, Paris. I won't let her. You're the one I love, and nothing Denise does is going to change that."

Paris nodded, her heart aching with the weight of it all. She knew Oliver meant every word, but the reality of their situation was still overwhelming. Denise wasn't going to go quietly, and with Rodrigo still pushing for a marriage, it felt like they were constantly fighting to hold on to their relationship.

"I'm just scared," Paris admitted softly. "I'm scared that no matter what we do, this is going to keep pulling us apart."

Oliver pulled her into his arms, holding her close. "I'm scared too," he murmured against her hair. "But I promise you, Paris—we'll get through this. I'm not going to let Denise or anyone else come between us. We're stronger than that."

Paris rested her head against his chest, letting the steady beat of his heart calm her nerves. Despite everything, being with Oliver made her feel safe. He was her anchor in the storm, and she knew he would do everything in his power to protect what they had.

"I love you," Paris whispered, her voice barely audible.

Oliver pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his arms tightening around her. "I love you too, Paris. More than anything."

But as they held each other, the reality of what lay ahead lingered in the back of their minds. Denise wasn't going to give up, and neither was Rodrigo. Their relationship had survived so much already, but there was still a long road ahead—one filled with uncertainty, challenges, and the looming question of what would happen when Denise's baby was born.

But for now, they had each other, and that was all that mattered