Love in the ER

CHAPTER 28

A few days had passed since Paris and Oliver reaffirmed their commitment to each other, but the tension surrounding Denise still lingered in the background. Denise had become more assertive, showing up unannounced at family gatherings and trying to inject herself into Oliver's life wherever she could. Paris could feel the pressure building, even though Oliver reassured her time and again that Denise wasn't a threat to their relationship.

One evening, after her shift at the hospital, Paris was heading to her car when she spotted a familiar figure standing near the parking lot exit. Denise. The sight of her instantly put Paris on edge, and she slowed her steps, unsure of what Denise was doing there.

As Paris approached, Denise stepped forward, her posture confident, almost smug. Her hands rested on her stomach, which had begun to show as her pregnancy progressed. The air between them crackled with tension.

"Paris," Denise said, her voice smooth, almost too sweet, like she was trying to mask the venom behind her words. "We should talk."

Paris raised an eyebrow, her guard immediately up. "About what, Denise?"

Denise tilted her head slightly, her smile thin. "About you and Oliver. About this... fantasy you're living in."

Paris's stomach twisted at the implication in Denise's voice, but she kept her expression calm. "I don't know what you're trying to do, but whatever it is, it's not going to work."

Denise's smile grew colder, her eyes gleaming with something almost predatory. "I think you're the one who doesn't understand. You are the one out of place here. Oliver and I have history. We were together for years, and now we're about to have a baby together. Do you really think he's going to stick around for you when his child is in the picture?"

Paris's heart clenched, but she refused to let Denise see her fear. "Oliver made his choice, Denise. He's with me, and no matter how much you try to manipulate things, that's not going to change."

Denise's eyes darkened, her smile fading as her true frustration showed. "You're so naive, Paris. Do you really think that once the baby is born, things are going to stay the same between you and Oliver? You might be playing house now, but once that child is here, everything will change."

Paris crossed her arms, her voice steady despite the emotions churning inside her. "If the baby is his, he'll take responsibility. He'll be a good father. But that doesn't mean he's going to go back to you. He's already told you that, and I believe him."

Denise took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "You don't understand, do you? This baby will be his priority—not you. He's going to have to be in my life, in our child's life. And the more time he spends with us, the less room there will be for you."

Paris swallowed hard, her mind racing, but she stood her ground. "You can try to drive a wedge between us, but it won't work. Oliver and I are stronger than that."

Denise's lips curled into a sneer. "We'll see about that. You're living in a dream, Paris. Once the baby arrives, your little fairytale will fall apart. Oliver will come to his senses and realize that his place is with his family—with me."

Paris felt her stomach drop at Denise's words, but she forced herself to stay calm. She wasn't going to let Denise see how much her words had gotten under her skin.

"I'm not afraid of you, Denise," Paris said quietly, her voice firm. "Whatever game you're playing, you're going to lose. Oliver doesn't love you anymore, and you need to accept that."

Denise's eyes flashed with anger, but before she could respond, Oliver's voice rang out from behind them.

"Denise, that's enough."

Both women turned to see Oliver walking toward them, his expression tight with frustration. He stopped beside Paris, his hand immediately resting on her lower back, a protective gesture that made Denise's face harden.

"You can't keep doing this," Oliver said firmly, his eyes locked on Denise. "I've told you before, and I'll tell you again: I'm with Paris. Nothing you say or do is going to change that."

Denise's lips thinned, her anger barely contained as she stared at Oliver. "This isn't just about you, Oliver. This is about the baby."

"I know," Oliver replied, his voice calm but resolute. "And if the baby is mine, I'll be there. But that's where it ends, Denise. I'm not going to let you use this child to manipulate me or Paris."

Paris felt a surge of relief at Oliver's words, but Denise's expression only darkened further.

"You think you can just walk away from me?" Denise hissed, her voice shaking with anger. "You think you can just leave me to raise this child on my own while you play house with her?"

Oliver's jaw tightened, but his voice remained steady. "I'm not walking away from my responsibilities, Denise. But I'm not going to let you destroy my relationship with Paris either. That's not going to happen."

Denise's eyes filled with frustration, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked away, her steps quick and angry as she disappeared into the parking lot.

When she was gone, Paris let out a long breath she hadn't realized she was holding. Oliver turned to her, his hand still resting gently on her back.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his eyes filled with concern.

Paris nodded, though her heart was still racing. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just... I didn't expect her to come at me like that."

Oliver sighed, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "I'm sorry. Denise is out of control, and I'm trying to deal with it, but she's not making it easy."

Paris rested her head against his chest, feeling the tension slowly leave her body as she let herself relax in his arms. "She's not going to stop, is she?"

Oliver's hand stroked her hair gently, his voice soft but determined. "No, she probably won't. But it doesn't matter. She can do whatever she wants, but I'm not going anywhere. I'm with you, Paris. Only you."

Paris smiled against his chest, her heart swelling with love and relief. Despite everything, Oliver's commitment to her was unwavering, and that was what mattered most.

Paris exhaled slowly, letting the tension ease out of her shoulders as she leaned into Oliver's embrace. "I love you, Oliver," she whispered.

"I love you too," Oliver murmured against her hair. "And nothing is going to change that."