Love in the ER

CHAPTER 34

Paris stood frozen on the stairs for a moment, the weight of Rodrigo's words pressing down on her like a heavy burden. His cold, calculated tone echoed in her mind, and no matter how hard she tried to push the conversation aside, the sting of it lingered.

"Don't get too comfortable here."

She had known from the start that Rodrigo didn't approve of her, but hearing him say it so blatantly, in such a cruel and dismissive way, had left her feeling shaken. She wasn't a stranger to challenges or difficult situations, but this was different. This was personal.

With a heavy sigh, Paris made her way to Sofia's room to say goodnight, plastering a smile on her face so Sofia wouldn't sense anything was wrong. The little girl was still weak, but her fever had broken, and she was slowly on the mend.

"Paris, will you be here tomorrow?" Sofia asked sleepily, her big eyes hopeful as she clutched the blanket tighter around her.

Paris's heart softened at the sight of her. "Of course, Sofi. I'll be here first thing in the morning."

Sofia smiled and snuggled deeper into her bed. "Good. I feel better when you're here."

Paris bent down and kissed Sofia's forehead gently. "I'm glad you're feeling better, sweetheart. Get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow."

After saying her goodbyes to Lucía, who had offered again for her to stay the night, Paris made her way out of the Salameda estate, her chest heavy with the weight of Rodrigo's warning. She wanted to believe that she could brush off his words, that they didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but deep down, they had struck a nerve.

Later that night, Paris lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the day replayed in her mind. She had come to the Salameda house to help Sofia, but now she felt more out of place than ever. Rodrigo had made it clear that he saw her as an outsider, someone unworthy of being part of their family, and that reality was painful to face.

She picked up her phone, staring at Oliver's name on the screen. She wanted to talk to him, to tell him what his father had said, but a part of her hesitated. She didn't want to add to his stress—not with Denise still lurking in the background and the baby situation looming over them. But the words Rodrigo had said... "Your time in Oliver's life is limited." It was as if he saw her as disposable, something temporary that would eventually fade away.

After a few moments of debating, she texted Oliver, simply asking if he was free to talk. Within seconds, his reply came.

"I'm coming over. Be there in 10."

True to his word, Oliver arrived at her apartment just a few minutes later. He greeted her with a soft smile, pulling her into a gentle hug the moment he stepped inside.

"I missed you," Oliver said, kissing her forehead.

Paris smiled weakly, but her mind was still clouded with everything that had happened earlier. She pulled away slightly, motioning for him to sit with her on the couch.

"I missed you too," Paris said, her voice quieter than usual.

Oliver frowned, sensing that something was off. "What's going on? You seem... upset."

Paris took a deep breath, knowing she couldn't keep it to herself anymore. She needed to tell him the truth, even if it made things harder.

"It's your dad," she said quietly. "He... confronted me today."

Oliver's brows furrowed in concern. "What? What happened?"

Paris hesitated for a moment, then told him everything—Rodrigo's cold words, the way he had warned her not to get too comfortable, and how he had made it clear that she didn't belong. The more she spoke, the more her emotions bubbled to the surface, and by the end, her voice was thick with frustration and hurt.

Oliver's expression darkened as he listened, his jaw tightening with each word. When she finished, he shook his head, a look of anger flashing in his eyes.

"I can't believe he said that to you," Oliver said, his voice low with frustration. "He has no right to treat you like that."

Paris looked down, her fingers nervously twisting in her lap. "I've always known he didn't like me, but hearing him say it so directly... It just hurts."

Oliver reached out, taking her hand in his, his voice softening. "I'm so sorry, Paris. My dad... he's always been difficult. He's obsessed with appearances and reputation, and he thinks he can control everyone's lives. But I won't let him treat you like this."

Paris squeezed his hand, her heart aching as she looked up at him. "I just don't want to cause any more problems between you and your family. I know how much pressure you're under already, with the baby and everything else."

"You're not causing problems," Oliver said firmly, his eyes filled with determination. "You're the most important person in my life, Paris. My dad's wrong about you, and I don't care what he thinks. I'm not going to let him or anyone else push you out of my life."

Paris felt a surge of emotion at his words, a mixture of relief and fear. She loved Oliver with everything she had, but the forces working against them—Rodrigo's disapproval, Denise's schemes, the uncertainty about the baby—were starting to feel overwhelming.

"I don't know how to handle all of this, Oliver," Paris admitted, her voice cracking slightly. "Denise is still manipulating everything, and now your dad is trying to push me out. I feel like... like I'm fighting a battle I can't win."

Oliver gently cupped her face, his gaze intense as he spoke. "You're not fighting this alone. We're in this together, Paris. I know it's hard, and I know things are complicated, but we can get through this. My dad doesn't get to decide my life, and neither does Denise."

Paris closed her eyes, leaning into his touch, her heart swelling with love for him. He was her anchor, the one thing keeping her grounded in the midst of all the chaos.

"I love you," she whispered.

Oliver smiled softly, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "I love you too. More than anything."

As they sat together, wrapped in each other's embrace, Paris felt a flicker of hope, but deep down, she knew that the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Rodrigo wasn't going to back down, and Denise was still lurking in the shadows, waiting for her chance to strike again.

But for now, she would hold on to Oliver and trust that their love would be enough to withstand whatever came next.