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CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 9:00 PM
Bronny's POV:
I stepped out of the SUV and took a deep breath before walking into the hospital. The clock on my phone read 9:03 PM. My heart pounded as I approached the front desk, telling the nurse my name and that I was here for Taylor. She gave me the room number and pointed me in the right direction.
The hallways were quiet except for the faint beeping of machines and soft chatter from passing nurses. My stomach churned. I wasn't sure how this was going to go. Everything was still a mess—Taylor, Sophia, the baby...
When I got to the door, it was slightly open. Inside, Taylor was sitting up in bed, her hair pulled into a messy bun, eating noodles from a cup. Jeanie sat beside her, talking softly.
Jeanie saw me first. She stood up quickly, her face a mix of relief and worry, and came straight over to me.
"Bronny," she said, pulling me into a hug. Her voice cracked as she added, "Thank you for coming."
I hugged her back. "Of course. The baby's going to be okay," I said, hoping it was true.
Jeanie nodded, stepping back and giving me space to approach Taylor. I walked up to the bed, stopping just a few steps away.
"Hey," I said softly.
Taylor looked up at me, her expression blank. "Hi."
Her tone was cold, and I couldn't blame her. She had every right to be mad at me. Still, seeing her sitting there, pale and exhausted, knowing what she'd just gone through—it was hard to stay mad at her, too.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"Like I just gave birth to a baby who wasn't ready to be born yet," she said, her voice sharp. She put the noodles down on the tray table, crossing her arms.
I rubbed the back of my neck, unsure how to respond to that. "Taylor, I'm really sorry," I said finally, my voice low.
"For what exactly?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "For cheating on me? For breaking my heart? For putting me under so much stress that I went into labor three months early? Which one, Bronny??"
I swallowed hard. "For all of it. I never meant to hurt you, Taylor. I know I've made mistakes, and I'm sorry for everything—for cheating, for what happened the other night, for all the stress I caused you."
Her eyes filled with tears, but she blinked them back. "Do you love her? The Sophia chick?" she asked, her voice trembling.
I hesitated for a moment but I knew I had to be honest. "Yeah, I do. I love her."
Taylor let out a bitter laugh. "Of course you do," she said, shaking her head. "So, what now? What does that mean for us? For our daughter?"
I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "It means that I'll always be here for you and the baby. I'll support you both in every way I can. But as for us... I can't give you what you want, Taylor. I'm with Sophia. She's the person I want to be with."
Her face crumpled for a second before she quickly masked it with anger. "You're choosing her? After everything we've been through??"
"We weren't together when I started seeing Sophia," I said quietly. "I know that doesn't make it hurt any less, but it's the truth. I care about you, Taylor, and we'll always be connected because of our daughter. But I can't pretend I feel something I don't."
Taylor took a shaky breath, her hands balling into a fist. "I don't want to do this alone, Bronny. I thought maybe we could try again. For her."
"I'll be here for her," I promised. "For both of you. But I can't give you what you what you're asking for."
Her tears finally spilled over, and she quickly wiped them away. "You didn't even tell me she's pregnant," she snapped, her voice breaking.
The air left my lungs. I hadn't expected that. "I didn't think it was my place to tell you," I admitted.
"So, it's true? She's pregnant with your baby?"
I nodded. "Yeah, she is."
Taylor let out a shaky laugh that sounded more like a sob. "Unbelievable," she muttered. "You have a baby on the way with her, and I'm sitting here with our daughter in the NICU, and you still choose her over me?? How do you even justify that, Bronny?"
"I don't," I said honestly. "There's no excuse. I'm just trying to do the best I can for both of you."
She looked away, wiping her tears again. "Just go." she said quietly.
"Taylor—"
"Leave, Bronny! I can't look at you right now."
I hesitated, guilt and frustration swirling in my chest. I glanced at Jeanie, who stood silently near the window. She gave me a small, sad nod.
"I'm sorry," I said again, my voice cracking.
Then I turned and walked out of the room and made my way towards the exit, feeling the weight of everything crushing on me.
