Love Is A Miracle

Chapter 31

Zach POV

The music faded under the sound of something faint sirens. I brushed it off at first, thinking it was just a car outside. But they got closer. Louder. 

Nichelle looked at me, confused. "You hear that?"

Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door. Firm. Heavy.

Everyone went quiet.

I walked to the door, heart already racing. When I opened it, two officers were standing there. One of them was holding a baby.

"Mr. Zachary Anderson?"

"Yes, sir."

The taller officer cleared his throat. "We're here to inform you that Ms. Vanessa Kelly, your former secretary has been taken into custody. As per the court's emergency ruling, you've been granted temporary custody of her child until further notice."

It was like the whole world went silent.

Behind me, I could feel Nichelle's stare burning through my back. "What?" she said, her voice sharp. "Temporary custody of who's child?"

The officers looked uncomfortable, stepping inside. "Ma'am, we're just following procedure. The child was placed under Mr. Anderson's care due to prior involvement."

My whole body froze. "What? No, no, she's not my child and I not too long ago pressed charges against her" I said, my voice sharp. "And there was no prior involvement my husband was being blackmailed!" Nichelle added visibly and audibly upset.

The officer nodded. "We're aware of the charges, sir. But the child was left without a legal guardian. You were listed as a temporary contact on file during the investigation. Until the court decides otherwise, she's in your care."

My throat tightened. I turned, and Nichelle was standing behind me hand over her chest, eyes glassy.

The baby let out a small cry, soft and heartbreaking. The officers stepped in and gently handed her to me before leaving papers on the table.

"Nichelle..." I tried to explain, "I didn't know she put my name down. I swear, baby, I had no clue."

Nichelle stood frozen, tears starting to fall. "So... that woman goes to jail, and somehow you still end up with her child?"

"It's not like that," I said quietly, rocking the baby just to calm her down. "They're just doing what they have to do. I didn't ask for this."

"I know you didn't," Nichelle said, her voice cracking. "But why does it always find its way back to us, Zach? Why can't we just breathe without her shadow showing up?"

The baby's tiny cries filled the silence as family members slowly started to leave the room, giving us space. I stood there holding someone else's child, someone who'd done nothing but destroy pieces of my life and watched the woman I love fight tears just to stay composed.

I didn't know what to say.

For months, I fought to make things right. And now, in one single afternoon, the same day we were celebrating our new beginning it felt like the past had walked right back through my front door

Her was voice low but shaking. "that woman's baby is in my living room on the day we celebrating ours?"

She shook her head, her chest rising fast. "Zach, I can't do this again... I can't." She left. She walked off and I...

I didn't know what to say. I just know that I couldn't lose my woman again. "Wait.. Zach just give her some time" her mother suggested. I sighed.

"Yeah bro, she gon need a minute" Jeffrey said.