Build And Break novel Chapter 17

She heard his sudden quick intake of breath. Saw his hands burying his face, saw him pressing his eyes with the balls of his palms. Saw him walk away to the furthest side of the room, his back at her. She couldn't see his face. Couldn't read what he was thinking.

"You said he was Tony's son." Steven spoke without turning. "You lied."

"I was only protecting my son." Angela defended.

He turned around then. And she preferred when she couldn't see his face. He was angry. Mad. "From me? Protecting him from me?"

"Yes, of course, from you." Angela snapped as she strode to Steven, to distance away from Daniel.

"Why?"

"Because you are not his real father."

"Why not?" Steven stormed.

"Because you were never there. Because he doesn't know you."

"I didn't even know." Steven yelled through his clenched teeth. He was completely mad.

"Keep your voice down." Angela pushed Steven further back in the room as she peered back to check on Daniel. Luckily he was still sleeping.

"I didn't know I had a son. You didn't tell me. And if I haven't seen him today, I still wouldn't know. You never would have told me. You didn't tell me, Angela."

"And how was I supposed to do that? Send a pigeon with a note? You banned any communication from me. And even if I told you would you have believed I was having your baby? Tell me, you still wouldn't have thought it was Tony's baby."

Steven paced away from her for a few long seconds. Till he returned to her. Took her right hand, exposing the silver band she wore. "You married Tony. Did you suspect, did you even had the slightest doubt that Daniel could be his?"

Angela pulled the hand he held and smacked it hard at his cheek. "I already told you I didn't cheat on you. Tony married me to save me from being humiliated as the pregnant new lady in the neighborhood. I became Angel Donahue to evade attracting attention to me, to hide my identity of being a Marshall and a Morris. Tony saved me and he saved your name too."

"Such a great guy, wasn't he?" Steven spoke with sarcasm. "Tell me, did he give my son his name too?"

At eight in the morning, the nurses and doctor began running around Daniel and Jimmy until the blood transfusion was completed. Like always, they both fell asleep soon after. It was only then that Angela had left the room. She was tired. Her eyes were bloodshot red with fatigue.

Angela went to the waiting room where Grace had been sitting for hours mumbling to herself while playing guesses on a crossword puzzle. Grace hadn't left the hospital since yesterday either. She had slept on the uncomfortable waiting room sofa. Her back ached but she not once complained. She never did. Like Angela, Grace too had never went home while Daniel was there. Everything had became a routine for them.

Except that time, there was one difference: Steven.

Steven strutted to them with his ever so confident stride and three cups of coffee in his hand. He didn't look the least bit tired. She knew he was used to long days due to his work but what impressed her most was how he could still look good after more than twenty four hours awake.

He offered a cup of coffee each to Angela and Grace. Both of them accepted the drink without a thank you or a nod of appreciation. Grace had made it clear that he wasn't her friend. Angela, on the other hand, well, she was a mess.

"You stayed." Angela exclaimed with surprise mixed with her tiresome voice.

"Expected me to leave?" He asked when he sat opposite them and drank on his coffee.