My ex husband's baby

The first night

The mansion was too quiet at 2:14AM.

Ava sat on the cold kitchen floor, back against the marble island, Leo’s small medicine bottle clutched in her hands. Empty.

*Pediatric ibuprofen. Last dose 6 hours ago.*

Leo’s fever hadn’t dropped.

Her phone screen lit up. Hospital bill: **₦180,000 due tomorrow**.

Bank balance: **₦2,340**

A soft sound made her freeze.

Footsteps.

Damian stood in the doorway in gray sweatpants and a black tee. Hair messy. No tie. No mask.

For the first time, he looked... human.

“Why are you on the floor,” he said. Voice rough with sleep.

Ava wiped her eyes fast. “I’m fine. Just getting water.”

He didn’t buy it. His eyes dropped to the medicine bottle in her hand. Then to the hospital bill on the counter.

Silence.

The kind that weighs 1000 pounds.

“Your son,” Damian said finally. “How bad?”

Ava’s throat closed. “Fever. 39.8. The meds aren’t working.”

Damian didn’t ask permission. He walked past her, opened the massive fridge, and pulled out ice, a towel, and a bottle of water.

He knelt in front of her. Too close.

“Come on,” he said. “We’re going to his room.”

“I can’t afford—”

“I didn’t ask you to pay.”

In Leo’s room, Damian helped her do a cold compress. His big hands were careful. Too careful.

Leo whimpered in his sleep and curled into Ava’s chest.

Damian watched them. Jaw tight.

“You lied to me,” he said quietly.

Ava flinched. “About what?”

“You said you needed money for rent. It’s for him.”

She nodded. Tears fell anyway. “I didn’t want your pity.”

Damian was quiet for a long time. Then he reached out and brushed a tear off her cheek with his thumb.

The touch burned.

“Don’t cry in my house,” he said. “It’s bad for property value.”

But his voice shook.

He stood up. “I’m calling my private doctor. He’ll be here in 20 minutes.”

Ava grabbed his wrist. “Damian, I can’t—”

“You signed a contract,” he cut her off. Eyes dark. “That means I take care of you. And him.

For 6 months.”

He paused at the door.

“Try to sleep. First night’s always the hardest.”

When he left, Ava stared at the door.

Her heart was beating too fast.

And for the first time in years... she didn’t feel alone.

But she also didn’t know if that was more dangerous than the fever.