Yes, Daddies

you're ready

Asena

A week passes.

Seven days of white walls, steady beeping machines, and hands that never quite leave me alone.

Seven days of them: Zavian and Caspian Hale.

I sit at the edge of the hospital bed now, fully dressed, my fingers smoothing over the fabric of a blouse I know costs more than anything I own. The room feels different today, it's emptier, like it’s already letting me go, and yet my chest feels tight in a way I don’t understand.

“You’re ready,” Zavian says from across the room and I glance up at him.

He’s watching me the way he always does now, quiet, observant and like he’s trying to read something I’m not saying.

“I’ve been ready for a while,” I reply.

It’s not entirely true but it’s close enough.

Caspian leans against the wall, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on me. “You don’t look ready.”

“I am,” I insist, pushing myself to stand.

My body still protests slightly, a dull ache lingering in places I don’t want to think about party because of them, but I ignore it. I’ve spent too long lying down, too long being… taken care of. Too long depending on them.

“I’m leaving. Thanks for everything. I will pay you back,” I add.

The words hang in the air and Caspian straightens immediately. “No.”

I blink. “No?”

“You’re not going anywhere alone,” he says, pushing off the wall.

Zavian steps closer too, his expression calm but firm. “You’re still recovering.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not,” Caspian counters.

I exhale slowly, trying to keep my voice steady. “I appreciate everything you’ve done. I really do. But I can’t stay with you.”

“Why not?” He asks.

The question is simple but the answer isn’t. What should I say or what am I supposed to say?

Because I don’t trust you.

Because you hurt me before.

Because I don’t understand why you’re being kind now.

Because I’m afraid I’ll start needing you.

Because I already do.

I swallow and say none of it.

“I just… need space,” I say instead.

Zavian studies me for a moment, then nods slightly. “Space is fine.”

Relief flickers briefly in my chest.

“But not alone,” Caspian adds and just like that, it disappears.

“I’ll be fine,” I insist again.

“You won’t,” he says, his tone sharper now. “Not after everything.”

“I’ve been fine before you,” I shoot back.

“That’s not true,” he replies immediately.

The words hit harder than I expect and so, I look away because part of me knows he’s right but I don’t want him to be.

“I have rent to pay,” I say instead, changing the subject. “I have work. I’ve already missed a week.”

“We’ll handle it,” Caspian says.

“No,” I say quickly. “You won’t. I don't want to owe you more than I do.”

Zavian tilts his head slightly. “Why not?”

“Because it’s not your responsibility.”

“It is now,” Caspian says.

I stare at him.

“No, it’s not.”

“It is,” he repeats.

Frustration builds in my chest. “You can’t just decide that.”

“We already did.”

I let out a small, disbelieving laugh. “You’re unbelievable.”

“And you’re stubborn,” he counters.

Zavian sighs softly, stepping between us before the tension rises further. “Let’s just finish the discharge process first.”

I nod quickly. “Yes. That’s all I want,” but even as I say it, I know it’s not true because what I really want is to leave, to breathe, to think without them standing so close, without their voices in my head, without their presence wrapping around me like something I’m not strong enough to resist because the truth is, I’m not.

My mind drifts for a second to that moment on the bed. To their hands and to the way I kissed Caspian without thinking, without understanding, just needing something, anything, that felt real. My cheeks heat instantly and I shake the thought away.

No. That can’t happen again and it shouldn’t have happened at all.

I press my lips together because as much as a part of me wants it… wants to feel that warmth again, that closeness, that sense of being wanted, I can’t allow it.

Not when every man in my life has proven one thing: they leave, they hurt and they take.

Mateo.

My father.

And the twins? They’re no different. They bullied me, humiliated me, made me feel small when I already felt like nothing.

Kindness doesn’t erase that. It doesn’t undo years and I can’t afford to forget that.

We step out of the room together. The hallway feels colder than I remember or maybe that’s just me. Caspian walks slightly ahead, talking to one of the staff, handling things like he owns the place. Zavian stays beside me, his presence quieter, less overwhelming but just as constant.

“You’re thinking again,” he says.

I glance at him. “I always think.”

“Too much.”

“Maybe,” I admit.

He watches me for a second longer. “You don’t trust us.”

It’s not a question and I hesitate.

“No,” I say honestly.

Something flickers in his eyes. It's not anger, not surprise just… understanding.

“That’s fair,” he says.

That catches me off guard.

“It is?” I ask.

“Yes,” he replies simply.

I don’t know what to say to that because I expect resistance and not acceptance.

“Doesn’t mean we’ll let you walk away,” he adds calmly.

I huff softly. “Of course not.”

We reach the billing area and Caspian is already there, speaking with someone behind the counter, his tone controlled but impatient.

I slow my steps and my eyes drift. The exit is just down the hall and my heart starts beating faster. This is my chance as they’re distracted, focused on something else.

I glance down at myself, the clothes, the shoes, at everything they bought for me. It's expensive and unnecessary and I don’t want to owe them anything. I don’t want to be tied to them in any way.

Slowly, I step back and no one notices.

Good.

I slip off the jacket first, folding it quickly and placing it on a nearby chair, then the shoes. I wince slightly as my bare feet hit the cold floor, but I ignore it. The blouse comes next and I switch it for the plain T-shirt I had before, the one I had inside the blouse.

Piece by piece, I remove everything that belongs to them, everything that connects me to them. Until I’m just… Me.

I thank goodness since this is. A private hospital and this, not many patients. I take one last glance toward them. Caspian is still arguing about something and Zavian stands beside him, calm but attentive and neither of them is looking at me.

I turn then and I walk slow at first then faster each step pulling me further away and closer to the exit, closer to something I understand. Even if it hurts. Even if it means walking away from something that almost felt like home.

My hand reaches the door and I push it open.

The outside air hits my face and it's cool and real.

I don’t look back because I know if I do, I won’t leave.