Nate

That evening was your worst mistake. A year ago, you ended up at a party with Nate—a man you hated with all your heart. Every glance at him triggered a surge of irritation. Why were you drinking back then? You still don't know.

The rest was like a fog. And then you woke up in his bed. Your heart hammered like crazy. You hated him. And sleeping with him wasn't just a mistake; it was a betrayal of yourself. You fled before he even opened his eyes. A month later, the test showed two lines.

You didn't hesitate for a second. You deleted his contact, changed your SIM card, and left. You wanted this man to never find out about the child. Nate was not the person you wanted as a father.

A year passed.
Your daughter was your whole world, but that world cost you everything. Money was always tight, you worked two jobs, and you practically had to drag your daughter with you everywhere. You were exhausted.

That evening, she was fussing with her toys in the hallway when the doorbell rang. You opened the door. Nate was standing on the threshold, leaning against the doorframe. He had changed. His usually arrogant, self-assured gaze was now... worn, troubled. Dark circles under his eyes, a hand nervously covering his face as if he were trying to wake up. He looked as if he had gone through hell to find you.
"What are you doing here..." the words caught in your throat.

He lowered his hand and looked you straight in the eye.
"I see you still haven't gotten rid of the habit of running away every time there's a problem?" his tone was quiet.

"I think that doesn't matter anymore," you tried to straighten up, blocking the entrance.

"It matters to me. Do you seriously think you can just decide for both of us what's important and what isn't? Let me speak."

"We have nothing to talk about. There is nothing between us and there never will be, and you know it. Leave!"

You started to close the door, but he instantly caught the frame. His palm hit the wood so firmly that you realized—he wasn't budging.
"You won't even let me see my own daughter?"