Chapter 70

Leo’s POV
“Exactly! We will give him or her unlimited love and attention,” Zena added, excitedly. “And you know, I will always be there for you too, Leo!”
With all this support, I knew that although the road ahead might be bumpy, we would face it together. Family is where we grow, nurture, and strengthen each other. We all have hopes, dreams, and love to offer, and we will help each other through any challenges.
After dinner, as Zara and her family cleaned up the remains of the meal, I felt grateful for every moment we shared. In my heart, I vowed to continue to embody the strength of family bonds and do everything I can to make sure we all support each other, especially during difficult times.
Because through it all, one thing was for sure— We were committed to creating a better life and building a future full of hope, love, and meaning, not only for us but also for our unborn baby.
Zara’s POV
After returning home, Leo and I entered the living room where Cindy, his younger sister, was sitting watching television. Seeing her sitting on the couch with a look of discontent on her face, I felt the tension between us. There was something about her gaze that always made me feel uneasy.
“Hey, you guys are back! Where have you been?” Cindy asked, her tone of voice showing curiosity, but I could sense a hint of skepticism behind her question.
Leo replied calmly, “We just came from the hospital. Zara and her family are not doing well.”
Cindy raised her eyebrows, as if curious. “Oh, what happened? Is her mother sick?” She seemed concerned enough, but her tone was not entirely sincere.
“No, her father has heart problems and just had a stent,” Leo replied firmly. I admired the way he took it seriously, even though I knew this was sensitive information.
“Oh, definitely. It must have been hard,” she said, but I could sense the indifference behind his words. Her gaze was directly on me, and I could feel the tension rising. For some reason, Cindy seemed unable to accept that I was a part of Leo’s life.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to remain calm despite the discomfort that was radiating. “We’ll get through this together as a family,” I said, trying to show that despite the difficult times, we were still committed to each other.
Cindy simply nodded, but her face did not show the support I had hoped for. “Okay, I hope everything gets better soon. But—” She paused for a moment, seeming to think before continuing, “If you need help, just let me know.”
I could feel the discomfort in the situation; it was as if she was holding back her statement, and at this moment, all eyes were on me. Deep down, I was quite worried about Cindy’s seemingly cold attitude and lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation we were in.
After a few awkward seconds, Leo tried to distract me. “So, what’s on TV?” he asked in an attempt to ease the tension.
Cindy immediately responded enthusiastically, “There’s a new space adventure movie! You’ll want to see it, Leo.”
As they talked, I felt left out of the conversation. Maybe now was a good time to give them some space, so I decided to go to the kitchen and prepare a glass of water. Although my heart felt heavy, I knew that I couldn’t let this discomfort deter me from moving forward.
As I stood in the kitchen, trying to calm myself, I promised myself that I would not let anything ruin the relationship between Leo and me. We had faced many challenges, and I believed that our love was strong enough to overcome any negative feelings that might arise.
When I returned to the living room, I found Leo and Cindy laughing as they watched the movie. Seeing it south seemed disconnected, reassuring that even though there was still tension, I wanted to focus on the happiness that was building in this house.
“Was this movie fun?” I asked Cindy and Leo, trying to create a better atmosphere. With a genuine smile, I tried to participate, joining them in the living room and distracting them from the disturbing feelings.
“Yeah, it was really fun! It’s about space adventures and an adventure to a new galaxy,” Cindy replied enthusiastically, her smile widening as she described the movie. She seemed much more alive when she talked about it, and I felt a little more at ease seeing her enthusiasm.
Leo added, “We need a little cheer after a long day. And in times like this, sometimes we need to forget about our problems for a while.” Leo’s voice was soft and sincere, and I could tell it was his goal to create a more positive atmosphere in the house.
“It’s good if this movie can distract us,” I said, stepping closer to the couch and sitting down next to them. For a moment, I tried to immerse myself in the storyline, hoping to forget all the worries that were weighing on my mind and heart.
As the film progressed, I felt the tension between us begin to ease. The three of us laughed at the funny moments and fell silent when the dramatic scenes occurred. In an instant, the presence of Zara’s mother and father began to feel more distant. The emotional feeling that had gripped me slowly began to lessen, and I was grateful to be able to share this small moment with Leo and Cindy.