Beautiful
Remi’s POV
I didn’t know how long I stood there, watching Rowan awkwardly but genuinely hold my kids.
It was strange.
Surreal.
And yet, for some reason, I couldn’t look away.
Rowan Vaughn—the Rowan Vaughn—was standing in the middle of a crowded hospital hallway, holding two kids who had no idea he was their father.
And he looked… right.
Like he fit there.
Like maybe, just maybe, this was a version of him I had never gotten the chance to see before.
Then—
A throat cleared behind me.
A nurse.
“Dr. Laurent,” she said gently, giving me a polite but pointed look. “We still need to run a final check on you.”
Right.
The hospital. The crash. The cameras.
Everything that wasn’t this.
I hesitated, then turned back to the kids. “Larry, Laura, sweetheart—Mummy has to see the doctors for a little bit, okay?”
Larry let go of Rowan first, his usual seriousness returning as he studied me. “You promise you’re okay?”
I cupped his face. “I promise.”
Laura, on the other hand, refused to let go of Rowan. She turned to him, gripping his shirt with tiny hands. “Handsome Uncle, you’ll stay with us, right?”
Rowan stiffened slightly.
I waited, watching him carefully.
Then—
His expression softened. Just a little.
“If your mother says it’s okay,” he murmured.
Laura gasped, spinning to me. “Mummy, please?”
Jo snorted. “Wow. You’ve really made an impression, Vaughn.”
Rowan shot her a look.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Fine. But behave.”
Laura cheered. Larry nodded solemnly, as if he was the responsible one in this situation.
Jo winked at me. “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll keep them and Handsome Uncle in check.”
Rowan sighed. “I regret giving her my name.”
I rolled my eyes but turned to follow the nurse. “I’ll be back soon.”
—
The checkup was standard.
Vitals. Bloodwork. Scans.
They patched up my ribs again, reminding me not to overexert myself. As if I hadn’t just spent days running through a jungle, stitching wounds, and fighting for my life.
I answered their questions on autopilot, my mind still lingering outside.
With them.
With him.
I was exhausted. Bone-deep, soul-draining tired.
And yet—
I couldn’t shake the way Rowan had held my kids.
The way they had clung to him.
The way I had felt watching it all unfold.
I had spent years believing that Rowan Vaughn woul
d never—could never—be part of my children’s lives.
And now?
I wasn’t so sure anymore.
The checkup was long. Too long.
My ribs were sore, my body was aching, and all I wanted was to eat and go home. But no—the hospital staff had insisted on a full workup. Blood tests, scans, everything.
By the time I was finally released from the exam room, my stomach was growling so loudly the nurse actually laughed.
“Dr. Laurent,” she said, grinning. “We can’t have our miracle surgeon starving now, can we?”
I groaned. “I’m not a miracle anything. I just want food.”
She chuckled. “Well, your assistant brought some for you. She’s waiting in the lounge.”
Oh, thank God.
I dragged myself down the hall, already imagining the warm, greasy comfort of whatever Jo had brought.
But the second I stepped inside—
I froze.
Because Jo wasn’t alone.
Rowan was there.
Leaning against the counter, arms crossed, looking every bit like a man who would rather be anywhere else.
I frowned. “What are you doing here?”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Leaving.”
Jo snorted. “He was leaving, but then he saw your food and decided to stick around.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You hate hospitals.”
“Exactly,” Rowan muttered. “Which is why I’m leaving.”
Jo shoved a takeout bag into my hands. “Not before you eat.”
I hesitated for half a second, then sat down, pulling out the food. A sandwich. Fries. A soda.
I almost moaned.
“Jo, I could kiss you.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow. “Should I leave?”
I shot him a glare. “Shut up.”
Jo grinned. “I am an angel, but let’s not get too emotional.”
I took a giant bite of my sandwich, sighing as the flavors hit my tongue. Food had never tasted so good.
Rowan watched me, amusement flickering in his gaze.
“What?” I asked, mouth full.
He smirked. “Nothing. Just enjoying the view.”
Jo choked on her drink. “Oh my God.”
I threw a fry at Rowan’s face. “You’re insufferable.”
He dodged it easily, lips twitching. “And you’re avoiding me.”
I froze.
Jo raised an eyebrow. “Uh-oh. Do I need to leave?”
“No,” I muttered.
“Yes,” Rowan said at the same time.
Jo laughed, standing up. “I love this, but I have twins to wrangle. Have fun, lovebirds.”
I glared at her.
She just winked and walked out.
The room went too quiet.
I focused on my food, refusing to look at him.
Rowan sighed. “Are we really doing this?”
I swallowed. “Doing what?”
“The pretending it didn’t happen thing.”
I set my sandwich down, forcing myself to stay calm. “Rowan, I—”
“I get it,” he interrupted, his voice softer than I expected. “It was a bad idea. A mistake.”
I flinched.
The word sat heavy between us.
Mistake.
It shouldn’t have hurt.
But it did.
Rowan exhaled, rubbing his jaw. “I just… I don’t regret it, Remi.”
My heart stumbled.
I clenched my fists under the table. “Rowan—”
“I know you do,” he added before I could speak. “And that’s fine. I won’t push. But I won’t pretend it meant nothing.”
I swallowed hard.
He stood up, grabbing his jacket. “I need to get out of here.”
I nodded, my throat too tight to respond.
He turned to leave—
Then hesitated.
Glanced back.
And murmured, just low enough for me to h
ear—
“You’re a terrible liar, Remi.”
Then he was gone.
And I was left alone.
With my food.
And my very confused heart.
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