39. Enzo
39
ENZO
T he weight of the past week pressed down on me like a storm cloud that refused to break. I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot, gripping the steering wheel, my knuckles white. The voices from the board meeting still echoed in my head, their concerns sharp and relentless.
“This controversy has brought unnecessary attention to the hospital.”
“You should have disclosed the full situation earlier, Dr. Pearson.”
“Your reputation reflects on all of us.”
Reputation. That word had been drilled into me since medical school. It was the cornerstone of a career in medicine, the measure by which you were judged by peers, patients, and the world. And now, it felt like mine was hanging by a thread.
I stepped out of the car, the cool breeze doing little to ease the tension in my chest. As I walked toward the hospital, my mind raced. I thought of Ava, her tiny hand clutching mine as she smiled up at me, unaware of the turmoil swirling around us. I thought of Summer, her voice breaking as she apologized for the fallout, even though none of this was truly her fault.
And I thought of myself—the choices I’d made, the risks I’d taken, and the way I’d willingly tied my fate to theirs.
Was it worth it?
A sharp pang in my chest answered the question before I could. Of course, it was.
Inside the hospital, the whispers followed me like shadows. Nurses exchanged glances as I walked by, and a colleague gave me a tight-lipped smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
I knew what they were thinking. Dr. Pearson—the golden boy who broke the rules.
“Enzo.”
I turned to see Dr. Cartwright, the head of the cardiology department, standing by the nurses’ station. His expression was calm, but his tone carried a weight that made my stomach drop.
“Can we talk?”
“Of course,” I said, forcing a steady voice as I followed him into an empty consultation room.
He closed the door behind us, leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “You’re a good doctor, Enzo. One of the best we have here. But this situation with the foundation… it’s causing ripples.”
“I understand,” I said, my jaw tightening.
“Do you?” he asked, his tone measured. “Because some of the board members are questioning your judgment. They’re worried about the hospital’s reputation.”
“And what about mine?” I asked, my voice low.
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Enzo, I’ve known you for years. I know you’re a man of integrity. But not everyone sees the whole picture. To them, this looks like favoritism—or worse, manipulation.”
“It wasn’t manipulation,” I said firmly. “Summer did what she had to do for her daughter, and I supported her because I care about them. If that makes people question me, so be it.”
Dr. Cartwright studied me for a moment, his expression softening slightly. “I admire your conviction. But you need to be prepared for the fallout. Not everyone will understand.”
After he left, I stood in the empty room, my chest tight. I’d worked my entire life to build this career, sacrificing time, relationships, and countless hours of sleep. And now, it felt like all of it was teetering on the edge of collapse.
But then I thought of Ava—her laughter, her strength, the way she called me “Daddy” with so much trust in her voice.
And I thought of Summer—the fire in her eyes when she fought for Ava, the vulnerability in her voice when she admitted her fears, the way she’d let me in despite the walls she’d built around herself.
If losing a little of my reputation meant saving them, then it was a price I was willing to pay.
That evening, I returned to Ava’s hospital room. Summer was sitting by her bed, reading her a story. She looked up when I walked in, her face softening.
“Hey,” she said quietly.
“Hey,” I replied, pulling up a chair beside her.
Ava turned to me, her eyes bright. “Daddy, you missed the best part! Bunny turned into a superhero!”
“Super Bunny?” I asked, grinning. “That’s amazing!”
She giggled, holding up the book. “Mommy’s reading it again. You can listen too.”
I leaned back, letting the sound of Summer’s voice wash over me as she continued the story. For a moment, the tension in my chest eased, replaced by the quiet comfort of being with them.
Later, after Ava fell asleep, Summer and I stepped into the hallway. She looked at me, her brows knitting together. “You’ve been quiet all day. What’s going on?”
I hesitated, my hands shoved into my pockets. “The board had a meeting today. They’re… concerned about the foundation situation.”
Her face fell, guilt flashing in her eyes. “Enzo, I’m so sorry. I never wanted this to affect you.”
“It’s not your fault,” I said firmly. “And honestly, I don’t care what they think. The only thing that matters to me is Ava.”
“But your career?—”
“Summer,” I interrupted, stepping closer. “You and Ava are my family. Careers can be rebuilt. Reputations can be repaired. But losing you two? That’s not something I’m willing to risk.”
Her eyes shimmered with tears, and she reached out, her hand brushing against mine. “I don’t know how you can be so calm about this.”
“I’m not,” I admitted, my voice soft. “But when I think about you and Ava, I know I’m doing the right thing. That’s enough to keep me steady.”
We stood there in the quiet hallway, the faint hum of the hospital surrounding us. And for the first time all day, the storm inside me began to ease.
Whatever came next, we would face it together.