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"Don't bother," Valeria snaps. "I've already picked her up. She was crying, thinking you'd forgotten about her."
Her words are like a knife to my heart. I close my eyes, picturing Zola's tearful face. "Let me talk to her," I plead.
"She's asleep," Valeria says coldly. "Maybe next time you'll remember you have a daughter of your own. Zola needs you too, Rendal!"
"Now, hold the fuck on," I retort. "I'm always there for Zola. Always. You were the one who walked out on us. Don't you forget that."
"That doesn't excuse your behavior today."
I feel anger bubbling up inside me. I've been trying to balance everything, but Valeria's constant demands are pushing me to the edge. "I'm doing the best I can!" I snap back, my voice rising."You can't keep expecting me to drop everything at a moment's notice."
Valeria's voice grows colder. "If you can't handle it, maybe you shouldn't be trying to juggle two lives," she says coldly.
My grip on the phone tightens as I struggle to keep my composure. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "Look, Valeria, I'm sorry about today. It won't happen again. But you need to understand that I have other responsibilities too."
"Your only responsibility should be to Zola," she hisses.
I feel my temper flaring again. "That's bullshit, and you know it. I'm allowed to have a life outside of being Zola's father. I love our daughter more than anything, but that doesn't mean I have to put my entire life on hold."
"Oh, so now we're holding you back?" Valeria's voice drips with sarcasm.
"That's not what I'm saying, and you know it," I growl. "Stop twisting my words. I'm trying to be a good father to Zola and still have a life of my own. Is that so wrong?"
"It is when it means you're neglecting your daughter," she shoots back.
I clench my fist, fighting the urge to punch the wall. "I am not neglecting Zola. One missed pickup doesn't erase everything I do for her. I'm there for every school event, every doctor's appointment, every bedtime story. Don't you dare accuse me of being a bad father."
"Actions speak louder than words, Rendal," Valeria says coldly. "And your actions today show exactly where your priorities lie."
I take another deep breath, trying to rein in my anger. "My priorities are with both Zola and my own happiness. I won't apologize for that. I'm doing my best to balance everything, and if you can't see that, then that's your problem, not mine."
She laughs dryly. "Oh, that's rich. I guess I should start neglecting Zola, too, and frame it as balancing my needs."
"Fuck off," I whisper.
"What's that?"
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I know I need to be honest, even if it's painful. "Look, to be completely honest with you, I'm unhappy. Extremely so," I say, my voice quieter but firm. "I don't want to ruin things with Chloe. I need to find a way to make this work, for everyone's sake."
There's a stunned silence on the other end of the line. Valeria starts to speak, but I cut her off.
"I can't talk about this right now. I mean, seriously, I'm at the fucking hospital. And I don't feel like listening to you whining over the phone. So we'll discuss it later," I say before hanging up.
I lean against the wall, my heart pounding. The weight of what I've just said hits me like a ton of bricks. I've finally admitted it out loud - I'm unhappy with how things are, and I want to make it work with Chloe.
I slide the phone back into my pocket. I close my eyes, taking deep breaths to calm myself. The hospital sounds fade into the background as I try to process what just happened.
I know this conversation with Valeria is far from over. She won't let this go easily, and I'm dreading the inevitable confrontation. But for now, I feel a strange sense of relief. I've finally said what I've been feeling for so long.
I think about Chloe and Penelope waiting for me in the hospital room. They need me right now, and I want to be there for them. I push myself off the wall, squaring my shoulders. I've made my choice, and now I need to follow through.
Turning to return to the girls, I realize that Chloe has been standing in the doorway of the hospital room. She stares at me with a pained smile, but there's tears gleaming in her eyes.
Shit.
I walk towards Chloe. Her eyes are filled with a mix of emotions I can't quite decipher. I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
"Chloe, I..." I begin, but she shakes her head gently.
