CHAPTER 273: CHAPTER 273: THE BABY, THE DEADLINE, AND THE TRUTH

~Nantam’s POV~

"Nicki!" I warned. He was being ridiculous, but I knew his lecture style was rooted in protection.

"What?" Nicki threw his hands up, genuinely exasperated. "You should all stop acting too simple. I hate it."

"It’s not that easy the way you’re putting it," I told him. "This isn’t some casual date you can ghost. It involves a child, which complicates everything legally and emotionally."

"How is it not easy?" Nicki challenged, pacing again. "She’s clearly taking advantage because Zayn is nice to her and manipulating him. It’s not fair. Okay, let me ask you this: Did she show you the baby picture? Any proof that shows she really has this baby?"

Zayn shook his head miserably. "The only picture she showed me was a picture when she was pregnant." He looked at me, needing my support. "But Nantam confirmed she really had a baby, Nicki. And Meera is not the type to lie. If there’s no baby, she won’t use that to get close to me."

"Then it’s simple!" Nicki exploded, running a hand through his hair. "Just tell her you want to meet your child first. End of discussion."

"She refuses to let me see the child," Zayn admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "She says until I make a choice."

Nicki stopped dead. He stared at Zayn, the irritation giving way to a strange, almost pitying look. "Wow, Zayn. You have really given Meera a chance. A massive chance, in fact."

He sat down opposite Zayn, the brotherly lecture beginning in earnest.

"Listen to me, Zayn. You are letting guilt run your life, and that’s exactly what she’s feeding on. You’re terrified of failing a hypothetical son, so you’re sacrificing your actual life. You need to flip the script."

"You need to realize that she is using the child as a hostage. You, the father, have every right to see that child and confirm paternity. If she refuses that, she is not interested in co-parenting or the child’s well-being; she is only interested in controlling you."

"Your next move shouldn’t be about choosing Evric or the baby. Your move should be forcing the truth. You already told her you’re ready for the DNA test. Fine. Tell her that if she does not provide a sample or an opportunity to see the child within your agreed-upon deadline, you will assume she is acting in bad faith and you will proceed with your life."

"You have to stop thinking of her as the Meera you dated years ago. This is a desperate woman who attacked your partner in public and is using a child to break you. Be a father, yes, but be a man who protects his boundaries and his happiness first. If she tries to isolate the child from you, that’s her choice, and it will speak volumes about her character when the child is older. Stop allowing her to live in your house and manipulate you under the guise of being a victim. You need clear air to make a clear choice."

Nicki paused, taking a breath. "You are running out of time, Zayn. Saturday is the deadline. You have to focus on that DNA test and use the result to cut the cord with whatever relationship Meera thinks she has with you. She gets one answer: Yes to the baby, No to the reunion."

I looked at Zayn, whose face was a mask of internal conflict, then I looked at Nicki, who still had that intense, judgmental expression.

"Nicki," I said, putting a hand on my younger brother’s shoulder, "I understand how you are feeling right now, and maybe you sound harsh, but if Zayn looks through it, there’s a painful truth in what you’re saying."

I turned back to Zayn, my voice softening. "It’s not that we don’t get why you’re accommodating her. I know why you care so much about this child. It’s a huge gain for you, even while you’re with Evric. I know how desperately you’ve always wanted a child. You’re happy at the prospect of finally being a father."

"But, Zayn, you need to think about this logically. If Meera isn’t allowing you to have access to the baby, if she refuses to show you proof beyond a pregnancy picture, then she is the one who is failing. She is the one to be blamed for any distance, not you. You are prioritizing the child’s presence; she is prioritizing controlling the child’s father. Those are two different things."

I leaned forward, trying to summarize our collective advice into something he could hold onto. "My advice, brother, is this: Stop talking to her about choices or reunions. The choice is already made, you love Evric. Your only focus right now is the DNA test. Use the leverage we’ve created, her agreeing to the test, and then stand firm. If the child is yours, you fight for co-parenting rights. If the child is not yours, she has no hold over you. Either way, Meera is your ex-lover leaves your house before Saturday night. Don’t let her manipulate the countdown to your future with Evric."

Zayn nodded slowly, absorbing it all. "I understand," he said, rubbing his hair. "I understand everything you both said. I just need a clear head to execute the plan now."

Just as Zayn opened his mouth to discuss something, his phone rang. He pulled it out, and the screen flashed Evric’s name. He quickly excused himself and answered, putting it on speaker briefly, then holding it to his ear.

"Babe, I just got settled in," Evric’s voice came through, calm and steady. "Just wanted to check in. How are you doing?"

"I’m doing fine," Zayn replied, his voice strained but trying to sound light.

"Good," Evric murmured. "Listen, I won’t be back until late Saturday night, obviously. But I’m going to send you a package on Friday night."

Zayn frowned, confused. "What package?"

"Just... be patient," Evric chuckled, a hint of something teasing in his voice.

"Okay," Zayn agreed, his eyebrows still knitted together.

They talked for a brief minute more, simple reassurances and goodbyes, before the call ended.

Zayn slipped his phone into his pocket, his gaze distant. "I need to get going," he said, standing up. "I have to get to the restaurant."

"Okay, take care of yourself, Zayn," I replied, feeling a surge of pity and hope for my friend.

He had barely taken two steps when his phone buzzed again—a text message this time. He stopped, glancing down at the screen, and his face immediately fell into a defeated scowl. He showed the message to me.

It was from Meera, short and devastatingly dramatic:

I’m not feeling fine.

"Such a drama queen," Nicki muttered instantly, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes dramatically.

Zayn just sighed, a sound that conveyed his total exhaustion with the situation. "I’ll talk to you later, Nantam. I’ve got to deal with this before she starts screaming again."

We nodded briefly at him, before he opened the door and walked out.