CHAPTER 122: THE TRUTH BEHIND DISAPPOINTMENT

He nodded, his eyelids slowly drooping. "Then... I’ll wait for you. Don’t forget, okay?"

"I won’t..." I whispered.

Watching him drift off to sleep, I felt something twist deep inside me. I wanted to hold his hand, to stay beside him but the guilt was suffocating me. I wasn’t supposed to be here. Not like this. Not under a lie.

I stood up quietly, afraid that even the smallest sound might wake him. For a long moment, I just stood there, watching him sleep.

Before leaving, I gently pressed a kiss to Cairo’s forehead. My chest tightened at how pale and fragile he looked.

I tried to hold myself together, but my emotions broke through anyway.

I had been a bad mother—a coward—for not trying harder to learn about his condition from Bern. I knew he was seriously ill, yet I had done nothing. I felt utterly powerless to help him get better.

Instead of being there to comfort him, to care for him as a mother should, I had been nowhere near him when he needed me most.

"I’m sorry, Cairo... for everything I wasn’t. Please don’t forgive me... I don’t deserve it," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I’m afraid I’ll only hurt you again... so please, don’t forgive me."

The room was silent except for the steady beeping of the monitor beside his bed. I took one last look at him before slipping out the door, my heart heavy and my eyes burning with unshed tears.

As I stepped into the hallway, I froze. Bern was there, waiting. His arms were crossed, his eyes sharp but they instantly softened when he saw me.

"How was it?" he asked quietly, scanning my face.

I swallowed hard, forcing a small smile. "I... I disappointed him again. I’m sorry."

Bern’s expression turned serious. "You shouldn’t have left so soon. What if he looks for you again? He’s been asking about you since this morning."

He sighed softly, his tone gentler now. "Do you know how happy he gets when someone other than me visits and takes care of him? He may look quiet and strong, but deep down, he’s just a lonely kid who wants his mom by his side."

I lowered my head, feeling the weight of his words press against my chest. He’s that lonely... because of me.

"When are you going to tell him you’re his mom, Sylvia?" Bern asked firmly, making me look up. "Are you still planning to tell him—"

"I... I don’t know," I interrupted, my voice shaking. "I don’t know how to tell him, Bern. How can I say I’m his mother when I don’t even know his favorite food or the things that make him happy? I can’t just walk in and call myself his mom... not after everything I’ve done. How can I?"

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "You’re a coward, Syl... a coward. I’m disappointed in you."

"Yes... I really am," I admitted bitterly. "He’s my son, and I don’t even know how to care for him."

Bern didn’t reply. I stayed frozen under his gaze, feeling the weight of my guilt pressing down on me. He didn’t need to say anything—his disappointment said it all.

"I... I just want you to give me more time, Bern..." I whispered, my voice breaking again. "I want to be the mother he deserves... but I feel like I’m failing before I even start. So I’m asking you once more—to give me time to make things right."

Bern’s shoulders slumped, as if he were struggling to find the right words.

"Syl... being a mother isn’t about knowing everything or being perfect. It’s about being there, even when it’s hard. Even when you feel like you’re not enough. Cairo doesn’t need you to be perfect—he needs you."

I swallowed hard, blinking back tears. I’d spent so long punishing myself for my mistakes that I’d forgotten—he still needed me.

Slowly, I nodded, clasping my trembling hands together. "I... I understand. I’ll try. I’ll be there for him... every day, if I can."

Bern’s expression softened, the hardness in his eyes melting away. "Then start today. You’ve already promised him tomorrow. Keep that promise, Syl. One step at a time."

I let out a shaky breath. I could do this. I had to do this. For Cairo. For me.

---------

Third Person...

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Bern simply watched as Sylvia slowly made her way down the hallway, his gaze lingering on her retreating figure.

For a moment, he stood there in silence, letting out a deep, steadying breath before quietly stepping into Cairo’s room.

Inside, he found Cairo leaning weakly against the headboard, small tears glistening in his eyes. Maybe he had just been pretending to sleep earlier.

"Daddy..." Cairo whispered softly.

Bern immediately went to him and wrapped him in a gentle hug.

"Daddy, did Mom already leave?"

"Yes... your mom has already left.."

"Why did Mom have to lie, Dad?" Cairo asked, his voice laced with hurt and disappointment.

Bern froze, searching for the right words. Cairo already knew that Sylvia wasn’t his new nanny.

He had seen her face countless times in a family photo at his grandfather’s house—there was no way he wouldn’t recognize her.

Cairo had only pretended not to know her out of disappointment. He wanted Sylvia to be honest and to admit the truth herself. But when she lied, both he and Bern felt the same sting of disappointment.

Still, they had no choice but to go along with her giving her the time she needed to face the truth on her own.

Bern held him closer. "Cairo... I know it’s confusing. Sometimes adults make choices you don’t understand. But your mom... she’s doing everything she can, even if it doesn’t seem that way right now."

Cairo’s small hands clenched the blanket. "I just... I want her to be honest with me, Daddy."

Bern gently brushed his hair back. "She will, son," he said softly. "Your mom just needs a little more time. Sometimes, people lie not because they want to hurt others, but because they’re scared."

Cairo looked up, eyes still wet. "Scared of what?"

Bern hesitated. "Scared of losing you... and scared of facing you."

He wanted to add that she couldn’t even say aloud how sorry she was—but Cairo wouldn’t understand it all.

Cairo stayed quiet, staring at the ceiling as if trying to make sense of everything. "Do you still love Mom, Daddy?"

The question froze Bern. He didn’t know how to answer that because, in truth, he no longer had any lingering feelings for Sylvia.

"...Yes," he whispered. "I do."

He wanted to add I love her as a friend, but he knew that wasn’t what Cairo wanted to hear.

Cairo nodded slowly. "Then... don’t give up on her. Please?"

Bern’s heart clenched. He nodded gently.

"I’m not giving up on your mom," he murmured, pressing a kiss to Cairo’s forehead. "So please... don’t give up on understanding her, too."

As Cairo closed his eyes, Bern sat there in silence. Moments later, a soft knock broke the stillness, followed by the sound of footsteps entering the room.

Bern glanced up and saw Sylvester, whom he had already expected to visit. He was carrying a basket of fresh fruits.

"I saw Sylvia leaving the hospital," Sylvester said, setting the basket on the table. "Did she finally decide to be a mother to Cairo now?"

Bern let out a quiet sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. "She’s trying," he replied, his voice calm but weary. "It’s not easy for her... or for Cairo. But at least she came today."

Sylvester nodded thoughtfully, studying Bern’s face. "She looked lost..." he said after a pause.

Bern’s gaze softened. "She has," he admitted. "Guilt, fear... maybe even shame. But she’s here now and that’s what matters."

Sylvester looked toward Cairo, who had already fallen asleep, his small chest rising and falling peacefully.

"So... what now?" he asked quietly.

Bern’s eyes lingered on his son. "Now?" he repeated softly. "Now we wait. And we give her the time she needs."

************

Meanwhile...

Rome’s hands trembled as he stared at the results he was holding. He blinked repeatedly, trying to process what he was seeing, before finally looking up at Dr. Felize.

"I... is it... really?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes, Mr. Hariston," Dr. Felize replied calmly. "That is the result of your paternity test."

Rome’s chest tightened. He gripped the paper so hard his knuckles turned white, as if holding it tighter could somehow slow down the truth.

"The twins... they’re... mine?" he whispered, more to himself than anyone else.

Dr. Felize nodded. "The DNA confirms it, Mr. Hariston. You are their biological father."

Rome sank into the nearest chair, running a shaky hand through his hair, his thoughts spinning out of control.

"They’re mine... they’re really mine..."

A storm of emotions surged inside him. Joy, relief, disbelief, and a heavy, gnawing fear. Fear that if he confronted Sylvia about this, it might only push her further away.

For the first time, Rome felt an ache he couldn’t easily name. The kind that comes when everything you’ve ever wanted is finally within reach... yet you’re terrified you might lose it the moment you touch it.