Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

By the time Roman left Daisy's apartment, his entire world felt different.

A few hours earlier he'd gone for his usual morning run through Central Park.

Now he was driving back to his office knowing he had a daughter.

A daughter.

Even saying the word in his head felt surreal.

He sat quietly in the back of the car while Manhattan moved past the windows.

Normally his mornings were packed with calls, emails, and meetings.

Today he barely noticed his phone.

Because every time he closed his eyes, he saw the same thing.

A tiny baby with dark hair.

Lillie.

His daughter.

Then came Daisy.

Standing in the sunshine beside the stroller.

Looking just as beautiful as she had months ago.

Maybe more.

Motherhood suited her.

The realization made him smile despite himself.

For months he'd tried to forget her.

Tried dating.

Tried throwing himself into work.

None of it worked.

And now he knew why.

Because somehow the woman he'd spent months thinking about had also become the mother of his child.

Life was unbelievable sometimes.

By the time Roman arrived at his office building in Tribeca, he still felt like he was moving through someone else's life.

Employees greeted him as he crossed the lobby.

"Morning, Mr. Moretti."

"Good morning, sir."

Roman answered automatically.

His mind was elsewhere.

The executive floor looked exactly as it always did.

Glass walls.

City views.

Quiet efficiency.

Usually it felt important.

Today it felt strangely insignificant.

He stepped into his office and sat behind his desk.

Then simply stared out at the city.

His daughter.

Lillie.

The name alone made something shift inside his chest.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

His assistant Olivia stepped inside carrying her tablet.

"You have the Hastings meeting in twenty minutes."

"Cancel it."

Olivia blinked.

"The meeting?"

"Yes."

Silence.

Roman Moretti never cancelled meetings.

Ever.

Olivia studied him carefully.

"Are you okay?"

Roman leaned back in his chair.

Then unexpectedly smiled.

"I think I'm in shock."

That definitely wasn't the answer she expected.

"What happened?"

Roman looked out toward Manhattan.

Then laughed softly.

"I found out I have a daughter."

Olivia froze.

Completely.

"You what?"

"This morning."

"You found out this morning?"

Roman nodded.

Olivia sat down without being invited.

"I feel like you skipped several chapters."

Roman laughed.

Fair.

A lot had happened.

He rubbed a hand across his jaw.

"Can you do something for me?"

"Sure."

"Send flowers."

Her fingers immediately moved to her tablet.

"What kind?"

Roman didn't even hesitate.

"Send daisies."

Olivia smiled.

"For Daisy?"

Roman nodded.

Then his expression softened.

"And send some lilies."

"Lilies?"

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Lilies for my daughter, Lillie."

Olivia actually put the tablet down.

"Oh my God."

Roman laughed.

That seemed to be everyone's reaction.

She shook her head.

"This is insane."

"You're telling me."

Olivia picked the tablet back up.

"Message?"

Roman thought for only a second.

Then answered honestly.

"I'm glad I found you both."

The words felt right.

Simple.

True.

Because that's exactly how he felt.

For months he'd thought Daisy was gone forever.

Now somehow he'd found both her and the daughter he never knew existed.

Olivia smiled softly.

"That's actually really sweet."

Roman looked away toward the city.

His mind already drifting back to Daisy.

To Lillie.

To the tiny family he'd discovered that morning.

For the first time in years, the deals, meetings, and endless business decisions waiting on his desk didn't seem nearly as important.

Because somewhere in Manhattan, his daughter was sleeping.

And for the first time in a very long time—

Roman knew exactly where he wanted to be.

A few days later, Daisy was sitting on the couch with Lillie asleep against her chest when there was a knock at the apartment door.

She frowned slightly.

Most people didn't knock.

Harper usually walked straight in.

Claire had a key.

And her coworkers always texted first.

Carefully standing up so she didn't wake the baby, Daisy walked to the door and opened it.

Marcus, the building's doorman, stood there smiling.

Beside him were two enormous flower arrangements.

Daisy blinked.

"Oh."

Marcus grinned.

"Delivery for you, Dr. Miller."

The flowers were carried inside and placed carefully in the living room.

The second Marcus left, Daisy looked at them properly.

One arrangement was filled with beautiful white lilies.

The other—

Daisies.

Actual daisies.

Her heart immediately skipped.

Roman.

There was also a card.

Trying not to smile before she'd even read it, Daisy opened the envelope.

Inside, written in neat handwriting, was a simple message.

I'm glad I found you both.

— Roman

Daisy stared at the card.

Then at the flowers.

Then back at the card.

Her smile arrived before she could stop it.

Daisies for Daisy.

Lilies for Lillie.

The thoughtfulness of it made her chest ache.

Not because of the flowers.

Because he'd thought about it.

Actually thought about it.

Lillie stirred against her shoulder.

Daisy looked down at her daughter.

"Your father might be annoyingly charming."

Lillie yawned.

Not helpful.

Still smiling, Daisy reached for her phone and immediately called Harper.

The call connected almost instantly.

"What happened?"

Daisy laughed.

"Why do you assume something happened?"

"Because you're calling me."

Fair.

Before Daisy could answer, the apartment door opened.

Harper walked in carrying two coffees and a bag of groceries.

"I brought supplies because newborns make people forget to eat and—"

She stopped.

Her eyes landed on the flowers.

"Oh my God."

Daisy laughed.

"That was my reaction."

Harper slowly walked toward them.

Her eyes widened further when she spotted the card.

"Oh, this is serious."

Daisy rolled her eyes.

"It's flowers."

"It's thoughtful flowers."

Harper picked up the card and immediately gasped.

"Daisies for Daisy and lilies for Lillie?"

"Yep."

"Oh, this man is dangerous."

Daisy laughed.

"I know."

Harper looked personally offended by how sweet the gesture was.

Then she narrowed her eyes.

"You like him."

Daisy immediately looked away.

Which was apparently answer enough.

"Oh my God."

"Stop."

"You like him."

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't need to."

Harper dropped dramatically onto the couch.

"Tell me everything."

So Daisy did.

The park.

Roman seeing Lillie.

Him asking if she was his.

Holding his daughter for the first time.

Learning each other's last names.

Everything.

Harper listened to every word.

Then Daisy casually added:

"He asked me on a date."

Silence.

Then Harper burst out laughing.

"A date?"

"Yes."

Harper pointed at her dramatically.

"You know how backwards this is?"

Daisy laughed.

"A little."

"A little?"

Harper looked horrified.

"Daisy, you had a baby with the man before learning his surname."

"When you say it like that—"

"Because that's what happened!"

Daisy couldn't stop laughing.

It sounded ridiculous.

Because it was ridiculous.

Yet somehow it worked.

Harper eventually looked toward the flowers again.

Then back at Daisy.

Then smiled.

The soft kind.

The big-sister smile.

The one that always saw more than Daisy wanted it to.

"You look happy."

The words caught Daisy off guard.

Because she hadn't realised it herself.

Not until now.

Not until she looked around the apartment.

At the flowers.

At Lillie sleeping peacefully.

At the card sitting beside the vase.

And at the possibility of seeing Roman again.

Not as a stranger.

Not as a memory.

But as part of their lives.

A real part.

Daisy looked down at her daughter.

Then smiled.

Because for the first time in a very long time—

she really was happy. ❤️