Chapter 4 – The Return of Pedro Hernandez

Adrielle Hale

I’m at Los Angeles General Hospital, in my office. I’ve been seeing patients all morning. Some have undergone surgeries and require meticulous follow-up—I can’t risk complications like blood clots or infections. I take my job seriously and don’t want any issues with my patients, nor do I want to lose any of them.

The door to my office opens, and I see Ross holding a cup of coffee. She’s my secretary—kind and attentive.

“I brought you coffee, Dr. Williams. Just how you like it,” she says with a smile, setting the cup on my desk.

“Thank you, Ross,” I reply, picking it up to take a sip.

Even through the protective sleeve, I feel the heat against my fingers. Ross sighs as she sits in the chair across from me. She’s been a little laid-back some days this week, but I can’t blame her—I’ve been overloading her with new patients for days now.

“Any appointments today, Ross?” I ask, curious about my schedule, which she usually manages.

She turns to me, studying my face carefully.

“Actually, your husband asked to cancel your later appointments. He said it was important,” she answers calmly, though with a hint of caution.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath before setting the cup back down. I’ve told Leonard to check with me before canceling my commitments, and I’ve warned Ross to confirm with me first before making changes. Leo is always so controlling.

“Ross—” My tone makes it clear I’m not happy with her decision. “Before canceling anything, you come to me first.”

I watch her swallow hard, the weight of my reprimand sinking in.

“Yes, Doctor,” she nods, but I know she won’t actually follow through.

Leonard always seems to charm women into doing whatever he wants. It doesn’t make me jealous, but I hate when he makes decisions for me—whether it’s about work or at home with Abby.

Speaking of my daughter, I need to remember to ask Victor to pick her up from school today. Our kids go to the same school, and sometimes we do each other favors. I know Lyla will be busy at the hospital, so it’s her husband’s turn today.

Sofia must be occupied too—today’s Max’s will reading, and I can only imagine how hard this must be for her. It must be awful to go through this alone. After her worthless son left without a word—just vanished with some new girlfriend—Sofia was devastated, shutting everyone out. Max was never the caring type of husband, even if he tried to play the part. When Pedro and I were together, I saw firsthand what a terrible husband and absent father Max was. I’m not surprised Pedro didn’t show up to his funeral, but it just proved how different he really was.

To me, he was good—loving, gentle. But in truth, Pedro was nothing more than a first-class liar. My father once told me rich boys only play with women, and in the end, he was right.

But Pedro was crueler than I ever imagined possible. He let me fall hopelessly in love with him, so enchanted by his charm that I was careless enough to get pregnant. And he wasn’t even here to see our daughter. Pedro seemed to vanish off the face of the earth, like magic. I even wondered if he’d gotten into trouble, but Max made it clear his son was just a libertine who took advantage of situations.

I gave him my heart—and what did I get in return?

Seven years have passed, and not even Sofia knows where he went. I hope he never sets foot in L.A. again—our daughter doesn’t need to be tied to a father like him. Pedro doesn’t deserve the chance to know her. In the end, he’s just like Max—only younger.

“Oh wow, they’re talking about Max Hernandez’s heir returning,” Ross says, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts and sending a chill down my spine.

My eyes lock onto her as she stares at her phone, brows furrowed. I swallow hard. Max Hernandez’s heir. I can’t believe he’d come back to L.A. after seven years. My heart races. Stubborn heart—we promised this wouldn’t happen. But I don’t know if I’m more shocked or furious that he’s back. Maybe it’s not Pedro—maybe Max had another secret son the media just uncovered.

“Doctor, didn’t you two used to date?” Ross asks, tilting her head.

Shit. He really is back.

Ross leans in and turns her phone toward me, showing me a clear I*******m post with the headline:

“The Return of Pedro Hernandez.”

There’s a photo of him inside Sofia’s car—probably at the gates of her house. I don’t know who’s with him now, but he must have returned on his own, unannounced. If Sofia had known, she would’ve warned me—to avoid a shock like this.