Contracted To You-Chapter 60: Where are you?

Though it wasn’t the right time, Ezra decided to take action now.

The doctor had just emerged to speak with them, and Dawn hurried over, her eyes red and glistening with tears as she confronted the doctor.

Her heart ached at the thought that her son, her only son, was suffering in that ward. She was consumed by worry about Noah’s condition; her mind refused to settle.

"What happened, doctor? Is Noah okay now?" Dawn pressed, her voice trembling with anxiety.

Her parents and Ezra’s parents had also gathered around the doctor, their expressions filled with worry for the young boy.

"The surgery is still ongoing. It’s more complicated than we anticipated. The fall caused severe damage," the doctor explained.

Dawn paused, her mouth agape in shock. Her thoughts spun in an agonizing loop centered on her poor Noah.

She almost staggered backward, but Ezra was there to catch her. Even though he was reluctant to do this, he understood that it was the humane thing to do in such a dire moment.

"So what’s the way forward, doctor?" Ezra demanded, looking intently at the physician.

"We’ll need a blood transfusion; he lost a significant amount of blood," the doctor responded, and everyone exchanged anxious glances.

"I’ll do it," Dawn announced boldly. "I’m his mother. I can donate my blood to him."

"What is your blood type?" the doctor inquired.

Dawn hesitated for a moment, her gaze drifting before she answered, "My blood type is O."

The doctor shook his head firmly. "You cannot donate your blood to him."

"Why not?" Her voice quivered with desperation. "I’m his mother! I should be able to help him. Please, doctor!"

"We need an A blood type," he reiterated.

"Is there anyone with an A type?" the doctor asked, scanning the family for volunteers.

Finally, Ezra stepped forward. "I’ll do it. I’m an A," he declared, and the doctor nodded his approval.

The doctor led the way for the procedure.

"Please, come with me," he instructed, and for the first time, Ezra placed a gentle hand on Dawn’s shoulder. She nodded, grateful, her demeanor shifting from their usual mischief and irritation to relief as he reassured her.

Ezra followed the doctor for the blood transfusion.

As they turned a corner, Ezra paused, addressing the doctor. "If it’s alright, I have something else to discuss. I know it’s not the right time, but it’s important," he said, looking intently at the man.

The doctor listened carefully and nodded. "I’ll get it done and personally ensure you receive it," he replied. Ezra acknowledged him with a nod of appreciation.

When Ezra returned, Dawn stood from the bench where she had been waiting.

"Are you alright?" she asked, scanning Ezra’s face before shifting her gaze to his arm.

He nodded, barely mustering a response.

"Thank you," Dawn whispered earnestly. "If it weren’t for you, I don’t know what I would have done."

"There’s no need for thanks," Ezra replied, his tone firm. "Noah is my son, isn’t he?" He raised an eyebrow.

Dawn swallowed hard, her eyes meeting his as she felt the weight of the moment. She quickly composed herself, forcing a smile. "Of course," she responded.

"Did the doctor say anything?" Dawn pressed.

"Nothing significant," Ezra replied, his voice steady. "You don’t need to worry, Dawn. They’ll handle it." His calm tone seemed to soothe her, and she nodded, feeling slightly more reassured.

Just then, Ezra felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.

"Excuse me," he muttered, stepping away from her to take the call, while Dawn watched him leave.

Once in a quieter spot, he pulled out his phone and his eyes narrowed at the caller ID—Tom. "What is it, Tom? I’m in the middle of a crisis," he snapped into the phone.

"The investigation has concluded, Sir," Tom reported respectfully.

"And?" Ezra pressed.

"Noah is not your son. I’ve sent the rest of the details to you," Tom confirmed, and Ezra exhaled a breath he’d been holding.

Anger surged through him. He knew it—he’d suspected that the timing simply didn’t align. Dawn had been trying to pass off someone else’s child as his. It was confirmed now, and Ezra trusted Tom’s findings. Dawn had been deceptive, attempting to tie him to a child that was not his own, but for what purpose?

What could she possibly gain from deceiving him and trying to ruin his life like this?

Ezra clenched his teeth, realizing he had been right all along. It had nagged at him — could he have truly impregnated her?

She had made a fool of him, but he refused to let her play him any longer. His brows furrowed deeply.

"Sir?" Tom’s voice cut through his thoughts over the phone, pulling Ezra from his trance.

"Yes, Weldon Tom," Ezra replied, his tone clipped. "I’ll talk to you later." He ended the call abruptly.

He turned sharply to face the hospital he had just left, his jaw tightening in anger.

***

"The surgery was a success, and Noah is now out of danger," the doctor informed them, prompting a sigh of relief from Dawn as she placed a hand over her chest.

"You see, I told you not to worry," Dawn’s mother reassured Ezra’s mother, who was still overcome with guilt. The men in the room were focused on supporting their wives.

The doctor then beckoned Ezra aside, handing him a white envelope containing the report before walking away. As he opened it, the truth slammed into him: Noah wasn’t his son. He didn’t have a son.

The realization sunk in — Dawn had manipulated everything, altering reports to make him believe Noah was his child.

It wasn’t a stretch to conclude that she had orchestrated this. Even Dr. Martins had been bribed, and she had tracked his movements, ensuring the results were falsified. Ezra’s anger boiled at her audacity to impose someone else’s child on him.

He strode towards the ward where Dawn was checking on Noah, lovingly caressing his hand.

The steady beeping of the monitor marked Noah’s heartbeat as Ezra entered the room, throwing the door open. Dawn’s gaze snapped to him, surprised. "Ezra?" she questioned, alarmed by the fury written on his face and the report in his hand.

"Care to explain this?" he demanded sharply, advancing towards her.

"What’s going on, Ezra?" his mother, Maren, asked, confusion evident in her voice.

Dawn took the paper from his hand, scrutinizing it. Her eyes widened as her heart nearly dropped. "DNA?" she stammered.

Maren’s puzzlement mirrored the others in the room. "DNA? Why would you get a DNA test?" Ezra’s father inquired.

Meanwhile, Dawn’s mother gripped her husband’s arm tightly, tension mounting.

"Because Noah’s not my son," Ezra stated flatly, his gaze unyielding as it fixed on Dawn.

Gasps erupted in the room. Maren was aghast, her mouth falling open in disbelief, while Ezra’s father blinked in shock. Dawn’s parents, however, seemed unsurprised, as did Dawn herself.

"Ezra... I..." she began.

"Start explaining how this happened," he cut her off, demanding answers.

"You knew he wasn’t my son, yet you tried to force him upon me, didn’t you? You altered the results from different hospitals while monitoring me, bribing your way through? What else did you do, Dawn?" He pressed, refusing to let her deflect.

She pressed her lips together, her eyes misting over and her heart racing. "I’m sorry," she finally whispered.

Ezra’s anger flared even higher. Sorry? How could she possibly think that was enough?

"I didn’t want any of this, alright? I didn’t intend to disrupt your life," she said, but he glared at her, his mistrust evident.

"We were in financial trouble, and since I had Noah and we had a past, I thought it would be best to pin it on you for financial help. We could have gotten back on our feet if our families merged. Ezra, please believe me, I didn’t want to do this!" Dawn pleaded, tears glistening in her eyes. "I’m so sorry."

Ezra narrowed his eyes. "We? Who is ’we’ exactly?" he demanded.

As she shifted her gaze to her parents, it became clear.

Her mother, who had taken a deep breath, cast her eyes down, while her father looked away.

They had planned this together. It dawned on him – they were in financial distress, and rather than confront it, they had decided to ruin his life instead.

"Oh my God. Is this true?" Maren gasped, clutching her chest, while her husband attempted to steady her.

Ezra’s jaw tightened further.

He had made up his mind to deal with Dawn for her lies and deceit. However, in this moment, he realized it would be wiser to cut ties completely.

"I never want to see you anywhere near me or the people I care about," he stated with a cold resolve.

In the next instant, Ezra hit the road, speeding ahead, his grip on the steering wheel unforgiving as the tires screeched against the pavement.

"Evie," he said as the call connected and her sleep-tinged voice replied, revealing that she was still awake, though drowsy.

"Ezra?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her tone.

"Where are you?" he inquired.

She narrowed her eyes, wondering why he was asking at this time. "Why do you ask?"

"I want to meet you. Where are you?" Ezra pressed.

"I’m at my apartment," Evie replied, uncertain, as her brow furrowed at the unexpected question. But before she could say more, the call abruptly ended, leaving her perplexed.

Why had he asked that?

When Evie opened the door to the sound of knocking, she was taken aback to find Ezra standing there.

Her lips parted in surprise. He had come to her apartment? He didn’t speak as his gaze bore into hers.

She could see the weariness etched on his face as he stepped into her space. She closed the door and turned to question him about his unexpected arrival, but instead, he pulled her into a hug, and her questions died in her throat.