Apocalypse Reborn : The Doomsday Archive

Chapter 4: The Wrong Father

Chapter 4: The Wrong Father

Ethan arrived home just as Victoria was setting the dining table.

The moment she heard the front door open, she turned around with a bright smile.

“Babe! You’re here!”

She hurried toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Ethan stood still for a brief moment before returning the hug.

He remembered this day too well.

The excitement in her voice. The smile on her face. The way she had rushed to welcome him home.

Back then, he had thought he was the luckiest man alive.

Now, all he could think about was the blood on his hands and the locked shelter door. 

She was so good at pretending, this was all he could think of at this moment. 

“You took your time,” Victoria complained lightly, pulling away from him. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Sorry. I had a few things to take care of.” 

“It’s fine.” She took his hand and pulled him toward the living room. “Come and sit down. I have something to tell you.”

Ethan followed her.

He already knew what she was going to say, but he needed to act as though he didn’t.

Victoria sat beside him, looking unusually nervous. She rubbed her palms against her thighs before turning to face him.

“Ethan, I’m pregnant.”

She watched his face expectantly.

For a moment, he said nothing.

He remembered the first time she had told him. He had jumped to his feet, lifted her into his arms, and laughed like a fool. He had asked her if she was sure, even though she had shown him the test twice. He had spent the rest of that evening talking about baby names and promising that their child would never lack anything.

He remembered how happy he had been.

He also remembered discovering the truth.

The child was never his.

“Ethan?” Victoria’s smile faltered. “Did you hear me?”

He blinked and looked at her.

“I’m pregnant,” she repeated. “We’re going to have a baby.”

He forced a smile.

“That’s wonderful news.”

Victoria studied him.

“Wonderful?”

“Yes.” He reached for her hand. “Congratulations.”

She stared at him for another moment before letting out a weird uncomfortable laugh.

“Why are you acting like this?”

Ethan frowned. “Like what?”

“Like you’re not happy.”

“I’m happy.”

“Are you sure? Because you don’t look happy.”

He looked at her, wondering how much excitement she expected him to manufacture.

“What do you want me to do, Victoria? Jump around the living room?”

Her expression changed immediately.

“I’m not asking you to jump around. I’m telling you that we’re having a baby, and you’re sitting here like I’ve told you the weather.”

Ethan took a slow breath.

“I’m trying to process the news.”

“Process it?” She pulled her hand away. “What is there to process? This is supposed to be a happy moment for us.”

He looked down at his hands.

A happy moment indeed 

“I said I’m happy,” he replied quietly. “I’m just surprised.”

Victoria shook her head, clearly dissatisfied.

Before she could say anything else, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” she said, rising from the couch.

Ethan remained seated.

He knew who it was before she even reached the door.

A few seconds later, he heard Derek’s voice.

“Hey, Vicky.”

“Come in!” Victoria replied.

Derek walked into the living room with his usual easy smile. He wore a dark T-shirt and jeans, and he looked as relaxed as always. 

His eyes landed on Ethan.

“Bro! There you are, you didn’t get my text?”

He approached and held out his hand. Ethan stood and shook it.

“What’s up?” Derek asked, giving him a friendly slap on the shoulder.

“Nothing much.”

“You sound tired.”

“Long day.”

Derek laughed. 

Ethan forced a small smile , He remembered how easily the man had abandoned him.

It just didn’t make sense how things changed to him even as he looked at them now  , how was it  so easy to betray him .

Victoria returned to the living room and clapped her hands together.

“Derek, guess what?”

Derek glanced at her. “What?”

She smiled widely.

“I’m pregnant!”

For a split second, something unreadable crossed Derek’s face.

It disappeared so quickly that Ethan might have missed it in his previous life.

But not this time.

Derek recovered with a laugh and opened his arms. 

“ it’s your baby …of course you’d be excited” 

Ethan said it in his head . 

“Seriously? That’s amazing!”

Victoria hugged him, laughing with relief.

“I know, right? I’m so excited!”

“Congratulations!” Derek said. “You two are going to make great parents.”

He turned toward Ethan and grinned.

“Bro, you’re going to be a father!”

Ethan looked at him.

“Yes,” he replied. “Apparently.”

The smile on Derek’s face faltered.

Victoria noticed it too.

“See?” she said, turning toward Derek. “That’s exactly what I was going to talk about.”

Derek looked between them. “What’s going on?”

“Tell him!” Victoria pointed at Ethan. “I just told him that I’m pregnant, and look at how he’s behaving. He’s not even excited!”

“Come on, bro. What’s that about?” Derek turned to him

Ethan leaned back against the couch.

“What do you mean?”

“Your wife just told you she’s pregnant. This is good news. You should be happy.”

“I told her I’m happy.”

“Then show it.”

Ethan stared at him.

Derek sat down opposite him and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Listen, man. I know you. You sometimes get caught up in your head, thinking about work and money and everything else. But you can’t let that ruin moments like this.”

Ethan almost laughed.

Derek had always been good with words. He knew how to make his opinions sound like concern and his interference sound like friendship.

In their previous life, Ethan had trusted that concern.

He had gone to Derek for advice about his marriage, his work, and even his finances. He had believed Derek wanted the best for him.

Now he understood that a man didn’t need to shout to manipulate someone. Sometimes, all he needed was to make the other person feel guilty for having a perfectly reasonable reaction.

“I’m not ruining anything,” Ethan said.

“I’m not saying you are.” Derek lifted his hands. “Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m just saying Victoria deserves to see that you’re happy. She’s carrying your child, bro. She’s probably nervous already.”

Victoria nodded quickly.

“Exactly! I’ve been nervous all morning, and I thought telling Ethan would make everything better. Instead, I feel like I’m forcing him to be happy about his own baby.”

Ethan looked at her.

“It’s crazy that you feel that way …” 

She frowned. “That’s all you have to say? Derek…Talk to your friend !” 

“What else do you want me to say?”

“Ethan!”

Derek immediately stepped in.

“Okay, okay. Let’s calm down.”

He turned to Ethan, lowering his voice 

“Bro, don’t make this bigger than it needs to be. She’s emotional right now. You know how women can be when they’re pregnant.”

Victoria shot him a look.

“I’m not being emotional!”

“I’m not saying anything bad,” Derek replied smoothly. “I’m just saying you’re excited, and he’s processing the news. You two need to understand each other.”

Then he turned back to Ethan.

“But you should also understand her. Sometimes, being a husband means putting your own feelings aside and making your wife feel loved.”

Ethan watched him carefully.

There it was again.

Derek was turning the situation around, making Ethan the one who needed to apologize. If he refused, he would be an inconsiderate husband. If he argued, he would be the man ruining his wife’s happiness. And if he gave in, Derek would have successfully pushed him into behaving exactly as he wanted.

It was almost impressive.

“You’re right,” Ethan said.

Derek blinked.

“I’m what?”

“You’re right. I should make her feel loved.”

Victoria’s expression softened immediately.

“See? That’s all I wanted.”

Ethan turned toward her and took her hand.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel like I wasn’t happy. The news caught me off guard, but I’m glad you told me.”

Her face brightened.

“Really?”

“Really.”

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.

Derek relaxed into the couch, looking satisfied with himself.

“That’s more like it,” he said. “I knew you’d come around.”

Ethan said nothing, he knew exactly what he was doing. 

Derek continued talking about fatherhood, offering advice he had never been asked to give. He told Ethan that having a child would change his priorities and that he needed to start thinking about his family before himself.

“You can’t keep living like you’re single,” Derek said with a chuckle. “A man with a family has responsibilities.”

“I know.”

“And don’t let work take you away from home all the time. Victoria is going to need you.”

“I understand.”

Derek glanced at him.

“You’re unusually quiet today.”

“Am I?”

“Yeah. What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing.”

Derek studied him for a moment, then smiled again.

“Whatever it is, don’t let it get in the way of this. You have a good woman and a baby on the way. Some men would do anything to have what you have.”

Ethan lowered his eyes to his joined hands.

Some men would do anything to have what I have.

He wondered whether Derek had rehearsed that line before coming over.

Perhaps he had come to make sure Ethan reacted the way Victoria expected and  he simply wanted to keep the man he planned to betray comfortable and unsuspecting.

Either way, Ethan had no intention of giving him a reason to become suspicious.

After another twenty minutes, Ethan stood.

“I’m going out for a while.”

Victoria looked up at him. “Where are you going?”

“I have a few things to take care of.”

“Now? Can’t you do them later? We haven’t even finished talking about the baby.”

“We’ll talk when I get back.”

Her smile faded slightly.

“Ethan, you’re doing it again.”

He paused.

“Doing what?”

“Acting as though you have something more important to do than spend time with me.”

Derek shook his head sympathetically.

“Bro, come on. Stay a little longer. You can handle whatever it is tomorrow.”

Ethan looked at him.

“I really have to go,” he said.

Victoria folded her arms.

“Fine. Go, then.”

Ethan picked up his keys.

He walked to the door without arguing, but before he stepped outside, Derek called after him.

“Hey, bro.”

Ethan turned.

“Don’t forget what I said. Take care of your family. You don’t want to regret neglecting the people who matter when it’s too late.”

Ethan held his gaze.

The words were almost funny coming from a man who would eventually leave him to die.

“Don’t worry,” Ethan replied. “I won’t.”

He walked out and closed the door behind him.

The moment he reached his car, the smile disappeared from his face.

He stood beside the driver’s door, staring at the house where his wife and best friend were still sitting together.

He shook his head and got into his car and started the engine.

He had supplies to buy, money to secure, and a destination to prepare for.