Williams couldn't hold back his feelings for Norah any longer. Searching for her became his only option. "The child is mine, and Norah belongs to me, not to Thomas or his lineage," Williams declared.
Meanwhile, Norah sat alone on her bed, lost in deep thought. "I know that one day he will want to see his son, but not like this," she pondered. "I can't deny that he is the father, but I can't be foolish enough to expose this to Desmond. Once he knows, everything will change."
As Norah was deep in thought, Clara entered the room. "I see you're lost in thought. What's troubling you?" Clara asked.
"It's about Williams and the future," Norah replied.
"Why are you burdening yourself with thoughts of him? Please don't tell me you're considering someone who has treated you so badly," Clara said.
"He is the father of my son. I carry his seed," Norah responded.
"That's nonsense, Norah. Just because he's the father doesn't mean you should bring him back into your life. Williams should be the last person on your mind right now," Clara advised.
"Listen, Clara, I'm not afraid of the present but the future. I might be able to cover up today, keep my son's eyes away from his biological father, but what happens tomorrow?" Norah asked.
"Whatever thoughts you have about the future shouldn't disturb you so much. Besides, Thomas is taking proper care of Desmond, and with that, Desmond won't feel the need to know who his biological father is unless you reveal it to him. Or are you having feelings for Williams?" Clara asked.
"Never. I can't have feelings for a man who treated me badly in the past," Norah answered.
"You might forgive him and decide to have him back. Isn't that what you have in mind? But remember, don't hurt the heart that loves you, which is Thomas," Clara advised her further.
Norah's heart melted at that moment.
Later, Norah decided to go to the gym. While she was there, she spotted Williams coming in. Her baby, Desmond, was playing with Clara nearby. Norah quickly asked Clara to take Desmond to the car.
Williams approached Norah, his eyes filled with determination. "Norah, we need to talk," he said.
Norah stood her ground. "There's nothing to talk about, Williams. You need to leave."
"I can't leave, Norah. I love you, and I want to be a part of our son's life," Williams insisted.
"You had your chance, Williams. You chose to hurt me instead. I won't let you disrupt our lives now," Norah replied firmly.
"Please, Norah. I've changed. I want to make things right," Williams pleaded.
"No, Williams. You can't just walk back into our lives and expect everything to be okay. Desmond doesn't need you, and neither do I," Norah said, her voice unwavering.
Williams' face hardened. "You can't keep me away from my son, Norah. I have rights."
"And I have the right to protect my son from someone who caused me so much pain. Leave us alone, Williams," Norah demanded.
The tension between them was palpable, but Norah stood firm, refusing to let Williams back into her life.
"What about my son? I need to have access to him. If I can't have you, I will at least have my seed back," Williams said to her.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, Williams. You're after a son you don't even know, a son I brought up with the help of Thomas. You take me for a fool even after everything you've done to me. I don't want to remember the past," Norah said, her voice filled with anger.
"I'm so sorry for what happened. Whatever it was, it was a mistake. I promise you, I will cherish you with all my heart and everything in me," Williams pleaded.
"What about Evelyn? The same woman you used against me. Have you suddenly stopped loving her?" Norah asked, her eyes piercing into his.
Williams found it difficult to say a word.
"Now I see you still have feelings for her," she said, leaving Williams speechless as she walked away.
Norah headed to the gym, trying to clear her mind. As she worked out, she saw Williams entering the gym. Her heart raced, but she kept her composure. Desmond was playing with Clara nearby.
"Clara, please take Desmond to the car," Norah instructed.
Clara nodded and quickly took Desmond outside.
Williams approached Norah, his face a mix of determination and desperation. "Norah, we need to talk," he said.
"There's nothing to talk about, Williams. You need to leave," Norah replied firmly.
"I can't leave, Norah. I love you, and I want to be a part of our son's life," Williams insisted.
"You had your chance, Williams. You chose to hurt me instead. I won't let you disrupt our lives now," Norah said, her voice unwavering.
"Please, Norah. I've changed. I want to make things right," Williams pleaded.
"No, Williams. You can't just walk back into our lives and expect everything to be okay. Desmond doesn't need you, and neither do I," Norah said, her voice unwavering.
Williams' face hardened. "You can't keep me away from my son, Norah. I have rights."
"And I have the right to protect my son from someone who caused me so much pain. Leave us alone, Williams," Norah demanded.
The tension between them was palpable, but Norah stood firm, refusing to let Williams back into her life.
Norah turned to leave, but Williams grabbed her arm. "You can't just walk away from this, Norah. I deserve to be a part of my son's life," he said, his grip tightening.
Norah yanked her arm free. "Deserve? You think you deserve anything after what you did to me? You lost that right a long time ago, Williams," she snapped.
"I've changed, Norah. I know I made mistakes, but I'm trying to make things right. Can't you see that?" Williams pleaded, his voice breaking.
Norah's eyes filled with tears, but she held her ground. "You don't get to come back and play the hero now. Desmond and I have built a life without you, and we're happy. You don't get to ruin that," she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
Williams stepped closer, his eyes desperate. "Please, Norah. Just give me a chance. I want to be there for you and Desmond. I love you."
Norah shook her head, her resolve hardening. "Love? You don't know the meaning of the word. If you loved us, you wouldn't have left us in the first place. Now, leave us alone," she demanded.
Williams' face twisted with frustration. "You can't keep me away forever, Norah. I'll fight for my son if I have to."
"Do whatever you want, Williams. But know this: Desmond and I don't need you. We never did," Norah said, turning her back on him and walking away.
As she left, Williams stood there, watching her go, his heart heavy with regret and anger. Norah's steps were firm, but inside, she felt a storm of emotions. She knew she had to stay strong for Desmond, no matter what.
"What nonsense! She even spoke of Evelyn, that bitch," Williams muttered to himself, his heart heavy with worry about Norah and Desmond.
Unable to shake off his frustration, Williams headed to a bar and ordered a strong drink. As the alcohol began to take effect, he felt a mix of anger and regret. He knew he had to talk to someone, so he called his friend, Dr. Alexander.
"Alexander, I need to talk," Williams said, his voice slurred from the alcohol.
Alexander listened patiently as Williams poured out his heart. "Now you finally know me. You have forgotten the days I pleaded with you not to maltreat her like that. Why not go for your woman, Evelyn?" Richardson asked, his tone stern.
Williams sighed heavily. "Evelyn… she was a mistake. I thought I loved her, but it was never real. Norah and Desmond are my family. I need them back," he confessed.
Alexander shook his head. "You can't just erase the past, Williams. Norah has every right to be angry. You need to show her that you've truly changed, not just say it."
"I know, but how? She won't even listen to me," Williams said, his frustration growing.
"Start by respecting her wishes. Give her space and time. Prove through your actions that you're different now. And stay away from the bottle; it won't help you," Richardson advised.
Williams nodded, though his heart was still heavy. He knew Alexander was right, but the path ahead seemed daunting. He finished his drink and left the bar, determined to find a way to make things right, even if it took time.
"The complicating part is that she has a son with me. She tried denying it, but the child looks just like me," Williams said to Alexander.
"And you think you can easily have her back just because she has a son with you? Listen, Williams, you've committed a lot of wrongs. You need to humble yourself before her if you want to make things right," Richardson advised.
Williams' frustration boiled over. "Humble myself? Why should I? She's the one keeping my son from me. I have every right to be in his life!" he snapped.
Alexander sighed, trying to remain calm. "Williams, being rude and demanding won't get you anywhere. You need to show Norah that you've changed through your actions, not just your words."
"Actions? What actions? I've tried talking to her, and she won't listen. What more does she want from me?" Williams retorted, his voice rising.
"She wants to see that you're genuinely different, that you're not the same man who hurt her. You need to be patient and respectful," Alexander explained.
Williams shook his head, his anger still simmering. "Respectful? She doesn't respect me! She won't even let me see my own son!"
"Respect is earned, Williams. You need to earn it back from her. Start by respecting her wishes and giving her the space she needs," Richardson said firmly.
Williams downed another drink, his mind racing. He knew Alexander was right, but his pride and anger made it hard to accept. He left the bar, still fuming, determined to find a way to force Norah to let him see his son.