Chapter 98
RAINA
The ache in my chest had become a constant companion these past weeks. A month had passed since I told Nathan I needed space. At the time, it felt like the right thing to do, a necessary step to see him for who he truly was. But now, the silence between us was deadening
I’d tried teaching out. A text here, a voicemail there, tentative gestures to bridge the gap. But each attempt was met with nothing. No responses, no signs of life. He hadn’t shown up at my door, hadn’t called back, hadn’t given me any hint of where he stood.
The absence gnawed at me, an invisible weight pressing down on my chest. I tried to distract myself by spending more time with Alex and Liam
Liam’s recovery had been nothing short of miraculous. Watching him play with Ava was like seeing sunlight breaking through storm clouds. Their laughter rang out, bouncing off the walls as they built block towers and raced toy cars across the floor. Awa clapped when Liam’s tower stood firm, her grin wide. “You’re so good at this, Liam!” she exclaimed
Liam’s eyes sparkled with pride. “Wanna see me build it all?
“Do it!” Ava encouraged, her hands waving excitedly. They were thriving together, and for a moment, my racing thoughts quieted. It gave me hope- hope that things could still turn out okay.
Alex, however, was meintless. He leaned casually against the counter one aftemoen as we watched the kids play, his eyes newer leaving me. “When are you going to give me a chance, Raina?” he asked, his voice light but persistent.
1 sighed, not bothering to hide my annoyance. “Alex, we’ve been over this. My answer hasn’t changed”
He smirked, undeterred. “You’ll come around Just wait
I shook my head, forcing a laugh. “You’re impossible. But the truth was, his persistence grated on me. Nathan was already furious, and the last thing I wanted was to add more fuel to the fire
Still, unanswered questions about Nathan refused to leave me alone. Where was he? What was he thinking? Was he okay? The ache in my chest refused to subside. If he wasn’t going to come to me, I’d go to him.
The decision to go to his office wasn’t one I made lightly. My stomach churned as I walked into the building, a mix of hope and dread swirling inside me If he wouldn’t come to me, then I’d go to him.
I recognized a colleague from the lawyer’s auction as soon as I stepped inside. She greeted me warmly, her smile genuine, but when I asked about Nathan, her expression shifted.
“He’s been on leave,” she said, her voice soft, almost apologetic.
Leave? My heart sank. Why hadn’t he told me? Did he hate me now?
As I turned to leave, Vivian appeared. Her presence was like a storm cloud–dark, heavy, and crackling with unspoken tension. Before I could even process her approach, her hand lashed out, striking my cheek.
The slap stung, but it was her words that left a deeper wound. “He’s gone! because of you,” she hissed, her eyes blazing with accusation.
I stood frozen, my cheek burning as she stormed off. Gone because of me? Her words echoed in my mind as I stumbled out of the office and into my car
The reflection in the mirror told me everything I needed to know. My check was red, the outlive of her hand faint but visible. Tears welled up, but I blinked them away. What had I done? Was it my fault he’d disappeared? Or was there something more to this?
The moment I stepped into the house, the weight of the day pressed down on me like a storm cloud. The court date for Liam’s custody loomed on the horizon, and the uncertainty of Nathan’s involvement gnawed at me. Would he still want to represent me? Would he even show up? My stomach twisted at the thought of him abandoning me, especially when I needed him most.
As I passed the dining table, Dom’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts like a knife,
Taina, we need to talk,” he said.
י
I didn’t even slow down. “Not now.” My head throbbed, my body ached, and my mind felt like it was running on fumes.
Dom’s chair scraped against the
e floor as he stood, his voice following me down the hallway. “Who hit you?”
I froze. Damn it. My hand instinctively brushed the tender spot on my cheek. “It’s nothing,” I muttered, trying to keep moving
Dom wasn’t having it. He stepped in front of me, his broad frame blocking my path. “Raina, I’m serious. Who the hell hit you?”
