Chapter 66
The second I stepped out of the house, my hands were trembling. I already had my phone in my grip, and I brought up Natasha’s name, hitting call with shaky fingers.
“Please,” I whispered the moment the line connected. “Can I come over!“”
Natasha didn’t hesitate. “Of course. Are you okay!”
“No,” I said, my voice cracking. “1 just–1 need to get away.”
I barely remembered the drive over. My head was pounding, my heart felt like it had been wrung
ng out and tossed aside. The moment I stepped into Natasha’s apartment, I broke down. I was full–on sobbing, my knees huckling. Natasha caught me, guided me to the couch, and wrapped her arms around me as I cried into her shoulder.
“He believed in.” I choked out, “He really believed that audio. It’s clearly fake. It’s so obviously edited. And he just–he looked at me like 1 was some manipulative gold digger.”
Natasha didn’t say anything. She just kept rubbing her hand up and down my back. She let me cry until there was nothing left.
JAll this time,” I finally said, my voice hoarse, Tve been trying to figure him out. I gave him chances. I made space for his mess. And the moment someone whispers something in his ear, he turns on me. Like I’m disposable.
“You’re not disposable, Natasha said softly.
“I feel like I am, Like I meant nothing. Like all the nights we spent together, the way he held me, the way he said he missed me–it was all just part of the performance”
Natasha frowned. “That’s not true. He might be cold, and confused, and frustrating as hell, but I’ve seen how he looks at you.”
I pulled my knees up to my chest. “That’s what makes it worse. Because if it was all fake, I wouldn’t be feeling this gutted. I wouldn’t be sitting here wondering how the hell I got this attached to a man who doesn’t even trust me.”
“You’re not just upset about the contract or the breakup,” Natasha said slowly. This is about the baby too, isn’t it?”
I closed my eyes. The ache in my chest got worse. I nodded.
“I don’t know what to do, Nat I whispered. “I haven’t even had time to process being pregnant. And now? Now I’m supposed to picture raising a baby with someone who can’t even look me in the eye without suspicion?”
“You don’t have to decide anything right now.
“But I do.” I said, lifting my head. “I need to end the contract officially. I need to take control of that. The last thing I want is to be dragged back into that house, into that world, with a baby as a pawn between us.”
Natasha nodded slowly. “Okay. Then that’s what we’ll do. We’ll start with the contract
I stared down at my lap. My voice barely came out “Should I get an abortion?
Natasha blinked. “What?”
Tm not saying I want to,” I rushed. I’m just–this happened so fast. I didn’t plan this. I didn’t even think I’d ever be a mother. And now I’m supposed to bring a child into this mess?”
“You don’t have to justify what you’re feeling,” Natasha said, squeezing my hand. “But can I ask you something?”
I nodded.
“Do you want to be a mother? Forget Karl Forget the contract. Just you. Do you want this baby!”
I looked away. My throat tightened.
“I think I do,” I said. “It terrifies me. But there’s this little voice in the back of my mind that keeps picturing holding them. Teaching them things. Seeing their smile. And I know it’s early, but it feels real.
“Then that’s your answer.
I sniffled. “Even if it means doing it alone?”
Chapter 66
“You’re not alone. Natasha said firmly. I’m here. And 171 be here through everything.”
I leaned my head on her shoulder, letting the silence settle around us.
“I just wanted him to believe me,” I said quietly. “That’s all I wanted. Not even love, Just trust,”
She wrapped her arm lighter around me. “He’s going to realize the truth. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow. But he will. And when he does, he’ll have to live with the fact that he pushed away the only person who was actually there for him.”
I didn’t answer. I just stared at the wall, my thoughts quieter now. They drified not just to Karl but to the tiny heartbeat growing inside
I would fight for this baby. But I wasn’t sure I had anything left to fight for when it came to Karl.
