Chapter 64
The goodbye hug was longer than I expected. Natasha held on to me like a sister, the way she always did when she thought I wat pretending to be strong. Her arms were warm, grounding. I wasn’t used to people like her–people who just showed up, cooked with you, argued with you, let you cry into their shoulder, and didn’t demand explanations.
“Are
you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” she asked, her voice slightly muffled by my hair.
I pulled back and smiled. “You’ve done more than enough. I can’t drag you into more of my mess.”
She scoffed. “First of all, I live for your mess. Second, that man better grovel when he hears the news. And third- she brushed something from my cheek–you call me the second he blinks weird, okay?”
“I will”
The cab honked outside. I grabbed my suitcase, giving the Airbnb one last glance before stepping out the door. As I slid into the backseat, Natasha stood at the porch, arms crossed, giving me her signature warning look like she was telepathically reminding me to speak my mind this time.
“Whereto, ma’am?” the driver asked.
I gave the address. Karl’s mansion. Home,
The ride felt longer than it really was, probably because my brain wouldn’t shut up. I had a lot of time to think. About the hospital. About the moment I found out. The doctor’s voice had been so calm, like he wasn’t detonating a nuclear bomb into my life. “You’re pregnant Just like that.
I had barely remembered to breathe.
I hadn’t even thought about contraceptives. Not once. It should’ve crossed my mind. But everything with Karl had been so sudden, so emotionally charged. I was so swept up in what we were becoming–whatever that even was–that I forgot to be logical. And now, here I was. A wife who hadn’t defined her relationship, carrying the child of a man she still couldn’t read half the time.
Was I happy? I wasn’t even sure how to define that yet. Excited? Terrified? Strangely both?
Natasha’s voice echoed in my head. “As long as there’s love in the relationship, everything else can be figured out.”
Was there love? I knew what I felt. I knew how fast it came on, how intense it had grown, how fragile it still felt. But Karl? I hadn’t seen him in a week. Hadn’t spoken to him. And the last time I asked for more, he pulled back.
Still, I smiled as I looked out the window. Maybe this would change things. Maybe he needed a reason to drop the walls, and maybe just maybe–this baby was it
When the cab pulled into the estate, my heart skipped a beat. The gates opened smoothly, and the familiar driveway stretched out in front of me like something out of a memory. The car came to a stop, and I climbed out, suitcase in hand.
The front door opened before I even got to it.
“Mrs. Lever!” One of the staff beamed, taking my suitcase before I could protest. “We’re so glad to have you back.”
“Thank you,” I said, trying not to let the nerves show.
The others were lined up by the hall, all smiles and quiet bows, like they had been expecting me. It felt surreal.
I stepped into the foyer, the warm scent of home hitting me all at once.
And then I saw him.
“Karl!”
I didn’t even realize I said it until the word was already out.
His back was turned, but I’d recognize that figure anywhere. The tailored shirt, the tense posture. The second my voice hit the air, he froze mid–step.
He turned and our eyes met.
When I stepped inside and heard footsteps, my heart leapt in my chest. “Karl I called out, my smile already forming
10:45 AM C
Chapter 64
But it was Kent who appeared around the corner instead, his brows lifting with a smile. “Ellen. Welcome back.”
My simile faltered just a little. “Hey, Kent. Where’s Karl”
“He’s at work. Still in
missed you
1 in meetings. But he should be back soon. He paused, giving me a quick once–over. “It’s good to see you. Everyone’s
That made me feel warm for a second. “Thanks. It’s good to be back.”
The house staff soon brought out a meal, insisting I eat something. I took a few polite bites, but I couldn’t stop pacing.
1 called Natasha while wandering near the living room windows.
“I’m home.” I told her.
“Already?” she asked. “Wow. How’s it feel?”
“Weird. Like I’m happy, but nervous. I haven’t seen him yet.”
“You’ll be fine. Just breathe, okay?”
hung up after a little more small talk and went back to pacing. I kept checking the time. Checking the door. Then pacing again. The baby. My nerves. The past week. Everything was bubbling up.
Finally, the sound of the front door opening made my heart nearly jump out of my chest. I turned, expecting him to rush to me, to smile, to maybe even hug me.
Instead, Karl stepped inside with his face unreadable. Cold. Reserved
He stood still, holding something under his arm. He didn’t say a word. Didn’t smile. Didn’t move toward me.
I took a step forward. “Karl?”
His jaw lightened. “Where were you!”
“…I went to stay somewhere for a few days. I told Kent-”
He didn’t respond. He stepped further into the room and placed the tablet he was holding on the coffee table. His hand was clenched. around it like he’d been gripping it all day.
He tapped the screen and said quietly. “What is this?”
I looked down. I saw the media player interface. I heard a voice
My voice.
“So when we get the money from him and split it in two, he’s a fucking billionaire. He won’t care.
I blinked. “Wait, what…..”
Karl stared at me. He wasn’t shouting. But he looked like someone who had been holding something in for hours. Maybe longer.
I leaned closer to the tablet. The other voice in the audio. Darren.
Me and Darren. Talking.
