You’ve ruined your life.
I want nothing to do with you.
Elias crossed the room and pulled her into his arms. “Aliza, thank God you’re okay. I’ve been calling you for the past hour. I take it your father was here,” he said.
She stood so fast that the room spun. “You told him,” she accused.
Elias froze. “What?”
“You told my father I’m pregnant, didn’t you?” she asked. His face told her everything that she needed to know. He had told her father her news, and that had led to her dear old Dad stopping by today.
The relief on his face vanished instantly. “I—yes, I did. I was trying to stop him from trying to see you. He came to thehospital and—” She wasn’t about to let him explain himself out of this one.
“You had no right,” she said, her voice trembling with fury. “That was mine to tell. Mine.”
Elias stepped toward her, hands raised. “I wasn’t trying to take that from you. He was threatening you. He told me that I should convince you to see him again. He said that he had every right to talk to you, and I thought if he knew?—”
“You thought you’d protect me,” she snapped. “But you made it worse.”
Pain flickered across his face. “Aliza?—”
“You took my choice away,” she said, tears burning hot now. “Just like he always does.” The words landed hard between them—harsh and unyielding. “It was my decision to make whether or not I told my father about the baby. Maybe I wasn’t ready to tell him yet. Maybe, I’m not ready for anyone to know our happy news.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Elias said quietly. “I panicked. I thought—” She held up her hands, effectively stopping him from saying anything else to her. Jonnas stood behind him, silently watching the two of them, and she knew that she probably sounded like a raging bitch, but she didn’t care anymore.
“I know you care,” she said, voice cracking. “That’s what makes this hurt so much.”
She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to ground herself. “I just lost my father for good because you stuck your nose where it didn’t belong. I needed you to be the one person who didn’t decide things for me.” Silence stretched, thick and heavy. Elias just stood in front of her, hurt evident on his handsome face as he stared her down.
“I’m going to wait outside, man, and give you two some privacy. If you need me, just yell,” Jonnas said, patting Elias on the back.
Aliza waited for him to leave before continuing. “I can’t do this right now,” she whispered. “I can’t stay here and pretend everything is fine, or that any of this is okay.”
Elias swallowed. “What are you saying?”
“I need time,” she said, “and space to think. I need to breathe, focus, and remember who I am without someone else steering my life. I need to figure out how to be in charge of myself for a change, and how I want my life to go.”
His chest rose and fell slowly. “Are you leaving me?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I’m not leaving us. I’m just taking a step back to figure out me.”
She grabbed her purse from where she’d dropped it earlier. “Dani’s roommates are gone for a few weeks. She has a spare room. I’m going to stay there for a bit.”
Elias nodded once, even though it clearly cost him something. “I don’t like this, but I’ll respect what you want, honey.”
She hesitated at the door, her heart breaking in ways she hadn’t expected. “I love you,” she said softly. “But I need to do this my way.” It was the first time that either of them had said that to the other. She didn’t expect to be the first to use the “L” word, but she had to give him her complete honesty. It was the only way she’d be able to find her way back to him at some point.
“I know,” he replied. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
As she stepped out into the hallway, Cat let out a small, confused cry behind her, as though begging her not to go. Aliza paused, pressed her palm briefly to the door, then forced herself to walk away—hoping that space would help her find clarity instead of tearing everything apart.
Elias
“It’s been a fucking month,” he shouted at Jonnas. He looked around the physicians’ breakroom, noting that all eyes were on him, and he really didn’t give a fuck. Conversations around the room died instantly, but he didn’t care how many people overheard his conversation with Jonnas or knew how upset he was about Aliza going radio silent for over a month now.
Jonnas crossed his arms and lowered his voice, but his expression stayed firm. “You’re not wrong—but losing it like this isn’t helping.”
“She disappeared,” Elias shot back. “I’ve had no calls, no texts—nothing. I don’t even know where the hell she is.”
