“Go talk to her. If that rumor is what’s been keeping her away, it’s understandable. Let her know she can call me if she needs to. I’ll clear things up.”
I nod, giving her a small, grateful smile. “Thanks,” I say, leaving the room just as she begins to feed her daughter.
Outside, the weight of what I need to do presses down on me.
It’s time to face Lauren.
Lauren
The knock on the door startles me, and I slam my knees into the desk.
“Go away!” I shout, still wincing from the pain. I don’t even bother standing up.
“Lauren, open up,” his voice pleads from the other side of the door. “We need to talk once and for all.”
“Send me an email.”
“I already did! Youignored it!”
True.
“Well, try a letter next time. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“Lauren …” His tone shifts, deeper, more serious, almost a threat. “You can’t keep avoiding me. Come on, just for ten minutes.”
I exhale slowly. He’s right. I’ve been dodging him for three weeks now—ignoring calls, pretending not to be home. The thought of him having a child, hiding it all from me, makes my blood boil every time I let myself think about it. If he’d been honest from the start, it would’ve been different. Maybe I could’ve dealt with it—triedto make peace with that strange dynamic. But no, Silas Walker is an expert at keeping secrets.
“Five minutes,” I say, attempting to negotiate.
“Eight.”
“Seven.”
There’s a pause, then I hear his resigned voice through the door. “Deal. Now open the fucking door before I kick it down.”
I reluctantly get up, catching my reflection in the mirror. I don’t put much effort into my appearance these days, working from home and all, but at least I’m wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.
I don’t know why I even care.
I crack the door open, and Silas slips in like someone’s chasing him. His shirt collar is open, the tie half undone, hanging loosely. He looks disheveled, and I can’t help but wonder—is it because of me?
“Mr. Lee signed the contract,” he says, catching his breath. “He’s going to invest in us.”
I remember how stressed he was about that deal. “That’s great news,” I say, feeling my irritation momentarily lift. “Congratulations.”
“Same to you.”
I blink. “Me?”
“Yeah, you worked just as hard on this project. It’s your victory too.”
We’re standing two meters apart, but it feels like miles—like the distance between us is more than just physical.
Silas breaks the silence. “I went to see Stella.”
His words hit like a punch, and his eyes are on me, sharp andexpectant. His hands settle on his hips, but his breathing is uneven, like he’s gearing up for something bigger. I look away, swallowing hard. I don’t want to react. I don’t want to picture them together—Stella, their child, the family they might be building while I’ve been spiraling in this perfectly organized apartment of misery.
“She had a girl,” he continues, his voice softening. “Her name is Poppy.”
