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Miles' gaze slid to Julie's belly.

“Fuck...” he blurted out, still staring, bringing his hand to his mouth as if he needed to think, until Julie eventually broke out of her own stupor, threw the notebook back into the drawer, and approached him.

“Miles,” she began urgently, looking up at him, her face redder than ever. “Whatever you know. I'm begging you. Shut. Up.”

Miles was no longer looking at her belly. He was staring into her eyes.

If someone had taken a picture of this scene, one would have clearly seen three question marks above my head.

How did Miles know Erik? And why did Julie want him to keep quiet? Something was extremely off here...

“He knows who the father of your baby is,” Larissa suddenly realized. “Oh my God!” She grabbed her head before rushing toward Miles with supernatural speed and grabbing him by the shoulders. “Tell me! Now!”

Miles looked at Julie, overwhelmed.

“No,” she blurted out immediately, looking at Miles warningly, whereupon Larissa turned to her with an irritated look.

“Don’t you wanna know?”

“No.”

My mistrust grew rapidly. Something didn't feel right here, but I didn't want to give in to the sneaky premonition that was trying to explain all the reasons for Julie's behavior.

What if Erik had hurt her? What if she just wanted to forget him?

“Oh Lord,” Emely blurted out. “Why does this already sound like something I don't want to know?”

Julie looked at the floor.

Miles took his eyes off her and turned to Emely with a conspiratorial look.

“Trust me, you don't want to know.” He laughed, and there was something amused about it, even though I thought I detected desperation in his voice. “There's some weird game with masks going on.”

Now Larissa looked at me in alarm before we both stared at Julie, who in turn gave Miles a warning look.

Miles raised both hands. “All right, I'll keep quiet.”

“I can't believe it…” Larissa blurted out, staring between Julie and Miles as if she had to process it first.

“For my part, I can't believe how blind this guy is,” Miles laughed. “I'd love to call him and congratulate him.”

Julie stared at him as if he had just announced her date of death, and Miles immediately pressed his lips together, raised his index finger slightly, and wiggled his hand slowly in the air as if remembering something.

“But... I think there's nothing to congratulate him on, fortunately...”

He turned away from Julie and headed back to the crystal glasses.

“Shit,” I heard him curse quietly. “And I thought my life was fucked up.”

I spotted Emely staring at him with the same confusion I was feeling.

I would have liked to make sure Julie was okay, but I didn't want to make the situation even more uncomfortable for her by making her feel exposed in front of the whole group, especially when it came to such intimate matters. I wasn't Miles or Larissa, who seemed to have no inhibitions whatsoever.

Liar.

I bit my lower lip.

Julie turned to the next drawer as if nothing had happened.