pte

ond'

sleep. I blinked lazily, the events of the night playing back in my mind like a vic

eets catching my attention. Pride swelled in my chest at the sight. So, she really was

ine now

n't there. I frowned slightly, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the room. It didn

smirk forming on my lips. A

gain. For a moment, there was silence-peaceful, almost. I should've felt somethi

myself. "She said I got her pregnant,

ph. She had cried and pleaded, but it didn't matter. As he

ed toward the bathroom door. I could hear her muffled sobs from

cking on the bathroom door with the back of my knuckles. I waited for a moment, smirk

le

ond, I sighed, turning away. Let her cry all she wants. It wouldn't change the

e window. Outside, the morning sun was bright, the sky impossibly clear. A new d

to myself, the smirk still linger

t the room, closing it behind me. I went to my o

tie, tooked my jacket and walked down the hallway, adjusting my cufflinks as I made my way to my off

room behind the closed door, but I pushed it out of

, I glanced at the screen-it was a message from my assistant, reminding

nto my chair, the leather cool against my back, and opened my laptop. The numbers, reports, and b

t regret what had happened. She lied. She manipulated the situation to trap me in

o. She didn't belong here-not yet. Her tears and defiance would only c

tapping against the keyboard rhythmically. I

t night kept surfacing-her tears, her broken pleas, and the way sh

r me? She got wh

more important things to focus on today. The drive to my office was uneventful, and as I

rabbing my briefcase. "I though

eplied, my voice cold as I walked past

gratulations on my marriage. The forced smiles and words of pra

chair, pushing the thoughts of Ariana back into

t me. I was in control here. The more time I spent in my office, the clearer it became-I would keep my distance from her fo

asier this would be for both of us. Even though, d

acked up for the day. The office was eerily silent as I stepped out, the dimly lit hallways and

ne of the drive soothe my thoughts. The quiet streets mirrored the c

ped into the living room, there she was, sitting on the couc

, her arms wrapped arou

se onto the couch. My voice was cold, disintereste

ed-rimmed eyes burning wit

ping closer. "I

" she spat, her voice trembl

e that refused to fit. The fire in her eyes

my voice soft but firm, almost m

r entire body stiffeni

sound echoing in the

and resentment. But her resistance only fueled my resolve.

alone with her thoughts. Her anger and defiance were

al report lying on the table. My chest tightened, the weight

unrelenting. "Raymond, the tumor is aggressiv

s I fought back the surge of frustration and dread that

ed to read it again. The words were already etched into my mind. Glioblastoma. A brain