nd racing through every possible outcome. She hadn't even bothered to unpack her suitcase the nigh

ex. The woman who would bear his child. The woman who had come into th

at he wanted. She couldn't give him an heir.

cing herself to sit up. Crying wasn't going to change anyt

eded a

was moving through a dream-her life a series of blurry, unfinished thoughts. She thought about calling her best frien

pretending everything was fine when i

get out. She n

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, and the sound of distant traffic was the only thing that fille

life of humiliation, sharing her husband with another woman-

familiar scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the air, but Alesia couldn't taste any

ed, interrupti

n are you c

as already making plans with Ziva, and she was just an

ne buzz

y for how I've been acting. Can w

ger was for him, for what he'd done to her, or for herself-for being so blind to th

igure walked past her window, an

as Z

onsidered running out to confront her. To demand answers. To make Ziva feel the pain she

walking to the counter. The barista handed her a coffee, and

e to make

her chest. Kaelan was home, just as he said he would be. He was sitt

, her voice steady desp

st time in days, his expression softened

ng, everything you've said and done has been about you. About what you need

e could see the g

d, his voice low. "I ne

. "Why are you pushing me aside for Ziva? Why are you willing

now how important family is to me. My parents-especially my father-he's been pushing me for years to have a child, to car

To be okay with sharing you?" Her voice

. "I never wanted this for you. But I thought maybe it was so

o it?" She laughed bitterly, stepping back. "You th

t you to fee

e rose, her chest tightening with frustration. "Why can't you wait? Wh

is ready. She wants a child, and I want a

ught she knew, was standing here in front of her, choosing another woman over her. And no matter how much she

to make

dn't come easil

racing through every possibility. The future felt like a vast, emp

romises. She couldn't be the woman who waited silently in the

lesia had mad

ould

uld rebuil