Falling for his eyes

pte

Invi

ed Gavin Monroe, and I was pregnant for the first time. We both cared deeply about our child. I once asked Gavin whether he preferr

vin had already brought home piles of baby c

aside, I gently placed a hand on my belly and got up to answer it. A woman stood t

can I help y

me with a hint of disdain. "I'm Elis

e where I would ha

t. Now that we've met,

felt a rush of anxiety and instinctively patted my belly, feeling

ying to provoke a reaction. But I was certain she was a strange

en she interrupted, "A stand-in? Seriously? You do

ced a polite smile. "No, he's never mentioned you. He told

"Ah, yes. Tha

ed. "If you two broke up

ow we ended things? We had a massive f

int ache in my belly. I rubbed my bump, striving to sta

e ocean. I told him I didn't love him anymore and took another f

ng to say? You and Gavin broke up. We're married no

e finally gave up and returned home. I heard he started dating some undergrad w

from my face. That youn

the stories about him and seen a few paparazzi photos with his ex, but I had never met her. In

ee months, he got a marriage certifi

was handsome, came from a distinguished family, and always ranked at t

pus as a guest speaker. Seeing him in pe

was out of my league and still attached to some

topped teaching. Nine months later, I ran into h

my courage, I approached him. "Mr. Monroe, you've

ou, Lily Rose?" Then he added with a half-smile, "Don

lled he re

't you?" he asked

rlfriend. I won't bother y

mself, "Quite similar." Then he a

ut...don't you ha

ed. "We b

. If she had let him go, then

never expected our relationship to last. But three

asked, my anger bubbling. "No matter

hind her ear, unbothered. "How l

en as the ache in m

I landed. He wanted to know where I'd bee

ad left me alone, saying he had work. Had h

been around. Takes me to the old spots fro

maintained my composure.

I was with Gavin for six years. You're just the one he settled

aced me with you. A placeholder. Did you know he set off fireworks along t

. The next day, when I mentioned the fireworks, he claimed he

rly relishing the moment. "Guess what he to