James arrived unexpectedly at his pregnant daughter’s apartment carrying a baby gift and a small pink teddy bear.
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Chapter 12 / 17
Chapter 12
Ryan asked Emily to forgive him.
Too soon.
She said no.
He looked at me as if I had instructed her.
I almost laughed.
“You think every decision she makes belongs to another man.”
His face tightened.
That was the heart of it.
If Emily obeyed him, she was loyal.
If she resisted, I controlled her.
There was no version where Emily simply decided.
She stood beside the window with one hand beneath her stomach.
“I don’t know what happens to us.”
Ryan swallowed.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
That hurt him more.
Love was not enough to erase what happened.
Emily continued.
“I don’t want you near me right now.”
He looked at me.
I did nothing.
Then he looked back at her.
Finally.
“Okay.”
One word.
First boundary he accepted without another man enforcing it.
Small.
May you like
Late.
Necessary.
