Raelynn sat in the corner of a cozy café near her apartnt, surrounded by soft chatter and the sound of dishes clinking. She stared at the glass of iced tea in front of her, watching the condensation drip down and gather on the coaster below. Her fingers absentmindedly traced the wet circle, her thoughts miles away.
It had been a few days since she had walked into Elion's office and dropped the bombshell of her pregnancy. And since then? Nothing. No calls, no ssages, no dramatic confrontations or resolutions. Just silence.
She leaned back in her chair, her hand resting lightly on her stomach. What was she even doing? Was she expecting so kind of grand response from him? She sighed heavily, her fingers curling slightly against the fabric of her shirt. The DNA test must have been completed by now, but there had been no word. Did that an the results weren't what she thought? Or was Elion just taking his sweet ti?
Raelynn's lips twisted into a faint, humorless smile. Even if the DNA test confird it was Elion's child, what exactly did she think he would do? Sweep her into his arms, promise to be there every step of the way, and build a life together? She scoffed quietly to herself, shaking her head.
No, Elion didn't strike her as that kind of man. Based on how detached and transactional he seed the last ti they'd t, he'd probably just throw money at the situation. Maybe another million dollars to fund her and the baby's life and then vanish back into his luxurious, untouchable world.
"Well, that's still better than nothing," she muttered to herself, drumming her fingers on the table. The alternative—that Elion wouldn't acknowledge the baby at all—felt like a much harder choice. If that happened, she would have to rely entirely on herself, scraping by with whatever work she could find.
The thought made her stomach twist. She wasn't sure if she was ready for that kind of future.
Raelynn sighed again, deeper this ti, and drained the last of her iced tea. The cold drink went down easy, offering so small comfort to calm her racing thoughts. She set the empty glass down and pushed back her chair, standing with a stretch. Her shoulders ached from being hunched over for so long, and she rolled them back as she headed for the door.
The morning sun greeted her as she stepped outside, warm but not overwhelming. She began the short walk back to her apartnt, her mind buzzing with possibilities and worries. She'd applied to several restaurants in the past few weeks, but none of them had called her back. Was it ti to consider another field? Could she even handle a completely different type of work? And what about after the baby was born? Should she wait until then to find a job?
"Ugh," she groaned, running a hand through her hair. "So many possibilities, and all of them suck." She frowned at the pavent, her pace quickening as if walking faster might sohow clear her head.
By the ti she reached her apartnt building, her head was pounding. "Damn bar, damn whiskey," she muttered under her breath as she entered the lobby and stepped into the elevator.
When the elevator doors slid open on her floor, Raelynn stepped out and made her way toward her apartnt. She fished her keys out of her pocket, her steps slowing as she approached. But then she stopped abruptly.
Soone was standing in front of her door.
Her heart skipped a beat, her grip tightening on her keys. The man's back was to her, but she recognized him imdiately. The way he stood, his sharp suit, and that easy confidence—it was Kade.
She hesitated for only a mont before quickening her pace, her voice cutting through the quiet hallway. "Kade?"
The man turned at the sound of her voice, his sharp features softening slightly when his eyes t hers. He offered her a small, polite smile, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. "Raelynn," he said smoothly. "I was just about to leave. Thought I'd co back tomorrow."
She stopped a few steps away from him, her brows furrowing. "Why? What's going on?"
Kade's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. His dark eyes held hers, and she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. "I'm here on Elion's orders," he said, his voice calm but firm. "He's asked to bring you to him."
Raelynn blinked, her grip on her keys tightening. "Bring to him? Why?" Her voice wavered slightly, though she tried to keep it steady.
Kade tilted his head slightly, his gaze unreadable. "I think it's best if Elion explains that himself."
Her stomach twisted, a mix of anxiety and curiosity churning within her. She stared at Kade, searching his face for answers, but he remained frustratingly neutral. "What if I don't want to go?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Kade's lips quirked into a faint smile, almost as if he'd expected the question. "You can make that decision," he said simply. "But I'd suggest hearing him out. It might be… important."
Raelynn frowned, her mind racing. Why now? After days of silence, why was Elion suddenly summoning her? And why send Kade to deliver the ssage? She bit her lip, glancing at her door. Her instinct was to refuse, to stay in the safety of her apartnt and pretend this wasn't happening. But a small part of her—a part she couldn't quite suppress—wanted to know what Elion had to say.
She took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around her keys before she finally nodded. "Fine," she said. "I'll go."
Kade's smile returned, though it was faint. "Good," he said. "Shall we?"
Raelynn hesitated for only a mont before slipping her keys back into her pocket and following Kade down the hall. Her heart pounded as they walked, her mind spinning with questions she wasn't sure she wanted answered.
Whatever awaited her, she had a feeling her life was about to change again.
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