Raelynn's jaw dropped, her mouth forming a perfect "O" of shock as Elion's words echoed in her mind. For a mont, she was too stunned to react. Then, as if trying to shake off the absurdity of what she just heard, she laughed, but it sounded more like a sigh.
"Okay, stop playing around," she said, waving a hand in the air as if to dismiss the conversation entirely. "We need to be serious right now."
Elion, lounging casually on the couch with his drink still in hand, leaned back slightly. He didn't budge; his face stayed serious, and his eyes never wavered.
"Who's joking?" he asked, his voice calm and asured, yet carrying an edge that sent a shiver down her spine.
Raelynn's smile faltered, her laughter dying as she searched his face. No trace of amusent, no smirk or gleam of mischief in his eyes. Just seriousness—unyielding, almost chilling seriousness.
"You're not joking," she said slowly, her brow furrowing as realization dawned. "You're actually serious about this? You're literally asking to live with you?"
Elion leaned forward now, setting his drink down on the glass table with a soft clink. He took his ti, as if he wanted her to catch the aning behind his next words.
"I'm not asking you to live with ," he said, his voice calm but serious. "You misunderstand sothing, Raelynn. You will live with ."
Raelynn blinked at him, montarily speechless. Her fingers gripped the edge of the couch cushion tightly as she tried to process what he'd just said.
"What makes you think I'll do that?" she asked, her voice sharp, though a flicker of doubt crept into her tone.
Elion's lips curved slightly—not into a smile, but sothing that hinted at the satisfaction of soone who knew they held all the cards.
"I don't think you'll do it," he said simply, leaning back against the couch again, his arms spreading across the backrest in a posture of absolute confidence. "I know you will."
Raelynn raised a hand, palm outward, as if physically stopping his words from reaching her. "Stop," she said firmly, her voice trembling slightly despite her attempt to stay composed. "Just stop. I'm not going to live with you. I'm perfectly fine on my own."
Elion shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward again, his elbows resting on his knees. "No, you're not fine," he said, his voice softening, though the intensity of his gaze remained. "You don't understand, Raelynn. You have my child inside you. I can't—won't—let you live alone in that cramped apartnt of yours."
Raelynn's jaw tightened, her body stiffening as his words hit her like a punch to the gut. She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up a hand, silencing her.
"What if sothing happens to you?" he continued, his voice rising slightly as he spoke. "What if you need sothing and no one's there to help you? What if you get hurt? Or worse?"
"I'll be fine!" Raelynn shot back, her voice louder than she intended. Her cheeks flushed with frustration, but she couldn't ignore the tiny seed of doubt his words had planted.
"No, you won't," Elion replied, his tone dropping back to that maddening calmness. "And let's not forget the reason we're here in the first place. Seeing you at that bar that night? Drinking yourself into coma and then…" He let the sentence hang, his aning clear. "Let's just say I don't trust you to always make responsible decisions. I need to keep an eye on you."
Raelynn's face burned with humiliation and anger. "Excuse ?" she snapped, her voice trembling. "I can take care of myself, thank you very much. And don't act like you're so saint here—you were at that bar too, rember?"
Elion raised an eyebrow, unfazed by her outburst. "That may be true," he said, his tone cool and unaffected. "But the difference is, I'm not the one carrying a child now, am I?"
Raelynn's hands balled into fists in her lap. "I don't need you to take care of ," she said, though her voice had lost so of its fire. "And don't talk like that—it's like you're cursing or sothing."
Elion tilted his head slightly, his gaze softening just a fraction. "It's not a curse," he said quietly. "It's reality. You might not want to hear it, but that doesn't make it any less true."
Raelynn sighed, slumping back against the couch. As much as she hated to admit it, he wasn't entirely wrong. She lived alone in that tiny apartnt, and while her best friend Zara was supportive, she couldn't rely on her to be there 24/7. She prided herself on being independent, but the truth was, she had no idea what this pregnancy would bring. She'd thought a one-night stand was harmless fun, and look where that had gotten her. What if the universe decided to throw another curveball her way?
Elion's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "You won't need to work or worry about anything," he said, sounding calr now, almost like he was trying to talk her through it. "I'll take full responsibility—for you and the baby. You'll live here, and all your needs will be taken care of."
Raelynn stared at him, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. "And then what?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
"And then," Elion said, leaning forward again, his gaze locking onto hers, "after the baby is born, I'll give you enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life. You can even start over in another country if you want."
Raelynn's breath caught. Of all the things she expected him to say, this wasn't one of them. She studied his face, searching for any hint of insincerity, but found none. His words, his tone, his expression—it was all too genuine.
But then he continued, his next words making her stomach twist.
"That's the deal," he said, his voice growing colder. "But it cos with one condition."
Raelynn's brow furrowed, her heart pounding in her chest. "What condition?" she asked warily.
"You have to deliver the baby safely," Elion said, his tone firm, leaving no room for argunt. "After that, I'll take care of the child."
Raelynn's breath hitched, her mind reeling. Her lips parted, but no words ca out. She stared at him, totally taken aback, as his words started to sink in.
He wasn't just offering to take responsibility—he was taking control.
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