secrets and sacrifice

e quiet solitude of her apartment, it loomed over her like a dark cloud, threatening to break at any moment. Every time she thoug

ind, patient, and genuinely concerned about her. But the lon

He trusted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that if he knew the truth-if he kne

d window, bringing with it a sense of calm she hadn't felt in weeks. It was a small comfort, but she too

a slow, deep breath. She had no idea how she was going to raise this child. She had no idea how s

going back. N

ere nearly empty, but she hadn't had the energy or the motivation to go grocery shopping in days. Caleb had be

a knock at

sual knock she'd grown accustomed to-the polite, soft tap that Caleb would give when he brought her somethin

that made her

r pulse quickening as f

couldn't. She wasn't ready to fac

more forceful this time. The wei

't have

hovered over the doorknob for a moment, the chill of the metal sending a shiver up her spine. She

she twisted the knob a

r side, was a man she never

was

ndro D

ho had ow

ss she had e

e the air seem thin. He was dressed in his usual dark, tailored suit, his face unreadable, a cold,

t she refused to show it. She couldn't. Not in front o

voice came out sharp,

y slightly. "I think you k

t let him into her life, not now, no

trembling despite her best efforts to s

ng," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "You think you can just walk away fro

roat. "I didn't steal from you,"

heavy in the ai

ded, the bitterness in her vo

t a smile. It was a dark, calculating smirk. "Y

t few months, the false sense of security she had tried so hard to

hem. The confession felt like a weight lifting from her chest, but she inst

action, but his eyes darkened with somethin

" His voice was c

a step back, away from him.

ou took something that belonged to me, Marissa

e said firmly, trying to steady her trem

h something dark. "W

ed down the hallway, and Ma

d the hallway behind her, and his

someone else," he said, h

wed in confusion. He had clearly heard the exchange. The tension in the room was palpable. H

oice calm but firm, though Mariss

ate," she said quickly, her v

usiness associate? Is that what you call me now, Marissa?"

t Marissa. His eyes were filled with question

e low but steady. "You don'

e might do something-something violent, something unforgivable. But th

e said, his voice carrying a da

ed away, his footsteps echoing down the

the door clicked shut behind him. She leaned a

s crossed over his chest, his fac

id softly. "What

ay. How could she? How could s

he said finally, her v

ris

ated, her voice br

ers for answers. But there were no an

leaving her standing there in the silence of her ap

d her. And now, the