Chapter 122

Lila’s POV

It felt like sleep had been forced on me, not gifted.

After Drew left, I cried out my eyes until my chest ached, My mom and dad just watched me and when I had no tears left to cry they led me to my room to sleep. They sat on either side of me until the exhaustion came upon me and until the shaking in my hands eased.

Then Mom coaxed me into lying down on the bed like I was still her little girl, smoothing the hair from my forehead, humming the soft tune she used to when storms kept me awake. Dad did not say much, he never did when he was angry but his presence filled the room, solid and protective, until my body gave in to sleep.

When my eyes finally opened again, gray morning light poured through the curtains, softer now, quieter. For a fleeting moment, I thought maybe it had been a dream. That Drew had never shown up. That he had never said those words.

But then I shifted, and the ache in my chest reminded me. It had been real. Every second of it.

I rubbed my temples and got out of bed slowly. My parents were in the kitchen, whispering in that way people whisper when they don’t want you to know you are the subject. When I entered, they both looked up, too quickly, and forced smiles that didn’t quite reach their eyes.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Mom said. “Hungry?”

“Not really,” I murmured. My stomach was a knot.

They exchanged a glance. Dad opened his mouth as if to say something, but Mom nudged him under the table. The message was clear: not now.

I sat with them for a few minutes, sipping at tea I did not want. Their careful silence only made the air heavier. Finally, I blurted out what had been in my mind since I woke up.

“I don’t want to be alone today.” I couldn't even look at them as I said it, I just buried my eyes inside my cup.

Mom looked at me, then at Dad. He gave a small nod. “you can come with me to the shop,” she offered, her voice gentle. “It will keep your mind busy.”

I agreed too quickly, clinging to the relief of having something to do, somewhere to be.

After breakfast that morning, we got to the shop in no time and the familiarity grounded me again. At first, it was just me and Mom stacking shelves, rearranging jars, tidying baskets. I tried to sink into the rhythm of it, into the normalcy. But it did not last for long.

By late morning, customers began streaming in. And with them, the whispers and talks. Each voice was like a pinprick against my skin. I tried to focus on arranging a stack of canned goods, but my hands trembled. Every detail lined up too perfectly.

They weren’t exactly quiet, either and I eventually caught the full gist from a particular customer who decided to give my mom the full gist.

They all spoke about a certain man who came into the bar to get drinks and almost got into a fight with Daniel. With the descriptions they gave I just knew who they were refering to.

It was Drew.

He did not just shaken my world last night. He also went out into town and managed to stir chaos there too.

My throat went dry. I slipped my phone from my pocket, my fingers flying over the screen as I sent Daniel a text. So many questions flooded my mind, what exactly happened to have caused Daniel to engage Drew physically.

Me: Are you okay?

The reply came faster than I expected.

Daniel: Yes, I am fine thank you. How are you doing too.

He said he was fine but I was still worried. My grip tightened around the phone, my heart hammering as i typed again.

Me: I'm fine too. Where are you now?

Daniel: Around. Why?

Me: I am at Mom’s shop.

There was a pause, then:

Daniel: Alright, stay there. I am coming.

I locked my phone and shoved it back into my pocket before Mom could notice. But my body betrayed me, my hands wouldn’t stop fidgeting and my feet shifted as though it was waiting for something inevitable.

When the small bell above the door jingled, I didn’t even need to look up. My heart recognized his presence first.

Daniel stood there, dressed simply, his hair still damp as though he had showered quickly after work. Ethan was not with him this time. His eyes found me immediately.

“Hi,” he said quietly, almost cautious.

“Hi,” I echoed, my voice tight.

Mom, busy with a customer, glanced up briefly, then back down at her register. But her raised brow said enough that she noticed.

“Can we…?” Daniel gestured slightly toward the door.

I nodded, slipping out from behind the counter. The cool air outside hit me as a relief, though my chest was still tight. We walked a few steps down, far enough from the shop window so that Mom could not overhear.

For a moment, neither of us spoke. His gaze lingered on me, steady, patient, but I could feel the question brimming in him before he even voiced it.

I broke first. “I heard… rumors. At the shop. About a fight that happened last night at the bar.”

He exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “It wasn't a fight exactly. I met the man who was in your house yesterday when we came back from the walk. Drew Sinclai..”

The name on his lips made me flinch. He noticed, his expression softening, but he continued. “I was called in to fix an electrical problem at the bar and I think he came in to buy drinks so we crossed paths.”

“And?” My voice came out smaller than I wanted.

Daniel’s jaw clenched. His eyes flickered with something restrained. “And he did not like me asking questions about why he was there. I told him I thought he was bad for you and he shoved me.”

I gasped, my hand rising instinctively to my chest. “He…he what?”

“It’s fine.” He lifted a hand quickly. “People pulled us apart before it went further. Nobody got hurt. I promise.”

I searched his face, looking for a lie, for any sign he was downplaying it. But his gaze was open, calm, almost too calm.

Still, my stomach twisted. “Daniel, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring you into this whole mess.”

“You don’t need to apologize.” His tone was gentle but firm. “You did not make him act like that. He chose to.”

Silence stretched between us, filled only by the distant chatter of townsfolk passing by.

Then Daniel asked the question I had been dreading, his voice quiet but steady.

“But I am curious though, what exactly is your relationship with him, Lila? You mentioned planning his launch event for him but I don't think that's enough reason for him to come down to this town to see you.”

I froze and my breath caught. My fingers twisted together at my side, nails biting into my skin.

The truth pressed against my throat, heavy, impossible to swallow anymore.

I lifted my eyes to his, forcing the words out, each one trembling.

“He…He is the father of my child.”