Chapter 14

Max’s question hung in the silence. My heart pounded against my ribcage, each beat hammering home the reality of what I had just confessed.

Who’s the father?

My hands fidgeted in my lap, restless and damp, as I fought the urge to flee. There was no escaping this, no way to dodge the question or soften the blow. Max deserved the truth, but that didn’t make saying it any easier.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry and scratchy, as i forced myself to meet his gaze. Max was watching me, his expression unreadable but tense, his hands stuffed deep into his jeans pockets as if he were physically restraining himself.

I hesitated. Should I even tell him? Would it change anything? My gut twisted with uncertainty, and for a fleeting moment, I considered lying. It would be so much simpler to say I didn’t know, to keep this part of my shame hidden. But I knew Max he wouldn’t let it go. He wasn’t the type to just walk away without the truth.

“It’s…” My voice wavered, and I clenched my fists to steady myself. Every part of me screamed to stop, to keep this secret buried, but I forced the words out anyway. “It’s Drew.”

Max’s entire body stiffened. For a moment, I thought he hadn’t heard me. He stood frozen, his jaw tight and his shoulders rigid, his face an unreadable mask. Then, slowly, his hands slipped from his pockets, curling into fists at his sides.

“Drew?” he repeated, his voice low and tight, each syllable dripping with disbelief.

“Yes.” My voice was barely above a whisper, and my eyes dropped to the floor. I couldn’t bear to look at him, couldn’t handle seeing the disgust or anger I knew would be there.

For a long, agonizing moment, there was silence. Then Max let out a harsh laugh, the sound bitter and sharp, like shards of glass slicing through the tension.

“So, let me get this straight,” he said, his tone laced with disbelief and barely concealed anger. “You had a one night stand with Drew? And now you’re pregnant?”

The way he said it, the emphasis on the one night stand, made my stomach churn. It wasn’t just the words, it was the way they were laced with judgment, with disappointment. I flinched as though he had physically struck me.

“Max” I started, but he cut me off.

“How could you be so careless, Lila?” he demanded, his voice rising as he began to pace the small space in front of me. “A one night stand? With no protection? Are you serious right now?”

His words hit me like a slap to the face, each one cutting deeper than the last. My chest tightened as shame and guilt rose like a tidal wave, threatening to drown me.

“I…” I tried again, but he wasn’t done.

“What were you thinking?” he continued, throwing his hands up in exasperation. His pacing quickened, his frustration radiating off him in waves. “Do you have any idea how irresponsible that was? You could’ve…” He trailed off, shaking his head as if he couldn’t even finish the thought.

“Stop!” I snapped, my voice trembling with emotion. “I already know, okay? I don’t need you to remind me!”

Max froze mid step, his eyes widening slightly at the sharpness of my tone. For a moment, the room was awfully quiet, the air crackling with tension.

Then he ran a hand through his hair and sighed, his expression softening slightly. “Lila, I didn’t mean”

“No,” I interrupted, my voice breaking. “You meant it. Don’t try to take it back now. You think I don’t already hate myself for what happened? You think I don’t lie awake at night replaying that stupid, reckless decision over and over again in my head?”

Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back furiously. I wouldn’t cry in front of him. Not now. Not when I was already so vulnerable, so exposed.

“Lila…” Max took a tentative step toward me, his voice soft, almost pleading. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just”

“Just what?” I snapped, my voice rising with a mix of anger and desperation. “You wanted to remind me how much of a screw-up I am? Mission accomplished, Max.”

“That’s not what I’m trying to do,” he said quickly, his tone desperate. “I was worried”

“Worried?” I let out a bitter laugh, the sound hollow and sharp. “You think you’re the only one who’s worried? You think I don’t know how stupid this all is? You think I don’t wake up every single day wondering how I let it get this far?”

My voice cracked, and for a moment, I thought I might break down right there in front of him. But I didn’t. I refused to let myself fall apart, not in front of Max.

“I was out of line,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, Lila. I shouldn’t have said those things. I am so sorry”

“Just go,” I said, cutting him off again.

“What?”

“I need to be alone,” I said firmly, my voice shaking. “Please, Max. Just leave.”

“Lila, don’t do this,” he pleaded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I really sorry”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, shaking my head. “You’ve already said what you really think, and now I need you to go.”

“Lila”

“Please, Max,” I said again, my voice cracking. “Just go.”

He hesitated, his eyes searching mine as if he was looking for some way to fix the damage he had done. But there was nothing he could say to take back the sting of his words.

Finally, with a reluctant sigh, he nodded. “Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll go. But I’m sorry, Lila. I really am.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. I just stood there, staring at the floor as he made his way to the door.

When I heard the click of the latch as it closed behind him, my legs gave out, and I sank to the floor, burying my face in my hands.

The shame, the guilt, the overwhelming sense of failure it all crashed down on me at once, suffocating me under its weight.

How did I get here? How had everything gone so far out of control?

The truth was out now, and there was no taking it back. But instead of feeling lighter, all I felt was the crushing weight of everything I had lost and everything I stood to lose.

And then came the waterworks, flowing freely with no restrictions.