Chapter 15

Mia was preparing dinner while chatting with Lily about their office's new boss. Lily had been out of the office for a while, and Mia was curious about her plans to return. "So, when are you thinking of coming back to work?" Mia asked, stirring the vegetables.

Lily hesitated, her expression somber. "I'm not sure yet. I need to get my strength back." Just then, the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," Mia said, wiping her hands on a towel.

She made her way to the door and peered through the peephole. Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw Jackson, her ex-boyfriend, standing on the porch. She opened the door, her expression cold.

"Mia, please talk to me," Jackson said, taking a step forward. But Mia wasn't having it. She stood her ground, her arms crossed. "I don't want to talk to you," she said firmly. "Leave."

Jackson's eyes pleaded with her, but Mia's expression remained unyielding. "Please, Mia, just hear me out," he begged. But Mia shook her head and took a step forward, her voice rising. "I said leave. Now."

Jackson looked taken aback, but he didn't give up. "Mia, don't be like this," he said, trying to grab her arm. But Mia was quick. She pushed him away and kicked him out of the doorway. "Get out!" she shouted.

Jackson stumbled backward, his eyes wide with surprise. Mia didn't hesitate. She slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the hallway.

Mia leaned against the door, her heart racing. She took a deep breath and turned to Lily, who was watching from the kitchen with a curious expression.

"Who was that?" Lily asked, her brow furrowed.

Mia's expression softened slightly. "Just my ex," she said, her voice still firm. "Don't worry about it."

Lily nodded, and Mia headed back to the kitchen, trying to shake off the encounter. "Let's finish dinner," she said, attempting to sound casual.

After dinner, the doorbell rang again. Mia cursed under her breath, thinking it was Jackson returning. She stormed to the door and flung it open, ready for a confrontation. But to her surprise, it wasn't Jackson. It was Ethan.

Mia's expression turned cold. "What do you want now?" she asked, her voice dripping with hostility. "I've paid all the hospital bills. What more do you want?"

Ethan's face hardened, his jaw clenched. "I'm here to talk to Lily," he said, his voice firm.

Mia raised an eyebrow. "She doesn't want to meet you. Get out. This is my house and dog, and you're not allowed."

Ethan's face turned red with anger, and he clenched his fists. For a moment, it seemed like he might lash out. But just then, Lily appeared behind Mia.

"Go inside, Mia. Let him talk to me," Lily said, her voice calm.

Mia turned to Lily, her eyes questioning. "Are you sure?" she asked, concern etched on her face.

Lily nodded, her expression resolute. Mia shot a glance at Ethan, her eyes warning him to behave, before stepping aside and allowing him to enter.

"Say what you want to say," Lily said, her voice firm.

Ethan's words cut through the air like a knife. "I told my parents about our divorce and Sarah, and also Sarah's pregnancy," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "But one thing I hid was your abortion. I know if I told them, they'd only believe your lie, not me. They'd blame me, and who knows, they might even kick me out of their property."

Lily's eyes widened in shock, her heart breaking into a million pieces. She had expected apologies, pleas for forgiveness, or maybe even accusations. But this? This was a whole new level of selfishness. For a moment, she thought she might crumble under the weight of her emotions. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Instead, she nodded curtly. "Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

And with that, she closed the door on Ethan's face. The sound of the door shutting was like a punctuation mark, ending their conversation and any lingering hopes of reconciliation.

Ethan stood frozen, his eyes fixed on the closed door. He looked shocked, taken aback by Lily's sudden dismissal. But Lily didn't care. She leaned against the door, her heart heavy with sorrow and her mind reeling with the implications of Ethan's words.

Mia walked toward Lily and enveloped her in a warm hug. "For a while, I also thought he'd say sorry," she whispered, her voice soft and comforting. "But he...this man is just selfish. How could you even fall for this man, Lily?"

Lily didn't respond. Instead, she let her tears fall onto Mia's shoulder, the weight of her emotions finally breaking through the dam she'd built. Mia held her tightly, offering silent support as Lily's body shook with sobs.

Mia stroked Lily's hair, her touch gentle. "You're better off without him, Lily," she whispered. "He doesn't deserve you."

Lily's tears continued to fall, but with Mia's arms around her, she felt a sense of safety, a sense of being understood. She let herself cry, letting go of the pain and the heartache that had been building up inside her.

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