Chapter 20

Marissa’s Point of View

She had a daughter. Callahan’s daughter.

I couldn’t decide which part hurt,  knowing there was a child or the way his eyes followed her as if nothing else in the room mattered.

For years, I had been patient. Pretended to be happy with whatever scraps of affection he threw my way, and I was happy.

I used to be the one he chased. Now, every time she walked in, something in him shifted. A tilt of his head. A pause in his breath. That look. Like he was, it was the most beautiful thing in the room. It used to be me he looked like that.

My nails pressed into my palm as I watched him step away from the crowd, his expression already closing off, his shoulders straightening as if he was putting distance between himself and everything else. Including me.

The elevator doors slid open, and he stepped inside without looking back. I slipped in just before they closed, the quiet hum of the lift wrapping around us.

“Callahan,” I mumbled.

Just stood there, eyes forward, jaw tight.

A slow breath left him, heavy and irritated. Acting as if he were exhausted.

My throat tightened, but I pushed the feeling down. The words came out softer than I intended. “I miss you.”

He shifted slightly, just enough to glance at me from the corner of his eye before looking away again.

“I’m tired,” he said.

I frowned, staring at him. “It’s eleven in the morning.”

He didn’t respond but just ignored me completely.

“I wasn’t always something you had to tolerate,” I muttered, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

His gaze flicked to me, cold and detached. “You’re making this harder than it needs to be.”

My chest tightened. “Harder? We need to talk, Callahan.” I let out a small laugh.

He just exhaled again, longer this time, dragging a hand down his face like he was already done with this conversation.

“With you, it’s always something,” he added.

I stepped closer, refusing to let him brush me off so easily. “And with her, it’s nothing?” My voice sharpened despite my effort to keep it steady. “She walks into a room, and suddenly you forget everything else.”

“Careful,” The warning in his tone made my stomach drop, but I didn’t stop.

“I waited for you,” I pushed, my voice dropping. “For years. While you were with her.”

I tried my best to school my features, even though tears threatened to fall.

“I didn’t ask you to.”

I froze.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. I just felt something warm stream down my cheek.

He didn’t look at me when he said it. He just stood there, his hand in his pocket.

“Callahan,” I whispered, my voice breaking, and suddenly felt a lump in my throat.

The elevator slowed. My chest rose sharply, something bitter climbing up my throat.

“Callahan, what happened? You…” I didn’t finish my sentence before he stepped out, walking away like the conversation meant nothing, leaving me standing there.

**

“Don’t give up.” I blinked, dragging my focus back to the present.

Blake stood across from me, arms crossed, her expression sharp but knowing.

“He’s distracted,” she continued. “That’s all.”

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “She’s not just a distraction. I know it.”

Blake’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Then make sure she doesn’t become anything more.”

I looked at her, raising an eyebrow. I have tried to push Orana away, but somehow I always end up having to argue with Callahan, and I feel that’s straining our relationship.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “You’ve been around longer. People take cues from that. Don’t let her walk in and take your place without a fight.”

My jaw tightened. I didn’t want her to take away what I had waited for so many years. For fourteen years, I have loved Callahan, despite everyone telling me to give up on him; I didn’t. Even when he was forced to marry her, he always made it clear it was me he loved.

I glanced away, my thoughts already shifting, calculating what to do despite the ache still sitting in my chest.

Blake watched me carefully before adding, “Or… redirect the situation.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Her lips curved slightly. “Work with Vaughn.”

I stilled.

“He looked interested,” she said. “And if Callahan sees that…”

Something flickered in my chest, relief? I pressed my lips together. Vaughn Carson, the man who threatened to cut off my hand, and if I’m being honest, he terrifies me.

“Listen, a man like Vaughn Carson will do whatever it takes to get whatever he wants. So why not work with him?” She offers with a smile.

I straightened slightly, smoothing my expression.

“Get me Vaughn’s number,” I said with a smile. If I wanted Callahan, then I had to pull out all the tricks up my sleeve.