I Said Yes to Her Affair

The tension drained out of Laura Marano all at once. She hadn't expected me to be so generous, and she definitely hadn't expected I'd still want her.

"I'm glad you've come around."

I gave her a faint smile.

I hadn't come around to anything. I'd simply seen through to what survival actually required. A person could live without love. Nobody could live without money.

Laura seemed to be testing the waters. She stepped closer and looped her arm through mine, pressing against me, her gaze soft but weighing me all the same.

"Will you handle my abortion? I won't feel safe with anyone else doing it."

I answered without a flicker of hesitation, the corner of my mouth curling up.

"Of course. Leave it to me."

Something flickered in her eyes, like she couldn't quite read me anymore.

"I'm scared it'll hurt. Go easy on me."

I gave her a reassuring look. "You'll be under anesthesia. It won't hurt at all."

Maxwell Walsh panicked and dropped to his knees, begging me.

"Please, no. Please, Kyle, this is my first child. It's a life.

"I'll sign whatever paper you want. I'll stay in my lane, keep being the other man, never ask for anything else. Just please, give my baby a chance to be born."

I looked down at Maxwell, kneeling on the floor.

I had to admit it: in my last life, this kid had outplayed me. He'd used Laura to give birth to a son who'd go on to inherit the Marano family fortune, and he'd spent his whole life living large because of it.

But I'd had a moral streak in me that couldn't stomach betrayal. I'd walked away from her without looking back.

Two different decisions. He got money, while I got tragedy.

Love really did make people stupid.

I put on a wounded expression for Laura's benefit.

"I've already backed down this much, and he's still pushing me. Is he trying to force us apart on purpose?"

Laura's voice was gentle, but there was an authority in it that left no room for argument. "Maxwell, that's enough. We'll do what Kyle says."