CHAPTER FIVE

I was instantly confused and infuriated. "Excuse me?"

His jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. "Sami… responds to you. Whether you like it or not, your presence here has changed the game."

I folded my arms, unwilling to let him dictate my choices. "And what about my daughter?"

His face remained impassive. "She can stay. You can bring her to work."

I narrowed my eyes. "You really don’t care that much, do you? As long as Sami benefits, that’s all that matters?"

His eyes darkened, a storm brewing beneath his controlled exterior. "I do what’s necessary."

A fire of anger rose in my chest. "And what about what’s necessary for me and my child?"

His fingers twitched, a fleeting crack in his mask. But his voice remained cold. "Are you saying no?"

I let out a slow breath, my mind racing. Lee had school to attend. But Sami… he needed me. How was I supposed to balance the two?

I could feel the weight of his gaze pressing into me, waiting. Demanding.

At last, I lifted my chin. "I'm saying… I'll think about it."

His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw something there. A flicker of something raw, something vulnerable.

But just as quickly, it was gone.

"Don't take too long," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

I turned on my heel, forcing myself to walk away before he could see the effect this conversation had on me.

I didn’t know if I truly had a choice.

And that frightened me.

……….

That evening, I didn't sleep, I couldn't sleep. 

It didn't help that I settled Lee into bed, tucking the blankets under her chin. I still couldn't find sleep for myself. 

I replayed Adam's words in my head, several times. 

"You need to move in full time."

I'd known this wasn't going to be temporary, not really. But then I had the option of going back to my house for weekends.  

But now, it feels like a trap sprung on me. I mean, moving here meant that I would no longer pay rent and that was extra money for my savings but it meant I couldn't have my personal space. 

The house was too silent. Too enormous.

Lee rolled over beside me, burrowing into my side with a soft sigh. Her warmth pressed into me, her small body curling into my own like she belonged there. I smoothed my fingers through her hair, feeling the silkiness of each strand as my heart twisted.

She didn't have a smooth life as a child without a father. She had been through a lot, managing what I had and offering me comfort as she grew. She had always been my source of strength, my reason to keep pushing forward, even when things felt impossible.

I had already affected her life by bringing her here. Was I about to do it again? Would staying only make it worse?

Would it be good for her? Would it be good for me?

And what about her school? The distance was too much. Her friends, her routine—everything she had known was back home.

Before I could let my worries spiral further, a sound at the door made me freeze.

A faint shuffle. A soft breath.

The hair on my arms stood up as I listened, my heart pounding just a little faster.

Shortly after, I heard a quiet, uncertain knock.

My pulse jumped as I carefully slipped out of bed, making sure not to wake Lee. The hotel room was dim, shadows stretching across the walls, cast by the glow of the bedside lamp.

I reached for the handle, half-expecting to find a housekeeper or, perhaps, Adam standing there with his usual guarded expression.

But it wasn’t either of them.

It was Sami.

He stood small and silent, his dark eyes searching mine, hesitant yet unwavering.

"Sami," I whispered, caught off guard. "What are you doing awake?"

No answer.

His gaze flickered past me, scanning the room as if searching for something. Or someone.

The realization hit me like a jolt to the chest.

"Want to see Lee?" I asked softly.

He nodded once, the movement subtle but certain.

My heart squeezed. It was the first time he had responded to me directly, and excitement burbled in my chest. But I couldn’t let it show, not yet. Any wrong move could send him retreating again.

So instead, I stepped aside, allowing him to enter. He moved carefully, his footsteps nearly soundless on the plush carpet, his small frame almost ghost-like in the dim light.

He stopped beside the bed, staring at Lee as she slept, her tiny fingers curled near her face.

Seconds stretched into minutes as Sami stood there, his hands clenched at his sides. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his emotions hanging between us, heavy and unspoken.

I didn’t push him.

The quiet was thick, save for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the distant sounds of the city outside.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Sami turned to me. His brow furrowed slightly, his lips pressing together as though he wanted to say something but couldn't.

I lowered myself to sit beside him, keeping my voice gentle. "It’s okay, Sami. You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready."

His fingers twitched at his sides.

Then I felt the faintest touch.

His fingertips barely grazed mine, the contact so delicate it could have been imagined. But I felt it.

A BREAKTHROUGH 

A knot formed in my throat as I forced a small, reassuring smile. "Would you like to sit with me for a bit?"

He didn’t nod. He didn’t step back.

Instead, he remained standing. More vocal in presence than in words.

And in that moment, something settled deep inside me.

A realization that I couldn’t go. At Least, not yet.