004

🌹JORDYN 🌹

“Where’s my husband?” Vanessa asked one of the housekeepers after we’d taken our spots at the table.

I pretended not to pay attention to whatever she was saying, knowing fully well that I’d barely escaped from his room.

“I informed Don about twenty minutes ago, and—" the housekeeper began to explain, but another voice interrupted her.

I had just sat down when footsteps approached. His faint scent of cedar wood wafted through my nostrils, sending my stomach churning.

“—I’m here, honey,” he said sweetly, walking over to Vanessa, who stood across from me. “I was on a phone call with Mum.”

I forced myself not to make eye contact with him—not after where I’d been and what I’d done. My hand reached for the cutlery wrapped neatly in a fancy napkin.

From the corners of my eyes, I glanced at his outfit, and a small, bitter smile tugged at my lips.

He held Vanessa’s waist and pressed his lips against her forehead like it was the most natural thing in the world. Heat crawled up my spine, and I felt the turmoil tightening in my chest.

“What are you wearing?” Vanessa’s voice sounded disappointed. “You’re seriously not wearing this to the occasion, are you?”

I saw nothing wrong with the bright blue T-shirt and black-stoned jean pants. Ty loved wearing bright colors all the time, and that was one thing that had me drawn to him—back when I thought he was all that mattered.

His eyes went over his outfit again, and I saw the confused reaction etched on his face.

“I didn’t pick this,” he muttered, adding a hearty chuckle. “You did.”

I sat there, letting the tension rise around me, pretending I wasn’t a part of it.

Vanessa scoffed. “Me? I didn’t pick this. Why would I pick something like this for a baby shower?”

Baby shower?

That wasn’t what I’d been invited for. I thought this was just… lunch.

Were they having a baby?

If that was true, then it hit something raw in me, and my heart began to pound heavily.

I glanced at Vanessa, my eyes searching for any sign of a baby bump, but the long dress made it impossible to tell.

“I thought…” Ty trailed off, his eyes darting to me while I averted my gaze quickly. “Never mind. I'll change.”

“What’s the point?” She clicked her tongue. “You’re already here. Who knows? You might already be wearing the right color.”

My fingers tightened slightly around the cutlery. The thought of Ty having a baby with another woman twisted something deep inside me.

Especially after everything his mother had done… after what we could have had.

Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back quickly.

His voice cut through my thoughts, soft and gentle as he responded to Vanessa.

“I can’t wait to meet our little bundle of joy.”

Those words were drowned out by their laughter and the sound of their kisses, but… they didn’t leave my head.

That was it.

I couldn’t keep my composure in check anymore. I slammed my fork onto the table, the sound cutting through the air.

Vanessa’s attention shifted to me immediately, and so did Ty.

“Ms. Jordyn?” She called in concern, stepping forward. “Is something wrong?”

I blinked rapidly, forcing the tears back down. My throat tightened, but my chest was heavier.

I raised my head quietly, hoping they wouldn’t see through the facade. Ty wasn’t looking at me, but my eyes observed every part of his reaction.

And he seemed pretty chill and unbothered, a look of indifference etched on his face.

“I…” I swallowed hard. “I need to use the restroom.”

Before she could say anything, I stood up, fighting back the tears, and made my way through the house.

Vanessa’s voice faded into the background behind me, and I heard Ty saying something in response.

Since I knew my way around the house, I walked straight into the bathroom I was familiar with—the same one I’d used for years.

The workers gave subtle nods as I walked past them. I reached for that bathroom’s door and turned the knob open.

The moment I stepped inside, I glanced at myself in the mirror—but that didn’t look like me.

My eyes were red and throbbing, and my fingertips brushed over my lashes. I couldn’t hold the tears back; instead, I clasped my hand over my mouth to muffle the sobs.

“I can’t wait to meet our little bundle of joy.”

“Baby shower.”

Those words echoed and replayed in my mind until I couldn’t take it anymore. I dug my fingers into my perfectly styled waves, gasping for air and sobbing uncontrollably.

Why would Ty build another family without me?

How could he just… Erase me like I never existed?

Oh now, he wanted a baby? And he was celebrating?

I’d seen how his green eyes lit up when he uttered the words. Or was it the expressive, warm smile that tugged at his lips when he held Vanessa?

“That fucking bastard,” I cussed under my breath. “So, this is how he replaces me.”

I tried to steady my breathing, tried to keep it together—but the tears ruined everything anyway.

I stared right into the mirror, turned on the sink water, and just let it pour over my hands.

I’d come dressed in a dusty pink chiffon midi dress, having not the slightest idea that I was attending the baby shower of my ex-boyfriend.

A few minutes passed and I remained there, fixing my hair and trying to act composed before walking out.

I turned around to open the door, but the knob was already unlocked just as I held it. Something shifted inside me as I braced myself to face who was standing on the other side.

My heart slammed hard into my chest at the sight of who’d walked in, and I tightened my fingers around the folds of my dress.

Ty was here.

He walked in, I took a step back, and kept going until my back was against the cold wall.

The cold look he flashed at me when I tried to hold his gaze made my body tremble slightly. I gulped down a swallow and straightened my shoulders.

“What are you doing here?” He asked harshly, his jaw clenched. “And who the fuck are you?”

He lashed at me like he suspected something. I darted my eyes away from his face, struggling with my thoughts and words.

When I attempted to respond, I stuttered. “I… I…”

“It was you, wasn’t it?” He threw accusingly after a scoff. “You were the one who came into my room.”

Wait, how did he find out?

I batted my eyelashes and inhaled deeply, wearing my practiced smile. I couldn’t let him see through my cracked countenance.

So, I lied my way out.

“You must have confused me with someone else.”

Ty refused to stay back. His gaze lingered on me for too long, staring like something wasn’t adding up. Then, he got closer, bridged the gap between us, and caught my wrist.

I gasped when I felt his fingers tighten around my skin, sending shocking waves of sensation coursing through my body.

One look at him and I found myself drowning in the intensity of his gaze. It felt like I was back where he had me seven years ago.

His eyes raked through my figure like they were trying to uncover something I’d buried inside me.

Before I could even process what he was doing, Ty pulled me closer against his chest, his nose inhaling my neck.

My heart pounded violently as I stood there, wondering what he was trying to prove.

Having him that close made my knees weaken slightly, and my fingers gripped his shirt unconsciously.

“Mr. Sinclair,” I panicked. “What you’re doing is unacceptable.”

His eyes bore through mine, forcing me to glance away. Fear clawed its way to my heart, and I silently prayed he didn’t suspect anything.

“Vanilla,” his breath hitched against my neck. “You’re… you’re her." His grip tightened. “I fucking knew it was you.”