LOGINJessica didn't look surprised. She only pointed to the couch across from her. "Sit. I figured you'd show up tonight."Christopher sat down but said nothing, only looked at her.Jessica didn't rush him. She lowered her head and continued organizing the files in her lap.Finally, Christopher spoke. "I don't know how to handle relationships."Jessica drew in a slow breath.She set the files aside, got up, and poured him a glass of water. After placing it in front of him, she looked at him calmly. "Christopher, in your current state, you shouldn't be trying to handle a relationship at all."Christopher's hand paused around the glass, and he lifted his eyes to her."I'm a therapist. I know how important emotional stability is."Jessica's voice stayed soft. "I never expect someone who can't steady himself to talk about love or take responsibility for another person. That isn't fair to her, and it isn't responsible for you."After she said it, a quiet ache spread through her ch
Amelia held the phone, her fingertips turning cold.It took her only a second to understand why Christopher had called.He wasn't asking what had happened. He was calling to question her on Samantha's behalf.Her mouth curved faintly, her voice edged with sarcasm. "So this is an interrogation?"Christopher went quiet for a few seconds.Then, he let out a low sigh. "No. Maybe I came off wrong. I just wanted to ask what happened.""Ask what happened?"Amelia gave a soft laugh, her voice cooling. "Did Samantha not tell you what we said? Or did she tell you, and you didn't believe her, so you had to come and ask me? Christopher, don't you ever get tired of this?"She paused, her gaze falling on the clock on the wall. The second hand ticked steadily, each sound tapping against her already strained nerves."If you think I'm in your way, or if you're afraid I'll upset Samantha, just say so. Make up any excuse you want to keep me away from both of you. I won't cling to you, and I
Amelia drew a slow breath and forced down the emotions rising in her chest. Then she lifted her head and looked at Samantha with a sharp, steady gaze. "Ms. Bloom, my marriage to Christopher isn't yours to judge. Instead of picking apart someone else's past, you should worry about your own present. After all, not everyone can secure their place the way you have."Samantha's smile froze. Her expression turned ugly. "What's that supposed to mean?""Nothing." Amelia set down her fork and stood, her voice cool. "I have work to do. Enjoy your lunch, Ms. Bloom."With that, she turned and walked back to her desk, leaving Samantha's face dark with anger and the surrounding coworkers trapped in awkward silence.Back at her workstation, Amelia stared at her computer screen for a long time without moving.Samantha's words had been cruel, but they had also made one thing painfully clear: whatever she and Christopher had once had was nothing more than a mistake she no longer wanted to remembe
Amelia slipped quietly into Evelyn's room and looked at the little girl's soft sleeping face. The ache in her chest only deepened.She didn't want Evelyn growing up in a complicated mess, and she didn't want this unexpected child to become another burden her daughter had to live around.That night, Amelia barely slept.She sat on the living room couch, staring at the moonlight beyond the window, turning Jasper's words over and over in her mind. No matter how many times she thought it through, her first decision didn't change.Near dawn, she finally got up, washed her face, changed clothes, and got ready to go to the Academy of Aerospace to finish her final handoff.When Jasper woke and saw the red veins in her eyes, his chest tightened with concern."Why don't you skip it today? I'll call the Academy for you.""No. It's just the last bit of paperwork. Once I finish it, I'll be completely done." Amelia forced a small smile and picked up her bag. "Stay home with Evie. I'll be back
"The way he treats Samantha feels off," Jasper said. "She's supposedly carrying his child, but he doesn't act like it."Amelia was quiet for a few seconds before she looked up at him, her voice calm. "If the baby weren't his, Samantha wouldn't be trying this hard, and she wouldn't be throwing a huge engagement party. She wants the position of Mrs. Zephyr. She always has. The baby is just her way of locking it down."Jasper gave a humorless laugh. "True. He cared about Nathan, too, didn't he? He did the paternity test, the public defense, all of it. The second he found out the boy wasn't his, he went cold. At the end of the day, he doesn't care about people. He cares about what belongs to him."Jasper's words hit Amelia like cold water, clearing the last of the fog from her mind.He was right. Christopher's concern had always come with conditions.Maybe his concern for Samantha's baby now had nothing to do with Samantha at all. Maybe it was only because he believed the child ca
After the blood draw, Amelia waited for the results in the hospital lobby.The waiting area was packed. She leaned back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the lab order in her hand as her fingertips worried the edge of the paper again and again.Jasper came back from outside with a cup of warm milk. "Drink a little. You need some strength."Amelia took it without arguing and sipped a few mouthfuls, letting the warmth slide down her throat.The blood test results wouldn't be ready for another ten minutes or so, but every second dragged.She was afraid the result would come back positive and throw every plan she had into chaos.At the same time, a strange, uneasy dread pressed at her chest, the fear of stepping into a change she couldn't see yet."Don't tense up so much." Jasper noticed how rigid she was and gently covered the back of her hand with his. His warmth seeped through her skin. "Whatever the result is, we'll handle it."Amelia nodded and was about to speak when a familiar
Christopher's sharp scolding sent Nathan into instant tears. He wailed loudly, then lunged into Nicole's arms. "Mommy, while you were gone, this stepmom kept picking on me. Now even Daddy's being mean!"Nicole's heart softened immediately, and she hurried to wipe his tears. She said gently, "Nate
The moment Amelia hung up, she made a move to leave.Just then, Nicole caught up with her and stopped her from leaving. She was still holding onto a cup of hot tea."I saw you standing here for a long time. Are you looking for Chris? Have some tea. Don't get heatstroke."Amelia saw the steam risi
"The doctor gave him a fever shot, but it's not coming down. What are we going to do? I'm scared it'll damage his brain!"Anna was panicking. If anything happened to Nathan and Christopher came after her, what would she do?Amelia stayed calm. "Get some alcohol and find the doctor for an additiona
From where did he get the idea that Amelia liked eating prawns?He probably confused her with someone else.Dorothy started scolding Christopher, reminding him to care more about his wife and stop burying himself in his work.Christopher patiently responded to every single reminder of hers.Midw







