23

I’m a coward.

I banged my head on the table and stared at the far wall. Instead of going over to my apartment, I went straight to my mansion and slipped inside the dark office I rarely used. I didn’t bother to turn on the lights. Outside, the sun was setting for the day, dousing the room in the darkness that reflected my mood.

The courage and fury I felt at the court building drained as soon as I climbed into the car. My hands still trembled. A child. My child. I walked to the only window in the room. I pulled the curtains closed, letting the room submerge in complete darkness.

There was this foreign emotion snaking its way out of my heart, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it yet. She’s pregnant with my child. And this was Arianna. Wiping off the thin sheen of sweat, I paced. Scenes from my past pushed their way through, and I shoved them aside.

The door opened with a click, and I