chapter 32

Ethan Blackwood wasn't jealous by nature.

At least, that was what he liked to tell himself.

The truth was more complicated.

He wasn't jealous when it came to business.

Or money.

Or status.

Those things had never interested him much.

But Judith?

Judith was different.

And God knows he always had been.

The morning after Liam's press conference, Ethan sat in his office staring at an article he had already read three times.

Not because the article was interesting.

Because he couldn't stop thinking about the man quoted in it.

Judith is the mother of my child.

She's someone I respect deeply.

Reasonable words.

Mature words.

The kind of words Ethan himself might have used.

And somehow that made them even more frustrating.

Because Liam wasn't making mistakes anymore.

For years, Ethan had watched Liam ignore Judith.

Now he was watching him fight for her.

And that was a much harder battle.

A knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in."

His mother stepped inside.

One look at his face and she smiled knowingly.

"Still thinking about Judith?"

Ethan groaned.

"Does everyone know?"

"Only people with eyes."

He leaned back in his chair.

His mother sat opposite him.

For a few moments, neither spoke.

Then she asked,

"Do you still intend to pursue her?"

The question wasn't judgmental.

Just curious.

Ethan thought carefully before answering.

"I love her."

His mother nodded.

"I know."

"Then yes."

The answer came quietly.

Without hesitation or shame.

His mother smiled softly.

"Then fight for her."

Ethan looked surprised.

"I thought you'd tell me to move on."

She laughed.

"Why?"

"Because she's pregnant with another man's child."

The words sounded harsher than he intended.

His mother's expression immediately changed.

"Ethan."

Her voice became firm.

"That child is Judith's child too."

The reminder settled heavily between them.

"If you love her, then love all of her circumstances."

She stood.

Then smiled.

"And if she chooses Liam, accept it gracefully."

Ethan sighed.

"That part sounds difficult."

His mother laughed and left him alone with his thoughts.

Across the city, Judith was having a much less philosophical morning.

Because she was currently arguing with Liam in the middle of a baby store.

Again.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because nobody needs that many stuffed animals."

Liam looked at the display.

Then back at her.

"I disagree."

Judith folded her arms.

"There are already twelve."

"Thirteen."

She stared.

Liam looked mildly guilty.

"You bought another one?"

"It looked lonely."

For a moment, Judith simply blinked.

Then laughed so hard she nearly cried.

Several nearby customers turned toward them.

Neither noticed.

"You're ridiculous."

Liam smiled.

The sight made her chest do something annoying.

Something she preferred not to examine too closely.

The last few weeks had been dangerous.

Not in an obvious way though.

Just dangerous.

Because spending time with Liam was becoming easy again.

Too easy

And that frightened her.

Because easy led to comfort.

Comfort led to trust.

And trust...

Trust had already broken her once.

As if sensing her mood shift, Liam's expression softened.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Judith."

She sighed.

He knew her too well now.

Ironically, far better than he had during their marriage.

"Things are changing."

The answer surprised even her.

Liam remained quiet.

Waiting.

"You're changing."

She finally looked at him.

"That's the problem."

For a moment, he didn't speak.

Then he asked quietly,

"Would it be easier if I hadn't?"

The question caught her off guard.

Because the answer was yes.

Absolutely yes.

───

If Liam had remained distant, she could have moved on.

If Liam had remained careless, she could have hated him.

If Liam had remained the same man she divorced, everything would've been simpler.

Instead, he had become the man she once wished he was.

And that complicated everything.

That evening, Judith attended dinner at her parents' home.

The entire family was present.

Including Julian.

Unfortunately.

Because Julian had apparently decided that annoying her was a full-time occupation.

"So."

He looked up from his food.

"How many stuffed animals does Liam own now?"

Judith nearly dropped her fork.

Across the table, Richard burst out laughing.

Eleanor looked delighted.

"How do you know about that?"

Judith demanded.

Julian smirked.

"I have sources."

"You mean Ava?"

"She's an excellent source."

Judith groaned.

The conversation continued.

Then Richard unexpectedly asked,

"Are you happy?"

The table grew quiet.

Not awkwardly.

Just enough for everyone to realize the question mattered.

Judith looked down at her plate.

Thinking.

Was she happy?

Her life was chaotic.

She was pregnant.

The media was obsessed with her.

Two men were apparently in love with her.

Which sounded much more glamorous than it actually felt.

Yet despite everything...

She smiled.

"Most days."

Richard nodded.

Satisfied.

Because that was enough.

Later that night, after everyone had gone to their rooms, Judith stood alone on her balcony.

One hand resting against her stomach.

The city glowing beneath the darkness.

The baby kicked.

Strong enough this time to make her laugh.

"Okay."

She smiled.

"I felt that."

For a moment, everything felt peaceful.

Then her phone vibrated.

A message from Liam.

I bought another stuffed animal.

Judith stared at the screen.

Then laughed.

A second message appeared.

Don't tell Julian.

She laughed harder.

And somewhere across the city, Liam smiled when he saw the typing indicator appear.

Because after everything they'd lost...

After everything they'd broken...

They were finally finding their way back to something.

Not love.

But friendship.

Trust.

Understanding anything you'd like to call it.

And sometimes, before two people could fall in love again, they first had to remember why they liked each other in the first place.