I hadn’t seen Jake for the past few days, which, truth be told, was a good thing.No sharp gazes that seemed to read me like an open book. No dangerous smirks that made my chest tighten. No pull in my soul I couldn’t ignore. For once, I could breathe, think, and—most importantly—focus on the little life growing inside me.The diner smelled like grease and burnt coffee, the same as always, and today it didn’t make me gag. I moved through the morning rush on autopilot, wiping tables, refilling cups, sliding plates across counters. Every careful motion reminded me that I had responsibilities now. That I wasn’t just Ella anymore—I was a protector, a guardian of something fragile, something entirely my own.I pressed a hand to my stomach as I carried a tray across the room. The flutter inside me caught my attention again, soft and strange, almost like it was… watching. I frowned, shaking my head.“It’s nothing,” I whispered, more to convince myself than anyone else. “Just the baby.”But t
Last Updated : 2025-11-26 Read more