Chapter 141: Hundred and Forty One

The office was buzzing after a big presentation, everyone spilling into the break area for tea and half-stale sandwiches. I was exhausted but lighter than I’d felt in weeks. For once, things had gone smoothly. I’d let myself relax, even laugh. Rohan, one of the newer associates, cracked some joke about how our data slides were more complicated than his marriage proposal had been. I laughed loudly, without thinking. It wasn’t even that funny, but I was in a good mood.

Rohan and I were laughing too loudly, and we realised it when the room around us got silent, staring at us.

I didn’t even need to turn. I could sense Declan across the room, the way his gaze hooked onto me, almost glaring. When I did glance, he was standing by the coffee machine, jaw tight, pretending he hadn’t been watching. But his eyes gave him away, like they always did. Sharp, assessing, faintly angry. It was a look i recognised all too well.

Later, when most people had left, I caught him lingering by my desk.

“You two seemed to be having fun,” he said lightly, but his voice had an edge, like he was trying too hard to sound nonchalant.

I knew how he felt. How possessive he was. Despite it, I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t act stupid, dove. Rohan. The way you were… laughing. Must’ve been one hell of a joke.”

I blinked at him, irritation flashing across my features. “Are you seriously asking that? Declan, he was telling me about his fiancée. That’s it. Don’t do this.”

He gave a short, humorless laugh. “I’m not doing anything. Just making an observation.”

I felt my chest tighten, anger sparking under my ribs. “No. What you’re doing is acting like you have a claim on me. Like you own me. And you don’t.”

That landed. His mouth pressed into a line, his eyes darkened, but he didn’t shoot back. He just nodded once, clipped, and walked away.

We didn’t speak for the rest of the afternoon. But later that evening, he drove me and Noah home after Noah’s soccer practice. Noah had a calming effect on him, it was just the three of us, and for a while the tension eased. Noah sat in the back seat, chattering about how he’d almost scored a goal, and Declan listened with this warmth that melted me despite myself.

At home, after Noah had showered and collapsed into bed, Declan stayed. We sat in the living room, the lamp casting a soft golden circle between us. I ate rice and chicken that I had made the night before. Declan sat across from me, watching. It should have been peaceful, but my chest was tight again.

I needed to say it before the sweetness of the evening drowned me.

“Declan,” I began, my voice low, “we can’t keep… doing this.”

He looked at me, brow furrowing. “Doing what?”

“This.” I gestured between us, my hands trembling. “This closeness. The rides, the dinners, the little moments with Noah. It feels good, almost too good, and it’s not safe. For him. For me.”

He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees, studying me like he could see through every word. “Safe?”

I swallowed hard. “I need to protect him. He’s already been through enough. I can’t risk him getting attached and then,then something goes wrong.”

Declan’s face softened for half a second, then hardened. “So your solution is to keep me at arm’s length? Pretend this,” he grabbed my thigh harshly, “whatever this is, doesn’t exist?”

“It’s not pretending. It’s protection.” My throat tightened. “You don’t understand what it’s like, carrying all of it. The responsibility. The fear. Every choice I make, it affects him, Declan. I can’t

afford to be reckless with his heart.”

He let out a sharp breath, pushing back against the couch. “Reckless? Is that what you think this is?”

“I don’t know what else to call it.” My voice cracked.

“You think I don’t care about him? He’s my son too, Willow.”

Declan stood then, pacing the length of the room, running a hand through his hair. “God, Willow. Do you even hear yourself? You’re punishing us for loving each other. For wanting

something real. Even after all this, you doubt me?”

Tears blurred my vision. “I’m not punishing anyone. I’m just trying to hold everything together.”

He stopped, turned, his eyes blazing. “Stop pretending this isn’t what you want too. Stop pretending you don’t feel it every time we’re in the same room. Every time Noah grabs my hand.

Every time you look at me like you can’t breathe without me.”

My chest heaved. His words pierced through me, too true, too sharp.

“I do feel it,” I whispered, tears finally spilling over. “That’s the problem. I feel it so much it terrifies me. I don’t know how to balance it all. The past, Noah, Jacob, you. I don’t know how to choose.”

For a moment, silence. Just the sound of my own ragged breathing and the faint hum of the fridge.

He grabbed my hand, making me stand up, pulling me flush against him. “I will choose for you, then. Trust me. Take all the time you want. But you are mine, Willow. I am yours. I am going

to spend the rest of my life with you and Noah,” his eyes flashed, “I’m gonna put more babies in you. Three more, at least.” That made me giggle, despite myself. “And we’ll never be apart again.”

“Declan,” my voice was soft, “Its not so easy.” I pulled back from him, sitting back down.

Declan’s shoulders dropped. Some of the fire in his eyes dimmed, replaced by something heavier.

He came closer, kneeling in front of me, his hands hesitating before resting lightly on my knees.

“You don’t have to choose tonight,” he said softly. “But don’t push me away and call it protection. Don’t deny us just because you’re scared.”

I covered my face with my hands, sobbing quietly. He didn’t try to stop me. He just stayed there, close enough to anchor me, but not demanding more than I could give.

When I finally lowered my hands, my cheeks wet, his eyes caught mine, fierce and tender all at once.

And in that moment, I knew the truth: I loved him. I’d never stopped. And that was exactly what terrified me most.