Chapter 160 160

Chapter 160 160
EMILY 

For a moment, I honestly believed I was imagining him.

I didn't remember deciding to move.

One second I was standing beside Morgan with my fingers wrapped around Zara's hand, trying to make sense of the miracle unfolding before my eyes, and the next I was crossing the parking lot so quickly that Morgan called my name, her voice disappearing into the background before I could even think about stopping.

Confusion.

Anger.

Gratitude.

Fear.

None of them made sense on their own, and together they left me feeling completely overwhelmed.

Ryan was pointing at something on the blueprint spread across the hood of a truck when I finally reached him. My hand moved before I could think better of it, and I tapped him lightly on the shoulder.

He turned around immediately.

The moment our eyes met, surprise flashed across his face before softening into something much gentler.

"Emily."

His voice was quiet, almost cautious, as though he wasn't sure whether saying my name would make me stay or send me running in the opposite direction.

I folded my arms tightly across my chest, forcing myself to remain composed even though my pulse was racing.

"Can we talk for a few minutes, Mr. Thompson?"

I deliberately used his surname.

The flicker of hurt that crossed his face lasted only a second, but I caught it anyway.

Before he could answer, another voice interrupted us.

"Daddy!"

Ryan barely had time to react before Zara came running across the parking lot, throwing herself straight into his arms with all the enthusiasm only a child could possess.

He laughed instinctively as he bent down to catch her, lifting her effortlessly into the air before settling her comfortably against his chest.

"Hey, Princess," he said warmly, kissing her forehead. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too," Zara answered, wrapping both arms tightly around his neck.

The sight before me squeezed painfully at my heart.

No matter what had happened between Ryan and me, there had never been a single moment where I questioned the love he had for our daughter. She looked happier than she had in days, smiling so brightly that I almost hated myself for knowing what I was about to do.

I waited until Ryan gently set her back on the ground before crouching beside her.

"Sweetheart," I said softly, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face, "why don't you go and play with Auntie Morgan for a little while?"

Her smile disappeared.

She looked from me to Ryan before pouting.

"Is Daddy leaving?"

Ryan immediately knelt beside her, his expression softening even more.

"No, Princess," he assured her. "I'm not leaving just yet. Why don't you spend a little time with Auntie Morgan while Mommy and I talk? Then I'll come find you before I go."

She searched his face carefully, as though trying to decide whether she believed him.

"Promise?"

He smiled.

"I promise."

Only then did she nod.

"Okay."

She hugged him one more time before running back toward Morgan, who was already pretending to be fascinated by a flower bed nearby to give us some privacy.

The moment Zara disappeared out of earshot, I reached for Ryan's wrist without thinking.

"Come with me."

He didn't resist.

I led him around the side of the building where the sounds of construction became distant enough for us to speak without anyone overhearing.

The moment we stopped walking, I turned to face him.

"What the hell did you do?"

He blinked.

"I..."

I gestured toward the bakery behind us.

"My bakery, Ryan. What did you do?"

His hand found the back of his neck, rubbing it nervously the way it always did whenever he felt uncomfortable.

"I wanted to help."

"Help?"

"I wanted to fix it."

I stared at him.

"You wanted to fix it."

He nodded slowly.

"I know I'm the reason it ended up like this."

A bitter laugh escaped me.

"And who exactly told you that?"

He lowered his eyes briefly before answering.

"Your grandmother."

I froze.

Ryan looked back at me.

"She told me something I needed to hear."

"What did she say?"

He swallowed.

"She said that if I hadn't kept pursing you..." His voice grew quieter. "...none of this would've happened."

I immediately shook my head.

"No."

"It's true."

"No."

"Emily—"

"Can you just..." I interrupted, pressing my fingers against my temple as everything inside me began twisting into knots. "Can you please just stop talking for one minute?"

He fell silent immediately.

The quiet that followed should have helped.

Instead, it only made breathing harder.

I looked past him toward the bakery, toward the fresh paint, the repaired windows, and the workers busily restoring the place I'd believed was beyond saving.

For weeks, I had prepared myself to rebuild it piece by piece.

Now it stood almost whole again because of him.

Because Ryan had quietly done the one thing I never asked him to do.

Tears burned behind my eyes before I quickly blinked them away.

"This isn't fair," I whispered, my voice barely audible as I struggled to make sense of the storm raging inside me, wishing he hadn't done something so thoughtful.

Ryan frowned, genuine confusion settling across his face. "What isn't?"

I let out a shaky breath and finally met his eyes. "You're messing with my head right now."

The hurt that crossed his face was immediate, and he rubbed the back of his neck as though searching for the right words. "That wasn't my intention."

"I know it wasn't," I replied, feeling tears threaten to spill. "That's exactly what makes this so hard."

He took a hesitant step toward me. "Emily..."

"You don't understand," I interrupted, my voice cracking despite every effort to keep it steady. "I can't afford to start questioning myself now. I can't start wondering whether walking away was the wrong choice, because if I do..." I swallowed painfully, forcing myself to continue. "If I do, I'll end up right back where I started."

Ryan's breathing slowed as he searched my face. "What are you saying?"

I closed my eyes for a brief moment before finally finding the courage to speak the words that had haunted me for weeks.

"I want a fresh start," I whispered.

When I opened my eyes, hope had already begun to brighten his expression.

It disappeared the moment I finished.

"...One that doesn't include you."