Chapter 113 Chapter 113
Chapter 113 Chapter 113
I didn’t wait to see what my mother would do next, and that was why I turned and hurried down the hallway with my chest tight, my head pounding, and anger buzzing under my skin like electricity. All I wanted to do was hide myself in my room.
I slammed the bedroom door behind me, only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding.
My hands were shaking. I dragged them through my hair, pacing the room once, twice, before heading into the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face, staring at my reflection like it might speak back to me and give me answers.
Answers like you should’ve known better, I told myself. You should’ve known she’d come back.
I brushed my teeth mechanically, washed my face, and changed into something comfortable. I didn’t even care what I wore. All I wanted was sleep, anything that would silence my thoughts.
I jumped on the bed, then I curled onto my side, pulled the covers up, and closed my eyes.
That was when my phone rang.
I groaned and reached for it blindly, half-hoping it would stop before I answered. It didn’t. When I looked at the screen and saw Scott’s name, my stomach twisted.
I answered.
“Hey,” he said warmly. “I know you might be getting ready for bed, but I just wanted to call you. How are you doing?”
I said nothing.
“How’s the house?” he continued. “Is everything okay?”
“Scott,” I said quietly, but he didn’t hear.
“How’s Ace? Did—”
“You’re going to be a father.”
And that’s when he actually heard me.
There was a pause.
Then laughter.
A loud, surprised laugh that made my chest burn.
“What?” Scott said, still chuckling. “Sabrina, are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant? Really?”
“That’s not funny, Scott,” I snapped. “You should be ashamed of yourself.”
The laughter stopped.
“What are you talking about?” he asked carefully. “What’s going on? Are you pregnant?”
“My mother is back,” I said flatly.
Silence.
Then his voice dropped. “What?”
“She’s in the house,” I continued. “She forced her way in. And she says she’s pregnant. With your child.”
“What?” Scott repeated, this time sharp. “No. That’s impossible.”
I laughed, but it was hollow. “Is it?”
“Sabrina,” he said, his voice rising now. “Send her out. Immediately.”
“I can’t,” I replied. “She claims you’re the father.”
“That’s a lie,” he said without hesitation. “You know that.”
I closed my eyes. “Do I?”
“Sabrina—”
“You don’t get to act confused,” I cut in. “Not after what I saw. Not after what she did.”
There was a pause, then a softer tone. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
“She drugged you,” I reminded him. “I watched it happen. I saw her take advantage of you.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
“I don’t want to hear explanations,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’m tired. I’m fed up. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Sabrina, listen to me—”
“No,” I said firmly. “You need to come home. Now. If you have any respect for me at all, you’ll get on the next flight.”
Another pause.
“I didn’t get Claire pregnant, Sabrina,” he said quietly. “I swear to you.”
“I don’t care,” I replied. “Handle it. Because I’m done holding everything together for you.”
Then I ended the call.
I dropped the phone onto the bed and stared at the ceiling, my heart racing, tears stinging my eyes even though none fell. I felt hollow and very exhausted. Like I’d been fighting a war no one else could see.
The door opened.
I groaned without looking. “Ace, don’t.”
“I knocked,” he said, already closing the door behind him. “You didn’t answer.”
“I was asleep,” I muttered.
He didn’t respond. Instead, the mattress dipped beside me, and suddenly he was there... too close. I rolled onto my side, turning my face away from him.
“Why are you in my room?” I asked.
“Because you disappeared,” he replied. “And because I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The one where you pretend you’re fine when you’re not.”
I groaned again.
“You didn’t come down for dinner. What’s going on?”
I sighed. “I’m not hungry. I didn’t want dinner.”
“That’s not what I asked,” he said.
I felt his arm slide around me. My body tensed instantly.
“Ace.”
“I’m not moving,” he said quietly. “You’re not sleeping alone tonight.”
“That’s not appropriate,” I snapped.
He ignored that. “You’re upset. And I’m not letting you spiral by yourself.”
I stared at the wall, my jaw tight. “You don’t get to decide that.”
“Maybe not,” he said. “But I’m still here, and I’m going to be here.”
Silence stretched between us.
“Why didn’t you come down?” he asked softly.
“I told you,” I replied. “I’m not hungry.”
“That’s not it,” he said. “Something happened.”
I didn’t answer.
He shifted closer. “Was it your mom?”
My chest tightened.
“Ace, please.”
“Did she say something to you?”
I closed my eyes. “I don’t want to talk.”
He didn’t push further. Instead, he rested his forehead lightly against the back of my head.
“I’m staying,” he said again. “Even if you don’t want me here.”
I swallowed hard.
“You’re moody,” he continued gently. “And I know you hate when people leave you alone like that.”
I turned slightly, my voice sharp. “You don’t know everything about me.”
“I know enough,” he replied.
The room was quiet except for our breathing.
“I don’t want to fight,” he said. “Please, not tonight.”
I finally turned to face him, anger and exhaustion colliding in my chest. “You can’t just decide things for me.”
“I’m not,” he said. “I’m just choosing not to leave.”
I stared at him, searching his face for some emotion. All I found was stubborn concern.
“Go to your room, Ace,” I said.
“No.”
“Please.”
“No,” he repeated. “I’m sleeping here.”
I scoffed. “Oh my goodness. You’re unbelievable.”
He smiled faintly. “You already knew that.”
I rolled onto my back, staring at the ceiling again. My head throbbed. My heart ached.
“I don’t have the energy to argue,” I whispered.
“Good,” he said. “Then rest.”
He pulled the covers up around us, his arm still around me. I hated how comforting it felt. I hated how my body relaxed despite my mind screaming that this was wrong, complicated, and impossible.
“I’m not letting you go to bed like this,” he murmured. “Not tonight.”
I didn’t respond.