Page 48 of Sold To My Ex's Dad

Patrick answers though each word seems to weigh heavy on him. "A couple of months, Caleb."

"A couple of months?" Caleb’s voice cracks with pain. "Great. I hope you’re enjoying my spoils."

At that, Patrick’s patience wears thin, his tone sharpening. "You need to watch your mouth. Don’t be disrespectful. Allie isn’t an object to be won."

"Oh, but you won, didn’t you?" Caleb’s bitterness slices through the remaining civility.

I’m caught in the middle, desperate to smooth things over but barely finding the words. "Caleb, that’s really not fair—"

"Fair?" Caleb scoffs, throwing his hands up. "What’s fair about any of this?"

In the heat of the moment, Patrick’s control slips, and the words burst forth. "She’s pregnant, Caleb. It’s mine, and you will respect her."

Silence crashes down like a heavy curtain. Caleb’s face drains of color as he processes the news. "You’re what?" His voice is low, disbelief clouding his eyes.

The impact of Patrick’s words hangs heavily between us. I stand frozen, watching Caleb grapple with the revelation. The moment drags into what feels like hours until he spins on his heel, his departure marked by the sharp slam of the door.

Patrick runs a hand through his hair, worry tracing his features as he turns to me, his apology clear in his gaze. "I didn’t mean for it to come out like that."

I nod, though my mind races with a thousand thoughts. "We’ll figure this out," I assure him, though I’m not entirely sure myself. The kitchen, once a sanctuary, now feels stark, echoing with the remnants of the confrontation.

Chapter 30

Patrick

"Hey, Caleb, it's Dad. I really wish you'd pick up. I know you're upset, and you have every right to be, but we need to talk this through, son. Family is everything, and I don’t want us to lose what we have. Please call me back. I love you."

I end the call and set my phone down, palming my face in exhaustion. The voicemail feels like one of many that have gone into the void.

Just as I'm rubbing the bridge of my nose, trying to chase away the headache building behind my eyes, there’s a soft knock at the door.

"Come in," I call out, hoping to sound more composed than I feel.

Allie peeks her head in, her expression cautious. "Hey, got a minute?"

"Yeah, of course. What’s up?" I try to sound focused, pushing my personal turmoil aside.

She hesitates, clearly picking up on my mood before getting to the point.

"It’s about the menu for next week’s VIP event. I was thinking about tweaking the seafood dish we talked about—adding a saffron infusion to the sauce. I thought it might elevate the dish a bit."

"That sounds good," I respond, genuinely pleased with her initiative. Saffron could add a nice touch. Run a test batch, and let's see how it meshes with the other flavors."

She nods, scribbling a note on her pad, but her next question isn't about food. "How are things with Caleb?" she ventures, her tone gentle. "Any word from him?"

I sigh, leaning back in my chair. "Actually, while I was here last night, he came by the house. Cleared out his clothes and personal stuff. Left everything else, though." My voice trails off, the reality of the situation settling in. "Haven’t heard a word from him since."

Allie's face falls; there’s empathy in her eyes. "I'm sorry. This is all just ... a lot."

"Yeah, it is." I rub the back of my neck. "But we’ll get through it. We always do."

She steps closer, her presence comforting. "If there’s anything I can do to help—"

I cut her off with a slight shake of my head. "Just keep being you. That’s more than enough." I manage a small smile, appreciative of her support.

Allie leans against the doorframe, concern etched on her face. "If it would make things easier, I could step back a bit and give you and Caleb some space," she suggests, her voice tinged with unease.

I stand up quickly, closing the distance between us with determined strides. "No, that's not happening," I assert firmly, locking eyes with her. "You and the baby are part of this family now. I'm here for every step, just like I was with Caleb."

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