Page 56 of Leo

“Why didn’t you use something? I thought you would have been smart enough to do so. Or was it your intention to trap me so I would have no other choice but to accept your proposal.”

Anger churned inside him, and he had to take a moment to tamp it down.

“I will take into consideration that the news is overwhelming.” His tone was like steel, his face tight. “But I am not going to stand for your insults. I do not see why you are so out of sorts about.

Our passion has culminated in making a life, something to be joyful about. I want a child; I want children by you, and I have never said that to a woman before. You turned down my proposal and I told you I would give you time. I will not, however pretend that this is bad news for me.”

“No.” She shook her head, her mind tormented with guilt and anger, “because you are a man and nothing will change for you. I have a business to run, and this is going to set me back because of the changes. I already feel sick to my damn stomach and it is only going to get worse.

Nine months! Fricking nine months, I am going to have to endure the symptoms. I have renovations going on and plans to add some more delicacies to the menu. Which by the way, Icannot do as my taste buds are shot to hell. I do not want this. I do not.”

The silence after her explosive statement stretched between them like a tight rope. She knew she should not have said those things to him, but she had always said exactly what she was thinking. And he need to realize that this was not something she was looking forward to.

“What do you plan on doing?” He asked, finally breaking the heavy silence.

“I don’t know.”

“I see.” He rose carefully, so carefully that he felt as if his joints had caramelized. Anything he said to her now would result in a big blowout and would drive them further apart and he could not risk it.

“I am going out. You should probably try and get some rest.”

“Where are you going?”

“I need to clear my head.”

“I did not say those things to hurt you…”

“And yet you have done just that.” Turning on his heels, he strode towards the entryway, leaving her sitting there.

She had been harsh; she admitted it to herself. But she was the one in this pickle. It was her damn body, wasn’t it? So, what if she had implied that she was not ready? She was not. Should she have pretended that she was all aglow over the news? Pretend that everything was all shiny and sunshine?

“Oh God! What a damn mess.”

She sat there for a long time after he left, the room growing darker around her as the evening crept in. The emotions swirledinside her, a chaotic mix of frustration, guilt, and fear. The silence of the empty room felt oppressive, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if to ward off the encroaching shadows.

Her thoughts tumbled over each other, a relentless torrent that refused to be stilled. She thought of the business she had built from the ground up, the countless hours of arduous work, the dreams she had for its future.

A baby had never been part of that plan. She had always been clear about her priorities, and a child would change everything.

Yet, beneath the anger and the fear, there was a faint, almost imperceptible glimmer of something else. Could it be... hope? Or perhaps a longing she had never allowed herself to acknowledge? She shook her head, trying to dispel the confusing thoughts. No, she needed to stay focused, practical.

Taking a deep breath, she stood up, her legs feeling shaky beneath her. She needed to think clearly, to figure out her next steps. The renovations at the restaurant, the new dishes she wanted to introduce - these were the things that mattered now. She would need to find a way to manage it all, despite the nausea that already plagued her.

But even as she attempted to plan, she could not escape the image of his face, the hurt in his eyes as he had walked away. She had lashed out, but was it fair to blame him entirely? He had been right about one thing: this should have been a moment of joy, a celebration of their passion. Instead, it had become a battleground.

She sighed deeply, her heart heavy with the weight of the situation. "Oh God! What a damn mess." She repeated, feeling the words resonate within her. She knew she would have to face him again, and they would need to find a way through this - together or apart. For now, she needed to rest, to gather her strength for the challenges ahead.

*****

He drove with no clear destination in mind. He just wanted to get away, to clear his head and figure out the next move. Twice she had rejected him. First by shoving his proposal back in his face and now, telling him clearly she did not want his baby.

The hurt was slicing through him, making it impossible to breathe.

He had thought that love would conquer all, that their shared dreams and passions would be enough to bridge any divide. But now, he felt the sting of her words, the coldness of her rejection like a knife twisting in his soul. How could something that had started with such promise have unraveled so completely?

As the miles slipped away beneath the wheels of his car, he replayed their arguments in his mind. He had always admired her determination, her fierce independence. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her in the first place.

But now, that same determination seemed to be driving them apart. She was so focused on her career, on making her pastry shop a success, that it left no room for anything else, not even for him.

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