Page 221 of The Catalyst

“Yes, I always do. They change constantly, but…I’m not obsessed with them. I’m completely enthralled by you. You’re the only thing I’ve been able to think about since the first time you walked into this office.”

Double barf.

“Sorry to break it to you, Nolan, but the feeling's notmutual. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. I’m utterlydisgustedby you. Goodnight.”

Before he can say anything else, I throw open the door and slip out. Without missing a beat, his fist slams into the door, rattling its hinges.

I can only handle one completely unhinged man at a time, and Ollie is waiting for me.

CHAPTER 89

BETH

Washing dishes is a tedious thing to spend my time doing, but I’ve fallen into a unique brand of domesticity. My days revolve around visits from my mom or Shanti–since my girl best friend is protecting my son in Montana–doing very limited housekeeping, ridiculous amounts of sex, and sleep.

I thought something would change between me and Ollie after Rian was born, maybe even just an unconscious shift, but it hasn’t. He still wants to fuck me blind daily, and we still talk every night until we pass out.

Guilt ate at me until I finally broke. I told my mother the truth after she swore she would never breathe a word of anything I told her to anyone. I told her about Rian and that he was in an undisclosed location with some people I trusted. I explained exactly why no one could know that I didn’t have a miscarriage. His life will be in danger if anyone finds out that the beautiful baby boy is my son. At first, she was mortified that I had a baby out of wedlock. Once she had a moment to calm down from the initial shock of it, she started begging to see her grandson. No matter how much she cried, I still refused. No one can know where he is. I trust my mother enough to tell her that Rian exists but not enough to tell her where he is. I don’t even trust Shanti that much, and I trust her more than my mother.

There’s a knock at the door, and I toss the dish towel in the sink before I move through the spacious living room. “Who is it?”

The security desk has a short list of people who are not allowed near this apartment, including Nolan Gray. However, even fewer people know about this apartment, so it makes me nervous anytime there’s a knock at the door.

Grabbing the knob, I pull it open and almost scream when I see Judy standing there holding a baby bundled in a blue blanket. “What are you doing here?” I hiss as I pull her into the apartment. “And you brought him here? Are you insane?”

“Calm down, Bee. It’s nothim. He’s safe with Vera.” Then, she pulls me into a one-armed hug, and I relax, knowing Rian is still safe.

“What are you doing here, Jazmine?” The words mingle with a breath, and I barely hear them myself, yet she does.

“Being moral support for your wedding day tomorrow, Bellatrix. I arrived first thing this morning, and I’m going back as soon as the reception is over. Ro is not happy with the short stay, but he’ll deal with it, or he’ll dump me. Either way, my best friend comes first…always.”

Tears prick at the back of my eyes as I squeeze her, knowing she’s always in my corner, fighting my battles alongside me.

Then, a tiny whimper and groan rumbles between us, and we quickly pull apart, realizing the sound came from the bundle in her arms.

“Oh, my god. Poor baby.” I laugh to myself before she turns the baby more toward me.

“I know it might be bad timing, but it’s Nigel’s day with him, and I felt bad when he asked me to watch him because he was called into work.”

My heart stops for a second when I realize what this means. This little baby is Finnick, Nigel’s son, the child he had with the woman he cheated on me with. That’s not this sweet boy’s fault, though. He’s innocent and so freaking cute.

“Can I?” I ask, extending my arms.

I never used to like kids all that much, but babies have always been my soft spot. Babies are pure, and have I mentioned how cute they are?

“Sure!” Judy grins and places the little boy in my arms, and…he calms instantly. Finnick O’Reilly relaxed when Judy put him in my arms, and something about holding him calms me, too.“And, you should know he was born prematurely.”

My eyes snap up to Judy’s as a sad smile graces her face.

“He’s a preemie?”

“I overheard Nigel explaining it to Oisin. He hooked up with his mother the night you guys broke up and Becky, the mom in question, was in a car accident at six months pregnant. It sent her into an early labor. He didn’t have to spend nearly as long in the NICU as the doctors expected. Nigel has spent most of his time since he found out about Finnick in the hospital with him. He was discharged only a few days ago.”

Deep down, I always knew Nigel cheated on me at some point even though I had no concrete proof. He claimed that he was looking for Aimee during the week he disappeared, but I never fully believed that. It hurt so bad when I found out about Finnick’s existence because I thought it was confirmation that Nigel cheated, but that’s not the case.

Finnick is really tiny, smaller than any newborn I’ve ever seen.

He’s so beautiful though.

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