Page 148 of Stuck with my Boss Daddies

I had faced down worse. Had survived worse. But telling Hayley everything—about the baby, about the men, about Owain Bond—felt impossible in a way I couldn’t quite explain.

I felt Kai’s presence before he touched me, the warmth of him solid and steady at my side. His hand settled comfortingly at the small of my back.

“You’re going to be fine,” he murmured. “Hayley loves you. No matter what.”

Samuel stood nearby, arms crossed, watching me with that quiet intensity of his. “We’re here for you. But if you need space, we’ll give it to you.”

Adam, leaning casually against the garden wall but not fooling anyone, tipped his head toward the door. “And if you change your mind, we’ll figure something else out. No pressure, okay?”

My throat tightened.

They had been doing this all day.

Watching me. Supporting me. Making sure I knew I had options.

It should have made me feel better. And in some ways, it did. But it also made me hyperaware of how much I still didn’t know how to accept.

I exhaled slowly, pressing a hand against my stomach.

They were right. I didn’t have to do this by myself.

But I needed to.

“I want to talk to her alone,” I said finally, my voice steadier than I expected. “At least at first.”

Kai hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Okay.”

Samuel pushed off the wall, stepping closer. “We’ll be right here.”

Adam reached for my hand, his fingers tracing gentle circles against my palm. “We’ve got you, Sadie. No matter what.”

I swallowed hard, nodded, then turned toward the front door.

The knob was cool under my palm. The click of the latch felt deafening. And then, before I could second-guess myself, I stepped inside.

Hayley was already waiting.

She sat in her armchair by the window, hands folded in her lap, her dark eyes on mine the second I entered.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then, finally, she tilted her head. “I thought I could hear you, hovering outside. Come sit with me, sweetheart.”

My breath shook as I crossed the room, lowering myself onto the couch across from her.

Hayley didn’t rush me. She never did.

Instead, she just watched me patiently, like she knew… like she’d known this conversation was coming for a while.

I wet my lips, my fingers curling into the fabric of my sweater. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Hayley nodded, eyes warm. “I figured.”

A lump rose in my throat. “It’s… a lot.”

“I can handle a lot,” she said gently. “Go ahead, sweetheart.”

I inhaled sharply. “I’m pregnant.”

---