Page 50 of Twisted Attraction

She nods, a little embarrassed. "We tell each other everything. Or at least we used to. But oh my god, I didn’t know. One-night stands in a hotel bar, Dad? Really?" I shrug, I am who I am after all.

Silence fills the space between us again, but not in an awkward way. We’re both deep in thought.

"Do you love her?" Ella finally asks, catching me off-guard. Her eyes are searching my face, and I can’t decipher whether to lie or tell the truth. I go for the truth.

"I love her very much but don’t worry. She won’t come between us. She decided to stay away."

"Because of me?" Ella clarifies, a guilty expression on her face. I can’t let her take the blame for this. A lie is the only way this time.

"She just doesn’t feel the same way about me." Ella gives me a skeptical look.

"Says who?

"She said it herself. Several times, in fact," I confess, looking away.

"And you believed her?"

"Yes. Why wouldn’t I? She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me anymore. She’s even…" I have to pause and catch my breath before saying the words. "She’s terminating the pregnancy."

"You asked her to get rid of the baby? Dad! Why would you do that?" Ella jumps to her feet.

"I didn’t ask her! I tried to stop her, begged her even! But she wouldn’t listen." The memory of our final meeting stabs at me, reminding me that I’d been powerless to make Chloe see what we could have.

"Oh my god, where is she?"

"Probably in the hospital as we speak." I glance at my wristwatch, and it reads 1:45 pm. Ella dashes out of the house, dialing Chloe’s number.

18

CHLOE

Imiss him so much.

Jeremy. I think about him all the time.

I’m so sorry to take you away from this world, I whisper to the life inside me, clutching my stomach as if I could protect it for just a little bit longer.

The clinic waiting room feels suffocating, the antiseptic scent invading my senses as I sit alone, lost in a sea of memories. I wrap my hands over my still flat stomach, fingers lingering as if to shield the life growing within. My mind replays the laughter, the shared dinners, the intimate moments with Jeremy. I miss it so much that it feels like I’m going insane.

I can’t forget the hurt on his face when I told him I didn’t love him anymore. Right now, my hands are itching to grab my phone and call him. I pick it up, about to dial his number, then I chicken out and drop the phone.

I feel like I’m making a big mistake, but…

"God, please save my child. I feel powerless to do it myself." A tear falls from my eyes, and I wipe it away before anyone can see. I pick up my phone again, still contemplating if I should call Jeremy.

The nurse calls my name. I sigh as a wave of fear hits me and I drop the mobile back inside my bag. I rise, wrapping my arms around myself protectively as if shielding the tiny heartbeat echoing within. There's a tremor in my hands, a vulnerability that mirrors the conflict within me.

"I can't do this," I whisper to myself, the weight of the decision bearing on me. I look at the entrance, wishing Jeremy would magically appear and stop me from doing this. I’m so scared.

I take a hesitant step forward, the nurse's voice fading into the background. My heart pounds in my chest, and a veil of tears clouds my vision. The fear, the uncertainty—they threaten to overwhelm me.

As I gather the courage to proceed, a voice interrupts the internal turmoil.

"Chloe, wait!" I snap my head in the direction of the voice.

Ella! She runs to me, panting.

"Are you absolutely certain this is what you want to do?" she asks, grasping my arms and turning me to look at her. That’s the same question I’ve been asking myself. I bite my lips so hard that I expect to taste blood any second. Flickers of concern cross her face.

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