Cher

s echoed in my ears: "He's taking the fall for Kallie." My mind raced, piecing together the fragments of what I knew about Kallie's

y shouts. Reputable figures in crisp suits, their faces grim, were surrounding Kallie. She stood there, a

is gross negligence. The structural integrity of the Hudson Tower is compromised. Do you understand the gravity of this? And this isn't the

e, Mr. Harrison! I didn't mean to! It was... an accident! Griffith, please, tell them!" Her

"She's young, Mr. Harrison. She made a mistake. I take full responsibilit

h me, tearing apart the last vestiges of my self-control. I strode forward,

din. Then, without thinking, my hand swung out. The sharp crack of my palm against his cheek

lief. "Do you know what you're doing? Everything you've worked for, everything we've work

both made. Our dream of building a life together, of designing homes th

d build something meaningful together! You promi

t alien. "Stay out of this, Cayla. This

life! You're destroying us! Do you want to ruin ever

cheek again, harder this time. The pain in my ha

he said, his voice strained. "She's young. Her career would be over

record? My feelings? My ten years? I'm not young enough to ignore? Not innocent

d to know, but it was quickly replaced by that same cold resolve. "I'll be fine

rself? How long, Griffith? A year? Two? Five? My youth is not a commo

eal partnership, a real future, not some obligation! And you," I p

life. Wasted. Gone. Just like that." I pulled my hand free from his

ice eerily calm, the words a death k

sudden panic, but before he could touc

malice. "Because he's going to be a father! I'm pregnant with his baby!" She stared at me, a crue