ver pulled up in front of the Lumière Grand Hotel, one

ts polished surface exuding quiet elegance and s

c turned to Adina, his fingers

ome with you?" His tone was gentle,

t all through as Grand

cutting him off his words "I've got

of her hand. "Of course, I do. I just don't

nd reassured her of his support throughout the pregnanc

ting on following her grandmother's wishes, he had no choice but to st

nversation. Ryan and I will discuss things like adults

tainty. Finding none, he exhaled and nodded. "Alright. But at least

. "No need. Let me

. Instead, he reached up, tucking a stray curl of her red ha

der, a silent reass

rong," he muttered as they

him before unbuckling her seatbelt and

she adjusted her coat and wal

fidence stayed steady, but her he

p breath, trying

ting wouldn't be as straight

---

m Ryan, her hands resting on her lap as she stare

bsence of other diners making the tens

ways had a flair for privacy, and apparently, that hadn't changed, especial

casually swirling the whiskey in his glass. Hi

tage of pregnancy. I heard some find it troub

g her thoughts before speaking. "Cut t

g that from her. It had been six years s

s this whole mix-up was causing on bo

r so their plan could go smoothly. But judging by her words, tone, and t

e answering. "What do I want?" he ech

ip has long sailed. I belong to another man now. Why woul

th me afterwards. Even when we crossed paths at events, you went o

d as he set the glass down carefully, his eyes

n too busy to even notice you," he said, his voice low bu

rds. Her lips parted slightly, as if to speak,

er eyes-hurt, maybe-but she quickly masked it,

now, more curious t

es searching his face, as if trying to catch a glimpse of the

ward, resting his elbows on the table. His eyes

. "But you could have still walked away. This

an claim my blood!" His voice rais

er fingers tightening around the edge of

t saying anything, he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a sleek black fold

na asked, picking

ly. "Since we're going to be raising this baby toget

ncial obligations, visitation schedules, decision-making righ

ages of the agreement, then her eyes

ead it aloud, wanting to be ce

ng in sexual activity with her husban

pped up. "What t

without flinching. "A

ing laugh. "A precautio

turning steely. "I don't want my chi

ched. "This is r

ina. The least you can do is ensure nothing interferes t

med the folder shut on the tabl

ane! Who the hell do you think you are to think y

t of mocking. "I'm not interfering with your marriage. As a

f there's another man's influence in your system, it might affect the health of my child.

er crashed over Adina, hot and unden

r neck as the restraint she'd been clinging to snap

r voice no longer measured-it was laced with the

co-parent in this messy entanglement but all I can hear you s

protecting any child -it's about you trying to

ent and neither am I some backup plan or a

e King Group-not some low-rent concubin

to talk on how to co-parent with respect, not to be dictated to like some piece in you

disbelief. For a moment, she just stared at the folder in front o

her chair back with force. The sound of it scraping

ated as anything less than a full partner in this process!" The words we

onse. She picked up the fo

y, his hand a fleeting, despe

ture of disappointment and desperation lacing hi

with a swift, sharp motion

ally scary as she strode toward the exit with all th

t distance and the soft music playing in the background-all of it faded into

ght twitch at the corner of his mouth

escaping his lips in a futile at

onde hair, his smirk widening-but it wasn't a loo

ment vanished

aid, his jaw tightened."...I'll do as I please wit

ring and

g toward the table, pouring him

his glass, watching it spin, hi

once more, a sharp contrast t

ing Group-not some low-rent concubine

e in his eyes dulled, betraying th

nger. But she had a

th

last thing he

ontrol before she beg