Chapter 97 Ninety Seven

• BRYAN’S POV
• I stood at the window of my office and watched Ariel walk away again. The same way she always did. Straight back, no hesitation, no pause. She didn’t even look over her shoulder. Just left. Like I was nothing. Like what we had meant nothing. I clenched my jaw and forced myself to look away.
• My hand went to my stomach without thinking, pressing down like I could crush the feeling sitting heavy in there. Maya’s pregnancy. That whole mess. I didn’t want it. I didn’t want her. I didn’t want any of it. But I couldn’t walk away. I wasn’t raised that way. I wasn’t built to abandon a child. Even if it came from a mistake. Even if it meant sacrificing every bit of peace I had left. Even if I was dying inside every time I looked at Maya and saw everything I didn’t want in my life.