"You're behind schedule." 

Evan's tone was aloof and icy. As usual. I didn't bother to react as I stood in the doorway with my luggage in hand. This was not the time for small talk. My shoes reverberated across the marble floor as I entered the mansion. How many times had I walked along these hallways, thinking I'd be cheerful here? "I didn’t know there was a schedule for divorces," I responded straight, forcing myself to keep my voice level. There was something in Evan's eyes that I couldn't identify. Feeling sorry? No. There were no laments from him. or emotions.  With a serious tone, he asked, "Do you need to sit?" I gave a headshake. "Let’s get this over with." My knuckles were white when I gripped the handle of my bag. I was not here to converse. No more.

He nodded, walking toward the large table in the centre of the room. Papers were as of now laid out—my opportunity in dark and white. His betrayal inked in each word.

"I never meant for it to get this far," Evan said, his voice soft, almost pleading.

I laughed, a hollow sound. "Didn’t mean for it to get this far? You weren't cruel to have an undertaking in our bed?"

His eyes shot to the side, shame briefly crossing his face. "It was a mistake."

"A botch?" I rehashed, my voice rising. "That’s all you have to say?" My heart beat in my chest, the recollections of that night flooding my intellect. The lady. Her aroma. My smashed heart.

"It didn’t cruel anything, Hope," Evan murmured, his hands fixing into fists.

I gazed at him, incredulity coursing through me. "I don’t care what it implies to you. It implied everything to me." My voice was broken, but I wouldn’t let him see me break. Not now.

Silence stretched between us. Evan looked away, unable to meet my look. I took a profound breath, my resolve hardening. I came here for one reason.

"I need a clean break," I said immovably. "Sign the papers."

Evan’s eyes snapped back to mine. "You aren't cruel."

I didn’t blink. "I do."

He stood there, staring at me like I’d just slapped him. But I felt nothing. He’d taken everything from me long before today.

"I made a mistake, Hope. We can fix this. I can fix this."

I shook my head, stepping toward the door. "No, Evan. You can’t."

"Wait." His voice faltered. For a minute, he nearly looked human. Nearly. "I know I harmed you, but... we can still make this work. For us. For everything we built."

"Everything we built?" My voice trembled. "Evan, there’s nothing cleared out to spare. You made beyond any doubt that."

He remained quiet, and I turned absent. The entryway lingered ahead, my elude. Finally,

But something pulled at me. A dizziness. The room began to turn. I flickered, trying too relentlessly myself.

"Hope?" Evan’s voice sounded removed, resounding in my ears.

My vision was obscured. I came out to steady myself, but my body felt remote, heavy. What was happening?

I collapsed.

"Hope!" Evan’s hands caught me some time recently when I hit the floor. His touch felt new, off-base. I didn’t need him to close me. But I couldn’t move.

"Hope!" His voice was sharper now, filled with something I didn’t expect—panic.

Everything went black.

I opened my eyes gradually. The ceiling over me was too familiar. The guest bedroom. I was back in his house.

"Hope, are you affirm?" Evan’s voice was near, as well near. He was sitting at the edge of the bed, his expression unreadable.

I shot up, heart hustling. "What the hell, Evan? Why am I here?"

"You collapsed," he said, holding up his hands. "I didn’t know what to do. You wouldn’t wake up."

I rubbed my temples, trying to piece together the final few minutes. The dizziness. The fainting. I shouldn’t be here. Not in his house. Not ever again.

"I need to take off." I swung my legs over the side of the bed, but my body felt frail. As well as weak.

"Hope, moderate down. You swooned. You shouldn’t go anywhere right now."

I glared at him. "Why do you care? You didn’t care before."

His jaw fixed. "I do care. You don’t understand—"

"I understand perfectly." My voice was cold. "I get it that you deceived me. I get it that this marriage was a preteen. And presently I am required to get out of here."

Evan stood up, pacing the room. "Hope, tune in to me. Something’s not right."

I limited my eyes. "What do you mean?"

He ceased, looking at me with an intensity that made my skin creep. "You’ve been acting unusual. Fainting. Bleary eyed. Are you...?"

I solidified. My heart skipped a beat. No. He couldn’t know. He couldn’t.

"What are you talking about?" I inquired, my voice trembling in spite of myself.

Evan ventured closer, lowering his voice. "Are you pregnant?"

The world tilted underneath me. Pregnant. The word echoed in my mind, louder and louder. I hadn’t indeed said it out loud. I hadn’t even admitted it to myself.

"Hope?" Evan’s voice was delicate presently. As well as soft.

I shook my head, refusing to meet his eyes. "This is none of your business."

"It is if you’re carrying my child."

My chest is fixed. His child. No, not his child. He didn’t merit that. He didn’t merit anything from me.

"It’s not your concern," I said through gritted teeth.

"It is my concern!" Evan’s voice rose. "You’re my wife!"

"Not for much longer," I shot back.

Silence fell between us, thick with pressure. I seem to feel his eyes burning into me, looking for the truth I wasn’t prepared to give.

"I need to know the truth, Hope. Are you pregnant?"

My hands trembled. I couldn’t lie. Not presently. Not when everything was falling apart.

"I..." The words caught in my throat. "I don’t know."

Evan’s expression moved, something dull crossing his confront. "You don’t know?"

I shook my head, tears burning behind my eyes. "I haven’t seen a specialist. I didn’t need to know."

His jaw clenched; clench hands tight at his sides. "You ought to have told me."

I stood up, wobbling somewhat as I confronted him. "Told you what? That I was going to bring a child into this mess? Into your life of lies?"

Evan ventured forward, his confrontation inches from mine. "You don’t get to make that choice alone."

My breath hitched. "I didn’t need this. I didn’t inquire about this."

"You don’t get to walk absent from this." His voice was moo, dangerous.

I glared at him. "Observe me."

I turned to take off, but once more, tipsiness hit me like a wave. The room spun; my vision blurred.

"Hope!" Evan caught me some time recently. I may hit the ground, pulling me against him.

I attempted to thrust him absent, but my body wouldn’t participate. My appendages felt overwhelming, my intellect clouded with fear.

"Let me go," I whispered, but the words were weak.

"You’re not going anywhere," Evan said immovably, holding me close.

Darkness gulped me again.

When I woke, Evan was gone. I was alone, back in the visitor room. My contemplations hustled, heart beating in my chest.

Pregnant.

It felt stunning, but the signs had been there. The queasiness, the weakness. I hadn’t needed to accept it. Not after everything.

I listened to strides outside the entryway. Evan? My heart clenched with fear. What was he going to do now?

The door opened slowly, and Evan walked in, his face a blend of feelings I couldn’t read.

"We need to talk," he said quietly.

I sat up, trying to veil my fear. "There’s nothing left to say."

Evan stared at me, eyes dark and intense. "You’re wrong, Hope. There’s everything left to say."

Evan walked closer, his voice low and filled with tension. "Because the truth is, you were never meant to leave."