Page 138 of Claimed By The Other Brother

"So you're running away?"

"I'm not running away. I'm going home to deal with the consequences of my actions."

"Our actions," he corrects.

"We werebothin that photo."

I look at him, standing there in my apartment, and I want to tell him. About the pregnancy. About the terror coursing through me. About the fact that everything is spiraling out of control.

But I can't–not when I don't even know what I'm going to do. Not when I don’t even know if he wants a future with me.

"I have to go," I say quietly.

"I'm sorry."

He stares at me for a long moment.

"This isn't over, Scarlett. Whatever you think you need to do in Chicago, we're not done talking about this."

"I know."

He reaches for me, cupping my face.

"I'm not letting you go that easily."

I close my eyes, leaning into his touch.

Then I step back. "I have to pack."

He leaves without another word, and I stand in my empty apartment, one hand on my stomach, tears streaming down my face.

***

The flight back to Chicago feels surreal. Like I'm moving through someone else's life. Jane and Sarah meet me at my apartment with takeout and wine—which I can't drink, but they don't know that yet.

"We're so glad you're home," Sarah says, pulling me into a hug.

"How bad is it?" Jane asks.

"Bad. I meet with Linda and the board tomorrow."

We eat. They fill me in on Chicago gossip, trying to keep things light. But eventually, the conversation turns serious.

"What are you going to do?" Sarah asks.

"About the job?"

"I don't know. They might fire me. I'll find out tomorrow."

"And Dax?"

I look down atmy food.

"I don't know that either."

The next morning I put on my most professional suit and head to Whitman Communications' Chicago office. Linda is waiting in the conference room with two HR representatives and the advisory board chair.

The meeting is brutal. They go through everything. The photos. The timeline. The ethics violations.