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“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong, Amelia. Listen–”
“I didn’t know how to tell you,” I interrupted him, hot tears gathering in my eyes. “But I was going to do it soon, I swear.”
“Hey,” he said softly, inhaling deeply as if it might inspire me to do the same, “you’re going to be OK.We’regoing to be OK.”
“No we’re not. What’s going to happen when my father learns the truth about who the baby’s father is? Will he ever speak to you again? Will he even speak tomeagain?” I was shaking, panicking, overwhelmed by stress and fear.
“Slow down, you’re OK” he tried to reassure me. “Just take a deep breath and let’s talk about this.”
I could hardly think straight, let alone talk calmly. My breathing was shallow with anxiety, and I was using every shred of energy I had to keep myself together and not fall apart. I was nearly at a breaking point when Nathaniel suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a tight embrace.
I melted into him, and the tears started pouring out. He held me and soothed me, strong arms and gentle hands cradling my back, my neck, keeping me pressed snugly against him.
“We’ll figure this out. I promise. We’ll make this work together, Amelia. Everything’s going to be alright. I’ll be here for you, whatever it takes, no matter what.”
He was willing to throw away everything for me, but I couldn’t allow him to do it. “I won’t let you ruin your life for me,” I sobbed.
“What are you talking about? Amelia, I want to support you. You can count on me. I promise I will stand by you.”
Though I was thrilled to hear him say the words, I knew I couldn’t let him fall on his sword for me. I took a breath to steel my nerves and spoke.
“I’m going to do this alone.”
“What?” His shock and confusion were clear in his expression.
“We have to end this,” I said, struggling but determined. “It’s the right thing to do.”
Nathaniel looked like I had just shoved a knife into his heart. He shook his head slightly, brows furrowing.
“What are you… why? Amelia…”
“My father can never know about this. We have to end it, now. I can andwilldo this alone. I’ve made up my mind, Nathaniel.” With each word, I felt my heart shatter into a hundred more pieces, but my resolve was stronger than ever knowing this would protect Nathaniel.
“You’d rather raise this baby alone than tell your father about me?”
I took in a deep, shaky breath, and exhaled. “Yes.”
His warm brown eyes were glassy, his eyebrows creased deeply, his expression wounded beyond anything I had ever seen in him before. He shook his head slightly, disbelief washing over his face, and I held back a fresh wave of tears at the sight of Nathaniel experiencing so much confusion and pain. He looked heartbroken, and it was everything I could do not to comfort him.
Yet it was for the best. I had to be strong.
Gently pulling away from him, I stepped back until he released me from his arms. For a moment, he stood there looking like he was about to say something, starting, stopping, reconsidering and changing his mind.
Finally, he seemed to think better of it. There was nothing left to say, anyway. I had put an end to our relationship.
He nodded slightly, turning the door handle, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment until he disappeared down the staircase. I stood in the doorway, emotionally wrecked and shell-shocked, watching him go. Before climbing into his car, he glanced back up at me, only for a moment. I waited until he started the car and drove away to finally step back into my apartment, my back against the door, slumping down to the floor and sobbing my heart out.
Chapter 26
Nathaniel
Amelia had broken my heart. I spent the night restless, tossing and turning in the bed we had shared only days ago. I wanted her there with me. I wanted to hold her, to tell her I would care for her, to share my excitement about the baby.
None of that was possible now.
She was adamant she would raise the baby alone to avoid hurting her father. No one could know it was mine.
In the moment, I hadn’t known what to do or say. I left her apartment with an enormous knot in my stomach, every muscle in my body protesting my separation from her as I willed myself to walk away.
