Chapter 23
As the summer stretched on, a bump pushed out from my flat belly.
I hid it beneath loose shirts and sundresses, but as my pregnancy progressed, it would become harder to disguise.
Every morning, I woke with a quiet determination: I would keep this baby a secret from Vaughn.
He’d taken enough from me. He didn’t deserve this child, not after everything he’d done.
I spent my days looking for homes around Mystic, determined to put down roots here.
The small coastal town had become my sanctuary.
Each time I drove by a charming cottage or a house tucked behind a grove of trees, I imagined raising my child in this quiet corner of the world, far from the chaos Vaughn thrived on.
One afternoon, I found myself standing in front of a two-story colonial with a wrap-around porch and a sprawling backyard.
It had everything I wanted—privacy, space for a garden, and enough rooms to grow into.
The real estate agent, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes, unlocked the front door and gestured for me to enter.
“The owners just renovated the kitchen,” she said, her voice smooth with the practiced ease of someone who’d been in the business for years. “It’s perfect for someone who loves to cook.”
I stepped inside, feeling the coolness of the hardwood floors beneath my sandals. The house smelled faintly of fresh paint and pine, and I could already see myself here—my child running through the halls, their laughter filling the space.
I turned to the agent, smiling. “I think this might be the one.”
She grinned, nodding as she handed me the papers. “Take your time to decide, but I’ll warn you—homes like this don’t stay on the market long.”
I folded the documents and tucked them into my bag, already knowing I would call her in the morning. As I stepped back out into the sunlight, I heard my phone buzz. I pulled it out to see Easton’s name flashing across the screen.
“Hey,” I answered, my voice light as I tried to steady myself.
“Joey, where are you? I stopped by the house, but you’re not there.”
“I’m out looking at some houses,” I said, trying to keep things casual. “I think I might’ve found one.”
Easton chuckled. “Already? You haven’t even been in Mystic that long.”
“I don’t want to wait,” I admitted. “I need a permanent place for me and…well, for me.”
There was a pause on the other end, and I could feel his hesitation. “You’re not planning on staying hidden forever, right? I mean, Simone’s worried about you. And Logan…”
“They don’t need to worry,” I interrupted, the edge in my voice sharper than I intended. “I’m fine. I’m where I need to be.”
Easton sighed. “All right, all right. We won’t push. Just…remember, we’re here for you.”
“I know. Thanks.” I hung up, feeling the weight of my secret press against my chest. Easton had no idea, and I planned to keep it that way.
If he, Simone, or Logan knew I was pregnant, they’d try to convince me to tell Vaughn.
I couldn’t risk it. They might see it as the right thing to do, but I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing he had a child.
That evening, as the sun began to set, Simone and Logan arrived for dinner.
Tomorrow they would head to Cape Cod and I was a pit stop for the evening.
I greeted them at the door with a wide smile, draping a light cardigan over my shoulders to conceal the slight swell of my stomach.
Easton had shared lunch with me and left for a trip to Rhode Island with friends.
“Joey, you look amazing,” Simone said as she stepped inside, her eyes scanning the cozy interior of the small rental. “This place suits you.”
I laughed softly. “It’s temporary, but I’m getting used to it.”
Logan followed her in, his gaze lingering on me longer than usual. He’d always been the most perceptive, and I could feel his questions bubbling just beneath the surface. “You sure you’re okay out here?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
“I’m fine, Logan. Really,” I said, waving him off as I led them into the kitchen. “I needed this—some peace, a place to think.”
Simone took a seat at the table, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You’re not…hiding anything from us, are you?”
My stomach twisted at her question, but I kept my face neutral. “What would I be hiding?” I forced a laugh, turning away to stir the pot of soup on the stove.
“Vaughn’s still looking for you, you know,” Logan said quietly. “He’s not giving up. If he finds out…”
“He won’t find out,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “I’m staying here. And he has no claim to anything in my life anymore.”
The conversation shifted, but the tension hung in the air. After dinner, when they’d finally left, preferring to stay in a quaint inn near town. I stood in the middle of the living room, my hand resting protectively over my stomach.
“I won’t share you with him,” I whispered to the small life growing inside me. “This is our secret. Our new beginning.”
And I meant it. Vaughn would never have a claim on this child. As the months passed, I’d make sure of it. This baby was mine, and no one would take that from me—not even him.
“Easton, how will I ever pay you back?” I asked, glancing up at him as we stood in the sunlit kitchen. My voice was soft, though the weight of the question hung heavy between us.
He chuckled, leaning casually against the counter with that familiar, easy grin of his. “I’ll be adding interest,” he teased, a spark in his eyes. “But don’t worry about that now. When are you coming back?” His tone shifted, more serious, the lightheartedness fading.
“I don’t want to come back.” The words came out sharper than I intended, and I gripped the edge of the counter to steady myself. “Your brother disgusts me,” I spat, my voice filled with venom that surprised even me.
Easton didn’t flinch. He just watched me, the humor fading completely from his face. “Joey…” He sighed, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck. “I get it, but running away forever? That’s not you.”
“You think I’m running away?” I spun around, my heart pounding as I met his gaze. “I’m not running. I’m rebuilding. I can’t… I won’t be anywhere near Vaughn. Not after everything.”
Easton pushed off the counter, stepping closer. “I’m not saying you don’t have a right to be pissed. Hell, I’d be the same way if I were in your shoes. But living out here, in the middle of nowhere? This isn’t like you.”
I shook my head, turning away from him. I couldn’t let him see how fragile I felt, how close I was to breaking.
“You don’t understand,” I muttered, walking toward the large window that overlooked the river.
The house—my house now—was perfect, too perfect.
Six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, views that stretched out to the water and beyond. Easton had made sure of that.
But it was a prison in its own way. A beautiful one. A cage I’d chosen.
“You think this house will fix things?” he asked, his voice low, almost too gentle. “Buying it doesn’t change what’s happened. And it won’t make Vaughn disappear.”
I turned back to him, my jaw tightening. “No, but it’s mine now. This place… it’s my fresh start. Away from all the lies. Away from him.”
Easton’s eyes softened, and he stepped closer, his hand brushing against mine. “And you think you can just shut him out? Shut everyone out?”
“I have to,” I whispered, feeling the tears prick the back of my eyes. “I can’t let him ruin anything else, Easton. Not this. Not my life.”
For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The only sound was the soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant lapping of water against the shore outside.
I stretched, feeling the fabric of my sweater pull tight.
Before I could stop it, the hem rode up, exposing my now pronounced bump.
Easton’s eyes darted to the visible flesh, and I froze, my heart sinking as his gaze shifted from my belly to my face.
He wasn’t searching for an answer—he already knew.
"Joey..." His voice was low, filled with confusion and something that felt like betrayal.
I quickly covered the bump with my hand, my fingers trembling. “No. I won’t discuss it.”
He stared at me, his jaw tightening. “You’re fucking pregnant?” It wasn’t a question. It was an accusation, his words cutting through the air like a blade.
“It’s mine,” I said, my voice firmer than I felt. I kept my hand over my stomach as if that could somehow shield the truth from him.
“And Vaughn’s,” Easton shot back, stepping closer. “How could you not say anything? How could you hide this from me—from him?”
I sighed, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. “I don’t want to share this baby with him. I don’t want my child tainted by his... evil.” The word felt bitter in my mouth, but it was the truth. Vaughn had poisoned everything else in my life—I wouldn’t let him have this too.
Easton’s eyes narrowed, frustration flashing in his gaze. “But you have to tell him, Joey. You can’t keep this a secret forever. Hiding is one thing, but keeping his child from him? That’s wrong.”
I clenched my fists, feeling the surge of anger rise inside me.
“What he did was wrong! He made it look like I frequented that horrible club. He tried to take the mansion from me with his underhanded manipulation. And let’s not forget, he stole the position your father wanted me to have. Everything Vaughn touches turns toxic.”
Easton ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “I know what he did, but this… this is different. This is a child, Joey. A human being. Do you really want to raise this baby with that kind of secret hanging over your head?”
My throat tightened, but I held his gaze, refusing to back down. “I’d rather raise this baby alone than let Vaughn sink his claws into them. I will not share this child with him.”