26. Lauren
Lauren
T he knock on the door startles me, and I slam my knees into the desk.
“Go away!” I shout, still wincing from the pain. I don’t even bother standing up.
“Lauren, open up,” his voice pleads from the other side of the door. “We need to talk once and for all.”
“Send me an email.”
“I already did! You ignored it!”
True.
“Well, try a letter next time. Maybe you’ll have better luck.”
“Lauren …” His tone shifts, deeper, more serious, almost a threat. “You can’t keep avoiding me. Come on, just for ten minutes.”
I exhale slowly. He’s right. I’ve been dodging him for three weeks now—ignoring calls, pretending not to be home. The thought of him having a child, hiding it all from me, makes my blood boil every time I let myself think about it. If he’d been honest from the start, it would’ve been different. Maybe I could’ve dealt with it— tried to make peace with that strange dynamic. But no, Silas Walker is an expert at keeping secrets.
“Five minutes,” I say, attempting to negotiate.
“Eight.”
“Seven.”
There’s a pause, then I hear his resigned voice through the door. “Deal. Now open the fucking door before I kick it down.”
I reluctantly get up, catching my reflection in the mirror. I don’t put much effort into my appearance these days, working from home and all, but at least I’m wearing jeans and a black T-shirt.
I don’t know why I even care.
I crack the door open, and Silas slips in like someone’s chasing him. His shirt collar is open, the tie half undone, hanging loosely. He looks disheveled, and I can’t help but wonder— is it because of me?
“Mr. Lee signed the contract,” he says, catching his breath. “He’s going to invest in us.”
I remember how stressed he was about that deal. “That’s great news,” I say, feeling my irritation momentarily lift. “Congratulations.”
“Same to you.”
I blink. “Me?”
“Yeah, you worked just as hard on this project. It’s your victory too.”
We’re standing two meters apart, but it feels like miles—like the distance between us is more than just physical.
Silas breaks the silence. “I went to see Stella.”
His words hit like a punch, and his eyes are on me, sharp and expectant. His hands settle on his hips, but his breathing is uneven, like he’s gearing up for something bigger. I look away, swallowing hard. I don’t want to react. I don’t want to picture them together—Stella, their child, the family they might be building while I’ve been spiraling in this perfectly organized apartment of misery.
“She had a girl,” he continues, his voice softening. “Her name is Poppy.”
I cross my arms, staring at the floor. It’s spotless, like every other corner of this place. I’ve had nothing but time to clean. Time to think. Time to unravel. “Congratulations,” I whisper, though my voice barely makes it out.
“I knew it !” Silas claps his hands, closing the distance between us, his eyes blazing. My heart races as he steps closer. “Do you think I’m Poppy’s father?”
I open my mouth, words stumbling over each other before I finally say, “Yes,” confirming what I believed was the truth.
His expression twists into anger. “No!” he shouts, his voice sharp. “I can’t believe you fell for such a damn rumor. You’re one of the smartest people I know, Lauren—how could you believe something like that so quickly?”
“Wait, you’re not the father?” I ask, my voice weak.
He shakes his head, frustration radiating off him.
“Then who is the father?”
“I don’t know! Some guy who donated his sperm!” He throws his hands up, clearly exasperated. “God! I can’t believe this.” He covers his face, pacing like he’s trying to burn off the anger. “Do you really think I’d do something like that? Leave the mother of my child?”
“Then why does everyone think you’re the father?!” I shout back, my own frustration spilling over.
“I paid for the treatment, Lauren!” His voice is raw, laced with pain. “It was a gift for Stella. Nothing more.” He steps toward me, and I instinctively back up until I hit the door.
Silas stops inches from my face, his eyes burning with hurt. “How could you believe them so easily?” His voice is low now, filled with disappointment .
I drop my gaze, shame flooding through me. I’ve been so stubborn, so quick to believe the worst.
His hand gently lifts my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes, and I see something I’ve never seen before— vulnerability . “I promised I would never hurt you again. Is my word worth so little to you?” His words cut deep, and my chest tightens with regret.
“Silas …” My eyes well up with tears, and I shut them, trying to keep myself from breaking down in front of him. I’ve missed him so much these past weeks—his touch, his voice, his presence. And now I’m angry at myself for pushing him away.
Suddenly, panic floods me. The weight of my mistake is suffocating, the fear of losing him unbearable. It’s not the first time I’ve let a rumor feel like reality. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice cracking. “I’m not used to lies. I don’t know how to lie, and I don’t understand why people do it. They said it at the party, and my mind just—” I pause, remembering the panic attack that overtook me that night, the way Silas looked at me as I hit my head over and over, unable to stop.
“Was that an episode?” His voice softens, his hand sliding gently to my neck, caressing me.
I nod.
“Lauren” He whispers my name like a promise. “Rumors are poison in the form of sound. You have to remember that people can be awful at times, and everything that comes out of their mouths can be garbage. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”
I nod again, shame still clawing at me.
“Promise me, from now on, you’ll listen to me before you act on any office gossip.”
I try to speak, but my voice betrays me, so I nod my head instead.
“I need you to say it out loud.”
“Yes.” I burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for being like this, for not talking to you. I just—” My voice cracks again. “I couldn’t react that day. It was like my mind took over and ...”
“Shhh.” Silas pulls me into his chest, his arms wrapping around me, holding me tightly. “I understand. It’s not your fault. I’m just glad you’re talking to me now. ”
I cling to him, suddenly terrified of letting go. “If only I were normal …”
Silas loosens his grip slightly, finding my face. His eyes shine with something deep and unspoken, something that makes my stomach churn with emotion. “Don’t ever say that again,” he murmurs, his gaze dropping to my lips. “You may not believe it, but you’re perfect just the way you are. Fuck , you’re Lauren Green. The girl who brought me to my knees, the one who made my heart race, and the one who still does.”
Tears stream down my face, and he wipes them away with soft kisses, his lips trailing along my skin. “It’s the way you are that dazzles me,” he continues, his voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t ever change. I love you, Lauren Green. And I would choose you, just as you are, a thousand times over.”
A smile bursts from my chest, breaking through the tears. His words, beautiful and raw, settle deep inside me, soothing the ache I’ve carried for so long.
“I love you too, Silas Walker,”