Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Winter
The next afternoon, Knox and I are sitting on the couch in his living room. We spent the morning taking it easy. He made me breakfast, we watched a movie, and I fell asleep on his chest while he worked on his phone. It's been quiet and peaceful, exactly what I need after yesterday.
Knox stands and walks to the kitchen to answer it. I watch him from the couch.
"Yeah," he says into the phone.
There's a pause. His entire body tenses and he glances at me.
"Hold on."
He covers the receiver and walks back toward me.
"Rowan's downstairs."
My stomach drops. I flinch instinctively.
But then I take a breath and straighten my shoulders.
"He needs to know the truth. Once and for all."
Knox studies my face. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
He brings the phone back to his ear.
"Send him up."
He hangs up and we both stand there, bracing ourselves. Knox walks to the foyer and positions himself in front of the elevator. I stay in the living room but I can see him from where I'm standing.
The elevator dings.The doors slide open. Rowan steps out in a huff, his face already flushed with anger.
"What the hell are you doing here, Rowan?" Knox asks, his voice cold.
"I need to talk to Winter," Rowan says, stepping forward.
"I know she's here!"
"She doesn't want to talk to you."
"You don’t know shit, Knox." Rowan snaps, pushing past Knox.
I hear their footsteps and then Rowan appears in the living room doorway. His eyes land on me immediately.
"Winter," Rowan says, breathless.
"We need to talk. Alone."
Knox steps between us. "No."
I stand from the couch and put a hand on Knox's arm.
"It's okay. I'll talk to him."
Knox looks at me, concern clear in his eyes. "Winter—"
"It's okay," I repeat softly.
I walk past Knox and down the hallway toward the study. I can hear Rowan following behind me, his footsteps heavy and urgent.
I push open the door and step inside. Rowan enters after me and I close the door behind us.
We stand there for a moment in the silence of Knox's study, just looking at each other.
Rowan breaks the silence first. "There were photos online of you leaving the hospital with him. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
"Are you together?" Rowan asks, his voice tight. "Is that what this is?"
I pause. My heart is pounding but I know what I need to say.
"Yes," I answer.
Rowan's face hardens.
"It's a fling, Winter. He's using you to get back at me."
"It's not a fling," I say firmly. "And this isn't about you."
I pause, then continue.
"I don't love you anymore, Rowan.
I pause before I continue, “I'm with Knox."
Rowan's expression cracks for just a moment before the anger returns.
"For how long? Until he gets bored?"
The words sting but I don't let them land. Instead, I say the one thing I know will end this conversation forever.
"I'm pregnant."
Rowan stops cold. His entire body goes still. His mouth opens but no sound comes out.
"What?" he finally manages.
"I'm pregnant," I repeat.
Rowan stares at me like he didn't hear me correctly. His eyes are wide with disbelief.
"What?" he says again, softer this time, like his brain is trying to catch up with what I just said.
I look him directly in the eyes and say it one more time, slowly and clearly.
"I'm pregnant. It's Knox's baby."
For a moment, Rowan doesn't move. He just stands there frozen, processing the words.
Then his face changes. Shock gives way to something darker.
Something angrier. Rage. His jaw tightens.
His hands ball into fists at his sides. His eyes are wild and burning with fury.
He turns sharply on his heel and strides to the door.
He swings it open with force, the door slamming against the wall, and storms out into the hallway, heading straight for the living room.
Straight for Knox...