In a Stranger’s House

🌸Eden🌸

“Did my husband tell you I’m carrying his child too?”

Nalani froze, her confident expression faltering for just a second. I could tell she hadn’t expected that. It was clear—Liam hadn’t told her about the baby.

She quickly recovered, though, and reached into her bag, pulling out another check. “You can choose to keep the baby, or get rid of it,” she said coolly, holding the check up for me to see. “But trust me… you won’t come between Liam and me.”

I turned my gaze to Liam, who sat there, speechless, not a word escaping his lips. He looked like an obedient puppy, unwilling to step into the chaos he’d created….

“Liam,” I said, my voice trembling with hurt, “she wants me to get rid of our baby—the baby we’ve always wanted.” Tears welled up in my eyes, streaming down my face as the weight of everything hit me all at once. “I’m done with this humiliation. I’m done with you.”

With shaking hands, I pulled the divorce papers from my purse, signing them with the flick of a pen. My heart broke with every stroke. I then ripped up the check in front of Nalani’s smug face, letting the pieces fall to the ground like the shattered pieces of my heart.

“I’m done,” I whispered, my voice barely audible as I stood up and walked away.

~~~~🌸~~~~~

The city turned misty as my tears filled my eyes. I walked without paying attention to where I was going, my mind overwhelmed with everything that had happened. The divorce papers were signed. Liam wasn’t mine anymore, and Nalani’s cruel words kept ringing in my ears.

I wasn’t looking at the road ahead, too lost in my thoughts.

Suddenly, a loud car horn startled me.

Bright headlights flashed in my face, and I froze, unable to move. The car stopped just inches away.

The driver’s door opened, and a man quickly stepped out. “Are you okay? I’m so sorry!” he said, his voice filled with concern. When he saw my tears, he softened. “Why are you crying? Did I hurt you?”

I shook my head, not knowing how to explain. It wasn’t him; it was my stupid ex-husband who had turned into a puppet for some rich, Nepo baby!

“I’m fine,” I said quietly, though I clearly wasn’t.

“Are you sure?” he asked, his blue eyes looking at me with concern. He took a step back, giving me space.

I nodded, quickly trying walk past him, not wanting to say anything more. This wasn’t his problem, and I didn’t have the energy to explain.

“I’m Finn Rowan. Nice to meet you, even though I almost—” he started, but I raised my head to look at him.

He was tall, with messy dark hair and striking blue eyes that instantly caught my attention. His jawline was sharp, and his features were strong, yet his expression softened with concern.

“Where are you headed? Let me drop you off,” he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure, but then nodded. “Okay.”

Finn guided me to the passenger side of his car, his presence still looming with quiet intensity. As I got in, I could feel his gaze linger, sensing the silent understanding that something was wrong.

“Where are you headed?” Finn asked, glancing over at me as the car hummed along the road.

I stared out the window, my mind too clouded to even think about an answer. I didn’t have a home.

“I don’t have a home,” I finally said, my voice quiet.

He looked at me, clearly confused. “Are you for real?”

“Yeah,” I replied, turning my gaze to him.

He paused for a moment, clearly weighing his options. “Can I take you to a shelter, maybe?”

I didn’t respond, just kept looking at him, unsure of how to react.

After a few moments of silence, he spoke again, his tone hesitant. “Umm, I’m into real estate… I have a house nearby. I could let you crash there, if you’re not joking… you really have no place to stay?”

I looked at him, not sure what to say. Everything that had happened was still weighing on me, but something about his offer felt real, even if I wasn’t ready to trust him completely.

I paused for a moment, trying to think. “I… I don’t know,” I said quietly.

He stared at me with those blue eyes, waiting. “If you need somewhere to stay, you can come with me. I’m not trying to force you. I just don’t want you out here alone, especially not tonight.”

His words made me feel a little better, and for the first time that night, I felt like there might be a way out of this.

“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll go.”

Finn nodded, looking relieved but still careful. He started the car again, and the silence between us felt different now—calmer, almost comforting.

We drove for a while, and soon we pulled up to a sleek, modern building. The lights of the city reflected off the glass windows as Finn parked the car in the private garage. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the penthouse.

“This is where you want me to stay?” I asked, staring up at the tall building in disbelief. “You own this?”

Finn smiled lightly, as if he was used to the question. “This is just one of my properties,” he said, stepping out of the car. “I’ll just be in the city for a few weeks. Don’t like being around here. I actually have someone in the city that I don’t want to see.”

I blinked at him, trying to process his words. “Someone you don’t want to see?” I muttered, half to myself.

“Yeah,” he said, giving me a quick glance before he opened the door to the building. “Come on. I’ll show you inside.”

As we walked toward the entrance, I couldn’t help but think, It’s funny how I’m following a stranger to his house. It didn’t seem right, yet somehow, it did. 

I shook my head, trying to shake off the unease as we entered the elevator.

As we entered the elevator, I felt like I was stepping into a stranger’s world. The silence was heavy, but Finn’s presence brought a strange comfort.

When we reached the top floor, he led me into a sleek, modern apartment. Staff members moved quietly around, preparing the space.

“Make yourself at home,” Finn said, gesturing to the living area. “If you need anything, just call.”

A woman in a suit greeted me, offering to bring a drink, but I declined. Finn asked Mia to prepare the guest room for me.

I nodded, sitting on the plush sofa as a butler silently placed a glass of water on a tray before leaving.

Finn returned briefly. “Rest. We’ll talk later.”

I followed Mia to the guest room, a luxurious space with a king-sized bed and marble bathroom. It felt like too much, but Mia reassured me, “Mr. Finn wants his guests to be comfortable.”

After she left, I sat alone, still processing everything. For now, I could breathe.