Ryder's pov My phone rang beside me bringing me back to the present.I blinked twice, shaking the thoughts off me before taking my phone and checking who was calling.I answered the call and put my phone on my ear.“I heard you are in my town,” a voice said from the other side. I recognized the voice instantly.“Words travel fast here?” I asked back, leaning back in my chair.“I have my resources,” There was a hint of teasing in his voice, “Let us catch up on old times, let us have dinner together tonight,”“Maybe next time David. I have retired to bed,” “Don't be boring now Ryder. I know you well and I know you are not on your bed yet. I will send a restaurant location to you now. After putting the kids to sleep, I will meet you there,” he said, insisting on meeting.At the mention of kids, Ryan entered my mind. Is he asleep yet or still awake?“See you there,” I said, eventually agreeing to meet him. I ended the call and tossed my phone on the table.David and I were friends at u
Ophelia's pov Pulling in front of my apartment, Daniel switched off the car engine and turned to me.“I enjoyed dinner with you tonight. We should do this more often,” he said with a smile.I returned his smile.“I am sorry I had to cut short our dinner.” I apologized.The baby kicked while we were having dinner, and after that, my back started to ache. I didn't want to let him know so as not to ruin the fun but he caught on real quick and noticed.He insisted that he take me home so I can rest. I told him not to bother but he insisted that I needed to stretch my back.“It is fine so far. The baby is alright,” his eyes shifted to my baby bump, and I unconsciously rubbed it. “Does that happen frequently?” “More frequently than before, but it is fine,” he looked worried at my reply. “Really. The baby is fine,” I laughed.“If you say so. Take care of yourself and you can call me if anything happens,”I smiled at him as I opened the door and slipped out of the car.I went to his side t
Ophelia's pov Ryder's piercing gaze locked with mine, his expression unreadable. He leaned slightly against the doorframe, his hand now gripping the edge of the door as if he wasn’t planning to move anytime soon. "Can we talk?" His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words.I tightened the robe around me, feeling vulnerable under his intense stare. "There is nothing to talk about, Ryder. It is late. Go back to wherever you came from."He didn't budge. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence looming. "I know I shouldn't have come here like this, but... I couldn't wait." His jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw something raw in his eyes—regret, maybe. Or was it something else?I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shield myself from the emotions threatening to rise. "Couldn't wait for what? To ruin my night? To—" I stopped myself before I could go further. I wouldn’t let him rile me up.“How did you even find me? I thought I made it clear I wou
Ophelia's PovDaniel raised an eyebrow at me, clearly noticing my flustered expression. "You seem... tense. Are you okay?" I forced a smile, stepping aside to let him in. "I am fine. Just a little tired." He walked in, his gaze sweeping the living room before settling back on me. I closed the door behind me. "I missed your call, I was driving. I was almost home when I realized you left your bag in my car. I thought you might need it tonight so I brought it back for you." My eyes flickered to the small black handbag in his hand, and I sighed in relief. "Thank you. I didn’t even realize until I got inside and needed to take my drugs but you didn't have to bring it tonight. I needed my drugs when I called you, but I had another one in the house, so I took it." I reached out to take the purse from him, but Daniel hesitated, studying me carefully before handing it over. "Are you sure you are okay? You look a little shaken." I let out a small laugh, brushing a stray strand of hai
Ophelia pov Ryder was deep in thought, but his presence felt like a pull, drawing me in. My heart raced with every step closer.He looked up just as I reached the table, his fingers pausing mid-tap. His sharp gaze flickered to Aaron first, then settled on me. His expression was not that of surprise; it was calm yet guarded. I inhaled quietly, steadying myself. “Hi,” I greeted him. I didn't wait for him to reply when I pulled out a chair for Aaron to sit on. “Aaron, sit here,” He climbed up the chair without question, his small legs swinging under the table. Ryder didn’t say anything. He just only watched, his presence heavy, making my skin prickle. I turned to Aaron with a smile, trying to keep my voice light. “What do you want to eat?” He scrunched his nose in thought. “Pancakes.” “Alright, pancakes it is.” I was about to go to the counter to order when Ryder's voice stopped me. “I will get it for him,” he said before standing from his seat and walking to the counter.
Ryder's povHer correction hit me harder than it should have. Eva. Not Ophelia. I clenched my jaw, staring at her as she glared back, her eyes filled with a fire I had only ever seen when she was determined to push me away, when she was leaving. She was angry—no, beyond that. She was done. And that realization did something unsettling to me. I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. "Eva," I repeated, testing the name on my tongue, but it felt wrong between my lips. It felt foreign. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. "What do you want, Ryder?" she asked, her voice clipped. I hate how we are right now. I hated this distance between us. Hated the way she looked at me like I was just some stranger she was forced to tolerate. There was no love or adoration in her eyes like she used to look at me and it caused my heart to tighten."I just…" My throat felt dry. I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say. Not when she was staring at me lik
Ophelia's pov Instead of answering him or confirming what he said, I walked out of the cafe with Aaron. Hailing a cab, Aaron and I got inside, and the cab drove off. Only then did I breathe out in relief.I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city blur past as the cab moved. My fingers tightened around Aaron’s little hand, his warmth grounding me even as my mind spiraled.He knows. I was suspecting he noticed my baby bump but when he didn't say anything, I assumed he didn't and that I was thinking it too far.I should have been more careful. I should have worn looser clothes and should have avoided being near him for too long. But it wasn't something I couldn't control. I just got out of the bathtub and put on my robe. It wasn't something I couldn't have prevented right?But it was too late now. Ryder had seen the truth. He knew I was pregnant.Aaron shifted beside me, his innocent voice cutting through my thoughts. “Eva, are you okay?”I forced a small smile, brushing
Ophelia's pov I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the living room. Nothing seemed out of place. No one was there. “Eva, it is not what you think,” she said, rushing to me after she closed the door behind me. I turned back to Nichole, narrowing my eyes “What exactly do you think I am thinking?” I crossed my arms. She looked around before She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her feet.“It is not what you think because…” she paused, her eyes searching as if looking for what to say.“I was, uh, in the shower when you rang the bell.” She completed her sentence. “That was why I took so long.” “But you are in a shirt,” I caught sight of a missing button and noticed the shirt was bigger than her. “Why is one of your buttons missing and is that a man's shirt?”“My… cousin's shirt. I took it from his wardrobe during last year's Christmas. I am rushing to wear the shirt and popped a buttonI wasn't buying her explanations.I frowned. “Then why were you out of breath?” She opened he
Ophelia's pov I sat back on the couch, sitting opposite Nichole and Daniel, arms crossed, trying to process what I had just learned. Nichole and Daniel? Two months? Finland? I had to admit, it was a lot to take in.“So, Finland?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “You mean to tell me that you have been keeping this from me for two whole months, and you think it is just going to slide by with a casual ‘Oh, I went to Finland, and now I am sneaking around with Daniel?”Nichole sighed, looking like she wanted to curl up and disappear. “Eva, I didn’t know how to tell you. I mean, I didn't know what you would think about me, about the whole situation I was in.Daniel, who was sitting beside her, wore an amusing smirk on his face. “You should have known better, Nic. You know Eva doesn’t miss anything. Besides,” he looked at me with a sly grin, “she is too smart for your distractions.”I shot him a look, narrowing my eyes. “Oh, don’t start with me. You are in on this, too. You didn't act like yo
Ophelia's pov I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the living room. Nothing seemed out of place. No one was there. “Eva, it is not what you think,” she said, rushing to me after she closed the door behind me. I turned back to Nichole, narrowing my eyes “What exactly do you think I am thinking?” I crossed my arms. She looked around before She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her feet.“It is not what you think because…” she paused, her eyes searching as if looking for what to say.“I was, uh, in the shower when you rang the bell.” She completed her sentence. “That was why I took so long.” “But you are in a shirt,” I caught sight of a missing button and noticed the shirt was bigger than her. “Why is one of your buttons missing and is that a man's shirt?”“My… cousin's shirt. I took it from his wardrobe during last year's Christmas. I am rushing to wear the shirt and popped a buttonI wasn't buying her explanations.I frowned. “Then why were you out of breath?” She opened he
Ophelia's pov Instead of answering him or confirming what he said, I walked out of the cafe with Aaron. Hailing a cab, Aaron and I got inside, and the cab drove off. Only then did I breathe out in relief.I kept my gaze fixed out the window, watching the city blur past as the cab moved. My fingers tightened around Aaron’s little hand, his warmth grounding me even as my mind spiraled.He knows. I was suspecting he noticed my baby bump but when he didn't say anything, I assumed he didn't and that I was thinking it too far.I should have been more careful. I should have worn looser clothes and should have avoided being near him for too long. But it wasn't something I couldn't control. I just got out of the bathtub and put on my robe. It wasn't something I couldn't have prevented right?But it was too late now. Ryder had seen the truth. He knew I was pregnant.Aaron shifted beside me, his innocent voice cutting through my thoughts. “Eva, are you okay?”I forced a small smile, brushing
Ryder's povHer correction hit me harder than it should have. Eva. Not Ophelia. I clenched my jaw, staring at her as she glared back, her eyes filled with a fire I had only ever seen when she was determined to push me away, when she was leaving. She was angry—no, beyond that. She was done. And that realization did something unsettling to me. I exhaled sharply, running a hand down my face. "Eva," I repeated, testing the name on my tongue, but it felt wrong between my lips. It felt foreign. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression unreadable. "What do you want, Ryder?" she asked, her voice clipped. I hate how we are right now. I hated this distance between us. Hated the way she looked at me like I was just some stranger she was forced to tolerate. There was no love or adoration in her eyes like she used to look at me and it caused my heart to tighten."I just…" My throat felt dry. I didn't know how to say what I wanted to say. Not when she was staring at me lik
Ophelia pov Ryder was deep in thought, but his presence felt like a pull, drawing me in. My heart raced with every step closer.He looked up just as I reached the table, his fingers pausing mid-tap. His sharp gaze flickered to Aaron first, then settled on me. His expression was not that of surprise; it was calm yet guarded. I inhaled quietly, steadying myself. “Hi,” I greeted him. I didn't wait for him to reply when I pulled out a chair for Aaron to sit on. “Aaron, sit here,” He climbed up the chair without question, his small legs swinging under the table. Ryder didn’t say anything. He just only watched, his presence heavy, making my skin prickle. I turned to Aaron with a smile, trying to keep my voice light. “What do you want to eat?” He scrunched his nose in thought. “Pancakes.” “Alright, pancakes it is.” I was about to go to the counter to order when Ryder's voice stopped me. “I will get it for him,” he said before standing from his seat and walking to the counter.
Ophelia's PovDaniel raised an eyebrow at me, clearly noticing my flustered expression. "You seem... tense. Are you okay?" I forced a smile, stepping aside to let him in. "I am fine. Just a little tired." He walked in, his gaze sweeping the living room before settling back on me. I closed the door behind me. "I missed your call, I was driving. I was almost home when I realized you left your bag in my car. I thought you might need it tonight so I brought it back for you." My eyes flickered to the small black handbag in his hand, and I sighed in relief. "Thank you. I didn’t even realize until I got inside and needed to take my drugs but you didn't have to bring it tonight. I needed my drugs when I called you, but I had another one in the house, so I took it." I reached out to take the purse from him, but Daniel hesitated, studying me carefully before handing it over. "Are you sure you are okay? You look a little shaken." I let out a small laugh, brushing a stray strand of hai
Ophelia's pov Ryder's piercing gaze locked with mine, his expression unreadable. He leaned slightly against the doorframe, his hand now gripping the edge of the door as if he wasn’t planning to move anytime soon. "Can we talk?" His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind his words.I tightened the robe around me, feeling vulnerable under his intense stare. "There is nothing to talk about, Ryder. It is late. Go back to wherever you came from."He didn't budge. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence looming. "I know I shouldn't have come here like this, but... I couldn't wait." His jaw tightened, and for a fleeting moment, I thought I saw something raw in his eyes—regret, maybe. Or was it something else?I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to shield myself from the emotions threatening to rise. "Couldn't wait for what? To ruin my night? To—" I stopped myself before I could go further. I wouldn’t let him rile me up.“How did you even find me? I thought I made it clear I wou
Ophelia's pov Pulling in front of my apartment, Daniel switched off the car engine and turned to me.“I enjoyed dinner with you tonight. We should do this more often,” he said with a smile.I returned his smile.“I am sorry I had to cut short our dinner.” I apologized.The baby kicked while we were having dinner, and after that, my back started to ache. I didn't want to let him know so as not to ruin the fun but he caught on real quick and noticed.He insisted that he take me home so I can rest. I told him not to bother but he insisted that I needed to stretch my back.“It is fine so far. The baby is alright,” his eyes shifted to my baby bump, and I unconsciously rubbed it. “Does that happen frequently?” “More frequently than before, but it is fine,” he looked worried at my reply. “Really. The baby is fine,” I laughed.“If you say so. Take care of yourself and you can call me if anything happens,”I smiled at him as I opened the door and slipped out of the car.I went to his side t
Ryder's pov My phone rang beside me bringing me back to the present.I blinked twice, shaking the thoughts off me before taking my phone and checking who was calling.I answered the call and put my phone on my ear.“I heard you are in my town,” a voice said from the other side. I recognized the voice instantly.“Words travel fast here?” I asked back, leaning back in my chair.“I have my resources,” There was a hint of teasing in his voice, “Let us catch up on old times, let us have dinner together tonight,”“Maybe next time David. I have retired to bed,” “Don't be boring now Ryder. I know you well and I know you are not on your bed yet. I will send a restaurant location to you now. After putting the kids to sleep, I will meet you there,” he said, insisting on meeting.At the mention of kids, Ryan entered my mind. Is he asleep yet or still awake?“See you there,” I said, eventually agreeing to meet him. I ended the call and tossed my phone on the table.David and I were friends at u