Love's Unforeseen Path

his office warm despite t

you want it. Remote, challenging. The k

the folder

or. I want it

n I felt. This was it. A

he said, his eyes kind. "Months

peated. More tha

vies leaned back. "He's usually quite involved in

rmed in m

dence," I managed, the lie tastin

my words. Relief washed over me, qu

as another way I was pulling away.

ice, the grant papers f

friend. The man who took me in when

home, education,

y built walls arou

esponsibility, a

he only man I'

The power imbalance, our hist

uest house, a well-cared-for f

every time he smiled at me wit

st about filmmaking.

naires' Charity Gala had been on

oking up from his tablet. "Good for you t

there too. His latest, very p

made my st

," I'd

la felt like a final hurdle. A last night in

ng gowns and tailored suits in

xchanged a few pleasantries

ssi on his arm. She was laughing, h

his usual sharp, focused self

t of conversation as

him wrapped aro

ter. The ultimate pri

d at her with an intens

but his eyes se

o me. She' d been talking to the bartender, then slipped so

od ran

at? Or was it the ch

I sa

sip, smi

aw me as a kid, a ward. Isabella w

to get

elf from Prof

mbled slightly. Isabella stea

alright?" I aske

wly. "Ava. You came. Good." Hi

ed at me. "He's just a

tired," I insisted

n said, but he leaned

should go h

young," Isabella trill

"Maybe... maybe Ava's ri

s were

was

nausea. What ha

n nursing for a week, suddenly felt like a lead weight in my stom

ht was ho

aming of a future with him, while an

r that week, to talk to him. To tell him about my fe

was too much, but to exp

able, so clearly manipulated, any th

get him away from Isa

" I said, my voice f

ile tightened.

s my responsibility if he's unwe

e to Isabella, conf

as tense. Ethan was mostly inc

he car, his arm heavy

and silent. His staff ha

rds his bedroom,

I loved, helple

, his warmth, it

and we both went down,

e close to mine, his breath

eld a flicker of something

his lips w

as a dam breaking. Years of suppress

itions, but the emotion, the ra

d. I kissed him back, a

lines blurred into a haze of touch and

ccident. My parents, his best

He was thirty, already

set up a trust, overseen my educ

va," he'd said. "

gratitude had morphed i

s empire, admired his

o came and went, n

rom afar, a silen

light streamed into E

ts, a dull throbbing in my he

l asleep, his

round the edges, but the core of it,

mber. He couldn'

nd a desperate, fragile hope. W

clothes discarded on the

e bathroom. My reflection was a mess

had I

ntending to dress and disappear

pretend it n

me wanted him to wake up, to se

y missed period. If I was pregnant.

ying mix of terror and

perfect rose on his nightstand – a l

cked it up, intending to... I don

nd tr

se from downstairs

eaped into

ht and quick,

e doorway, dressed impeccably

in Ethan' s robe, the rumpl

irk wi

dripping with false sweetness. "Lo

the room, uninvi

the floor, then her eyes

elicate silk scarf from her purse and

amond stud – from her ear and dropped it near

d turne

irred, g

is side. "Ethan, dar

ed, then landed on her. "Isa

night," she purred, stroking

his eyes found me, stan

obe, my dish

g – confusion? Disgus

va

ssion hardening. "Oh, Ava was just...

s trapped i

hen at the scarf, then his gaze

ouched his head. "I...

g his forehead. "We had a wonderful time. Yo

a look of

on. His memory was a bla

here was a clear dismissal in his eyes.

ld and absolute, washed over me. He

fl

se still clutched in my hand, i

was no longer an escap

I had to disappe

about a baby – his baby –

nt, I would be

know. He would

s leaving with this secret, this potential l

o preserve what littl

film. I would build a life so far from

vise around my chest. But beneath

k me. Isabella wo

ld su