Chapter 4

Ophelia’s POV

Back at school, I locked myself in the study room at the far corner of the library.

Stared at the internship application in front of me.

Valdris was still waiting. But what now? `Sorry, I'm pregnant, I can't do anything for the next few months`?

`Mrs. Lane?`

Julian Cross stood in the doorway, holding a thermos.

`Chamomile tea.` He set the cup in front of me. `Mr. Lane asked me to bring it. He said you haven't been sleeping well.`

`Thank you.` I didn't touch it.

`One more thing.` Julian cleared his throat. `Mr. Lane would like to invite you to dinner tomorrow evening. Seven o'clock. Lumière.`

Lumière.

The restaurant where we first ate alone together, three years ago. I'd worn a dress from a thrift store and been so nervous I held my fork upside down.

`Fine. Tell him I'll be there.`

Julian bowed and left.

I stared at the chamomile tea.

Fine. I'd go. Tell him to his face that I was leaving.

As for the baby—he already had Briar, didn't he?

---

In the private room at Lumière, Rafferty was already waiting.

He stood and pulled out my chair.

`I ordered the appetizer you like.` He sat down. `Smoked salmon.`

The waiter brought the first course and withdrew. He didn't touch his silverware. Just watched me.

`Ophelia.`

I looked up.

`I've been thinking,` he said. `You have one year left before graduation. If you love flying, you can apply for graduate school at the aviation academy.`

`Graduate school?`

`Or,` he swirled the wine in his glass, `if you'd rather start working right away, I can buy you an airline.`

`You don't have to go anywhere.` He added.

Silence.

`Rafferty, I—`

`There's something else, I—`

We spoke at the same time, then both stopped.

`You first.` I lowered my head.

He was about to speak when his phone rang. He answered, then immediately stood, chair scraping back.

`Briar fainted. She's in the hospital. I have to go.`

He turned and left.

The door to the private room closed.

I sat at the empty table, looking at two untouched appetizers, appetite gone.

So I left the restaurant and wandered the streets aimlessly.

A couple walked past—the girl nestled in the boy's arms, laughing sweetly.

I was alone.

I didn't see the car coming.

The screech of brakes. Blinding headlights.

My first instinct wasn't pain. Wasn't fear.

My hands flew to protect my stomach.

Then darkness.

---

I bolted upright, yanking at the IV in my hand.

`My baby!` I grabbed the nurse's arm. `Is my baby okay?!`

`Calm down, Ms. Sinclair.` The nurse pressed my shoulders down. `You and the baby are both fine. The driver braked in time. Just minor scrapes.`

Tears spilled over.

After the nurse left, the room fell quiet.

I lay there, one hand over my stomach.

`I'm sorry.` I whispered. `Mommy will protect you.`

A familiar voice came from outside the door.

I got up and looked through the crack. Briar lay in a hospital bed across the hall. Rafferty sat beside her, holding her hand.

`You need to rest.` His voice was low and gentle—a tone I'd never heard him use with me. `The doctor said you need to stay overnight for observation. Tell me if anything feels wrong. I'll have them run more tests.`

`The baby...`

`The baby's fine.` His grip tightened. `I already asked. You're just exhausted. You need rest.`

`Rafferty...`

`Don't talk.` He cut her off, gentle as if soothing a child. `Sleep. I'm here.`

*I'm here.*

I turned and leaned against the cold wall.

Something was shattering inside my chest.

The next day, my results came back normal. After discharge, I went straight to the courthouse.

`I need you to do something for me.` I pushed the divorce decree across the counter. `Please mail this to this address tomorrow.`

I wrote down the Lane estate's address.

The clerk glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask questions.

`Of course, Ms. Sinclair.`