Chapter 173
Chapter 174
VENUS
59
The night stretched cruel and endless.
I’d tried to close my eyes, tried to let sleep pull me under, but every time I blinked, I saw him. The door shutting behind him, his back retreating, silence swallowing me whole.
My phone sat on the nightstand, its screen mocking me with unanswered calls, unsent texts. I told myself I wouldn’t beg. I told myself I was stronger than that. And yet, my hand hovered over it again and again, stupid hope gnawing at me like hunger: maybe he’d call. Maybe he’d say something.
But he didn’t.
By the time I heard the door open downstairs, my heart lurched so hard I thought it might break ribs. I slipped out of bed, padding quietly to the landing just in time to hear Connor’s voice low and steady.
“Where do you want him p>
My stomach dropped. Aaron was slumped against him, half-carried, half-dragged. Passed out, reeking of liquor.
The sight carved me open in ways I didn’t have words for.
I gripped the banister tighter. “The couch.” My voice came out thin, but steady. “Just put him on the couch p>
Connor nodded, easing Aaron down. He covered him with something-a jacket maybe-then looked up at me. His eyes were sharp, knowing, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t need to.
The door clicked softly after him, leaving only silence.
I stood there for a long beat, staring at the broad rise and fall of Aaron’s chest from across the room. A part of me wanted to leave him cold, let him feel the consequences of walking out on me. But my feet betrayed
Minutes later, I was kneeling beside the couch, tugging a blanket over him. His face in sleep was softer, stripped of the walls he always wore in the daylight. I brushed a strand of hair from his forehead before I could stop myself.
“Idiot,” I whispered, voice breaking. “My idiot p>
And then I went back upstairs, alone.
I lay awake until the sky outside the windows began to gray. The decision came quiet, steady, anchoring itself in my bones even as my heart felt shredded.
I wanted this baby.
Not because I thought it would fix us. Not because I thought it would make Aaron love me more. But because
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Chapter 174
-because it was ours. A piece of him and me together, something carved out of all our fire and chaos and tenderness. I wanted it. I wanted them.
With that thought, I finally let sleep take me.
59
Morning.
The sound woke me: soft shuffling, the rustle of fabric. Someone moving carefully, trying not to disturb me.
I cracked my eyes open. Aaron stood by the dresser, fresh clothes clinging to him, his hair damp from a shower. He looked whole, put together, as if the night before hadn’t happened.
He noticed I was awake and paused. “Morning p>
The word snagged something sharp in my chest. I rolled away from him, slipping out of bed without answering. My throat burned, but I refused to let him hear me break.
The bathroom mirror showed my face pale, eyes swollen. I splashed water over my skin, forced myself to breathe, to steady. Not here. Not in front of him.
When I came back out, I didn’t look at him. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing my hurt. I walked straight downstairs.
The kitchen felt too big, too quiet. I poured a glass of juice, my movements sharp, deliberate. Aaron was already there, sitting at the counter like he owned the space.
Well Venus…. He does.
Shut up inner voice.
He looked up as I passed, but I ignored him, clutching the glass like a lifeline.
“Venus…” His voice was low, rough.
“What do you want, Aaron?” I asked, and to my horror, my voice wobbled.
He flinched. I hated that it made me feel guilty.
“Please.” He gestured to the stool beside him, pulling it out. “Sit. Let’s talk p>
I hesitated, every instinct screaming to walk away. But my feet betrayed me again. I sat, stiff, keeping space between us.
He pushed a plate toward me-pancakes, perfectly golden, butter melting on top. He’d made them himself. His peace offering.
I didn’t touch them.
Aaron sighed, dragging a hand over his face. “About last night p>
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Chapter 174
My chest tightened.
59
“I’m sorry,” he said finally. “I’m sorry I walked out on you. I shouldn’t have. I panicked, and I didn’t know what to do, but that’s no excuse for leaving you like that. For hurting you p>
I stared down at my juice, not trusting myself to speak.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on me. “Venus, I need you to understand. It wasn’t about you. It wasn’t about the baby. It was about me-about what I’ve seen, what I lived through. My mother…” His voice cracked, just once. “My mother almost died carrying a child. A child that didn’t make it. She collapsed in front of me, bleeding, and Richard-” His jaw tightened, rage flaring in his eyes. “He wasn’t there. He didn’t give a damn. He forced her into it, ignored the doctor’s warnings, and left her to suffer. I swore I’d never… I can’t lose you like that, Venus. I can’t watch you die on a floor the way she did. The thought of it-” He broke off, shaking his head. “That’s what you saw last night. That’s what made me run p>
I felt the tears building, hot, relentless. He didn’t know. He didn’t know Caroline had been behind it all, that Rosemary had made me promise to keep that secret. The truth sat heavy in my chest, suffocating.
But I pushed it down, because this wasn’t about Caroline. This was about him, about us.
I swallowed hard. “Aaron… that only happens in a few cases. Complications like that, they’re rare. And medicine has come a long way since then. I’ll be monitored, watched closely. It’s not the same as it was with Rose p>
His eyes searched mine, raw and uncertain. “You can’t promise me that p>
“No,” I admitted softly. “I can’t. But what I can promise is that I want this. I want this baby, Aaron. Last night, I thought… I thought you didn’t want me. That you didn’t want us. And it broke me.” My voice cracked. “But I made a decision. I’m keeping the baby. No matter what p>
The words hung between us, sharp and final.
Aaron’s throat worked as he swallowed. His hand reached across the counter, tentative, hovering near mine. “Venus… I do want you. I’ve always wanted you. And I want this child, too. I was scared-fuck, I am scared. But I’ll stand with you. I’ll be there.” His voice dropped, fierce now. “I won’t run again p>
Tears blurred my vision. I blinked them back, but one slipped free anyway.
He caught it with his thumb, brushing my cheek gently. “I’ll come with you today,” he said. “To the hospital. For the tests. I’ll be there for every appointment, every step. I’ll learn whatever I need to learn. Just―please, don’t doubt that I’m in this. Don’t doubt me p>
I let out a shaky breath, the ache in my chest loosening, just slightly,
“I was hurt,” I whispered. “More than I’ve ever been. But if you mean that… if you mean what you’re saying, then prove it p>
His gaze burned into mine, steady, unflinching. “I will p>
And for the first time since the night before, I could breathe well.
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Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.