When I reached the villa, the black Bentley parked at the entrance made my steps slow down. The air around it felt heavier than usual, like the presence of someone who shouldn't be here had already marked the space as his. My chest tightened, not in fear alone, but in that familiar instinct that always reacted when John was near.
He stepped out with an easy smile, as if nothing had changed between us. "Hey, I've been waiting for you. Where have you been? Why was your phone off?"
I stood still, my hands curling into fists to keep my emotions in check. My voice came out flat. "Why are you here?"
"I came to see you… and the baby." His gaze dropped to my stomach, lingering in a way that made my skin crawl, like he was measuring something that didn't belong to him.
That feeling again. The same unease he always carried with him.
I forced myself to stay calm. "You've seen us now. You can leave."
If I could keep distance from him forever, I would choose it without hesitation.
