Chapter 83: Pregnant And Alone
The night air was cool as Stefan stepped out of the house, but it did nothing to quiet the storm inside him.
He didn’t know how long he drove. The roads were mostly empty, his hands gripping the wheel too tightly, his mind a hurricane of emotions he couldn’t name, couldn’t control.
He didn’t know where he was going but he knew he couldn’t stay in his house and that he couldn’t go to his mother’s place since it was late so he decided to logde in an hotel and confront his mother the next day.
By the time he reached an hotel, it was past midnight.
The receptionist recognized him instantly, offering a key with a polite smile and no questions.
Stefan didn’t say a word as he headed for his room.
The elevator ride was silent, but inside, he was screaming. His chest was tight. Every breath felt forced. Every second stretched like an hour. When he finally reached his room, he didn’t bother turning on all the lights. Just one lamp near the bed flickered on, casting a golden glow across the room.
It should’ve felt like an escape. Instead, it felt like exile.
He sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. The events of the night played on repeat in his mind—Ruby’s trembling voice, Ivy’s audacity, and the finality of the door closing behind him as he walked away from the only home he’d known for years.
But it wasn’t home anymore. Not without her. Not without Ruby.
God, Ruby.
He leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. It had only been a few days since she left, but the silence she left behind was unbearable. She had filled the rooms with warmth, her laughter soft and rare but honest. Her presence had calmed the chaos in him. She had been his peace.