Nadine’s POV
I curled up in bed after being discharged from the hospital. When Ethan visited, I often pretended to be asleep because I couldn’t face looking into his eyes and seeing the pain there.
I hoped he’d lose interest when he found out I was pregnant, but I was wrong. He kept coming back to check on me.
I kept replaying our conversations in my head, trying to make sense of everything. I knew Ethan cared, but I was scared of what it meant for us.
My heart ached as I lay in bed, my thoughts drifting back to Logan. I wondered how things might have been different if he knew about the pregnancy, or if he hadn’t seen that picture of me with Asher.
He wanted an heir, and I could see how that picture broke down his defenses. It was as if it exposed the cracks in the facade he had been hiding behind.
“Was it all just about the heir? Was everything I felt for him just an illusion created by the circumstances?”
“Nadine, you need to face him instead of staying here all day,” Sydney’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked at her but turned my face away. I knew she was right, but I wasn’t sure I was ready to see him.
“I know, Syd, but I don’t know what I’ll see when I look into his dreamy blue eyes,” I said, then slapped my mouth, shocked at my own words.
Sydney’s eyes widened in surprise. She rushed to me and said, “Don’t tell me you’ve gotten lost in his dreamy blue eyes!” She mimicked my earlier tone with a teasing smile.
I could feel my cheeks burning as Sydney’s teasing made me blush. “It’s not like that,” I said, trying to sound confident but failing to hide my uncertainty. “I just… I don’t know what to expect.”
I covered my face in embarrassment, realizing I’d spoken my thoughts out loud.
“Wow, you like him, Nadine,” Sydney said, poking my head.
“Ouch!” I yelped, rubbing the spot where she poked me.
“Dreamy blue eyes,” she teased again.
“Oh, stop, Syd,” I said, my face turning even redder.
Sydney laughed, and I felt a bit annoyed. She enjoyed teasing me.
“Alright, alright,” I said, trying to calm down. “I get it. But what if I’m not ready for whatever happens next?”
Sydney stopped laughing and looked at me seriously. “Nadine, you won’t know until you face him. Hiding won’t solve anything. You need to deal with this directly.”
I took a deep breath. “You’re right. I can’t keep avoiding him.”
I had been avoiding work, staying home, and doing nothing outside. Sydney had been great, staying close by. I didn’t know what I’d do without her.
I noticed Sydney looking out the window, her brows furrowed in confusion. “What’s wrong?” I asked, wondering what had caught her attention.
“Ethan is here,” she said. I could see the fear in her eyes, unsure if I was ready to see him.
“Do you want to see him?” she asked.
I groaned loudly, shaking my head and pulling the duvet over my face. “No, I don’t want to see him,” I said.
“Okay,” Sydney said, while I peered out from under the duvet. “Let me hurry and block him.”
“Thanks, Syd, for always having my back,” I said, blowing her kisses.
She turned back to me. “Don’t thank me yet. I don’t know how long I can keep this up. Ethan is my friend too, and I can’t keep hurting him like this.”
“Just this last time,” I said with a pout.
“Just this last time,” she agreed, as she walked away from the room.
As Sydney left the room, I buried my face in the pillow, trying to block out the mess I’d created with Ethan.
I lay there with my eyes closed, but images of Ethan and Logan kept popping into my mind. Frustrated, I got up and went to the bathroom to splash water on my face, hoping it would clear my thoughts.
When I returned, I found myself comparing the two men. Why was I still thinking about Logan, who had hurt me so badly? Ethan, on the other hand, had been nothing but kind to me.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of commotion coming from downstairs.
Panicking, I jumped into bed and pulled the duvet over myself as the noise got closer to my door in the hallway.
“I’m not leaving until I see her,” Ethan said firmly. “I want to hear from her that she doesn’t want to see me. Only then will I leave.”
Hearing this made my heart ache. I wanted to see him, but the fear of what I’d see in his eyes kept me away.
“No, Ethan, she’ll see you when she’s ready. Please stop pushing,” Sydney pleaded.
“How long, Syd? How long do I have to wait? She’s pushed me away for too long, and I’m not backing down until she gives me a good reason to stop coming,” Ethan insisted.
I wanted to scream that I wanted to see him, but I couldn’t. So, I closed my eyes and buried myself under the duvet, trying to escape the turmoil of emotions.
I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out everything. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding and avoiding the situation. I had to face this, but the fear of how Ethan would react was overwhelming.
“No, Ethan, I don’t like what you’re doing, trying to force your way in,” Sydney said, clearly annoyed.
“What choice are you leaving me with?” Ethan shot back.
Sydney’s voice softened. “Ethan, this isn’t just about you. It’s about giving her the space she needs. Pushing won’t help.”
I pulled the duvet tighter around me. I wanted to see Ethan and explain everything, but I wasn’t ready to face him. The fear of his reaction kept me hidden.
Sydney continued, “Ethan, I understand you’re frustrated. But Nadine isn’t in a place where she can talk right now. Give her time.”
Then I heard the door creak open. I looked up and saw Ethan standing there. His face was rough and unkempt, with dark bags under his eyes. My breath caught in my throat as I saw him.
A single tear rolled down my cheek as I whispered, “Ethan.” What he did next made my heart ache even more.