Chapter 38
ELLE P.O.V
The room was quiet except for the sound of my uneven breathing. I sat at the edge of my bed, staring at the wall but not really seeing it. My mind was replaying everything from earlier—the daycare drop-off, the coffee shop, Jessica’s comforting words, Lucas’s betrayal, Kate’s smug face. My chest felt heavy, like someone had placed a stone on it and was pressing harder and harder.
And now… here he was.
Lucas stood in front of me, his eyes bloodshot from alcohol, his body swaying slightly as though the ground beneath him was unsteady. His presence filled the room, both a comfort and a wound.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice hoarse. “I didn’t mean to scare Maya today.”
My chest tightened. Maya’s terrified scream from earlier echoed in my ears. The way she clung
