Nicolas looked away, his face a mix of frustration and conflict. “It’s not that simple, Mel. I’m trying to figure things out too. I didn’t want it to turn into this… this mess.”
I felt my heart sink as I listened. His words were filled with excuses, but not the commitment I’d hoped for. “A mess? Is that all this is to you?” My voice wavered, but I forced myself to hold his gaze, needing him to understand the weight of what I felt.
He shook his head. “You know it’s more than that. But there’s Stella, and—” he paused, glancing at his hands, “there’s the baby.”
The words hit me like a punch, the finality of it crashing over me. Stella’s pregnancy wasn’t just a complication; it was a line drawn between us. For a moment, I was at a loss for words, caught between my desire for him and the rea
