“I understand,” Mom responds accordingly. “Please, call me tonight. I’d like to talk to Amelia.”
As Will turns around to leave, I call his name.
“You have to believe me when I say this wasn’t done on purpose.”
He stops in his tracks, his head fallen and back still facing me.
“I believe you, Ava,” he answers coldly. “But the damage to my family is done. Now, I need to go home and console a very broken wife.”
I clutch my stomach as he walks away, the sick feeling causing me to dry heave. Mom notices my body language, suggesting I sit down and drink something.
“Mom, I just want to be alone right now.”
“Take your time, Ava.” She runs her finger along my cheek. “Go rest, and I’ll check on you later tonight.”
Staring at the ceiling, I try to clear my thoughts, but all they do is run rampant. Millie’s face haunts me, the pure anger raging through her when she figured out the truth.
With my phone beside me, I contemplate texting her but decide against it. Instead, I hop off my bed and walk toward my father’s study.
I knock on the door, yet he doesn’t say a word. I draw in a deep breath, then turn the knob to open the door to let myself in.
Inside, the room is dark aside from the small desk lamp. Surprisingly, there is no drink in front of him, just a man looking solemn as he stares blankly at his desk. I move toward his shelf and pour his favorite scotch into a glass, the exact portion he always drinks. Then, I place it in front of him.
“I know you’re angry, Dad… ” I begin with, then continue, “… but please know I’m just as angry with myself. This isn’t how I envisioned my life to turn out. I made this stupid decision because I let my emotions take control. Me, someone who always thinks with my head and not my goddamn heart.”
My shoulders slump as a deep sigh escapes me. “I had all these hopes and dreams to make something of myself, and in just a heartbeat, it’s been taken away from me.”
I bow my head, to be distracted by the movement of Dad taking a sip of his drink.
“Having a baby doesn’t stop you from achieving, Ava. Of course, there will be challenges, but you don’t stop dreaming. If anything, you dream bigger.”
“I screwed up, Dad,” I croak, my emotions turning raw. “I’ve hurt Millie so much.”
Across from me, Dad presses his lips into a slight gr
imace. Much like Mom, I assume he is torn between Millie and me.
“This isn’t ideal, Ava. But now, you pull your shoulders back and gain the confidence to be the best mother you can be.”
“I’m so sorry, Dad.”
“Come here.”
I fall into Dad’s embrace, clutching onto his shirt, allowing myself to sob.
“Fuck the Universe. I don’t even know where to begin rebuilding my life and the relationships I’ve destroyed.”
“This is why you have family, why you have a team.” He pulls away but keeps me within reach. “Firstly, you sit down with Eric to put together a plan of how you will announce this. This will change nothing in your brand, but you do need to start thinking about expanding in areas that don’t require you to be young, fit, and pressured. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, I need to be smart with my next moves,” I mutter, too tired to even think about anything but sleep right now. “Let the funnels of income derive from sources which can effectively push to the market without the connection of my body.”
I pull away to ask him a serious question. “Are you upset Austin is the father?”
He sits back down, then takes a long sip of his drink.
“It could have been worse. How is he, anyway?”
“Second-year resident. He’s busy, of course.”