Chapter 41

Serena's POV I gently touched my lower abdomen, my hand trembling, as Ryan took his call in the corner of my room. Should I tell him? Did he deserve to know? Questions swirled through my mind like leaves caught in a storm. If I told him, would he try to use the baby to control me? Would he suddenly become the attentive husband he never was before? Or worse—would he remain indifferent to this child as he had been to me? "I need to go," Ryan's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts as he approached, already rebuttoning his shirt with quick, efficient movements. His eyes never left mine, searching for something I wasn't sure I wanted him to find. "There's an emergency at the office." "Of course," I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. "It's probably better this way." He paused, frowning slightly. "You were about to tell me something important." "It was nothing," I lied, avoiding his penetrating gaze.To my relief, he didn't press me. Then Ryan paused at the door, his hand on the knob.