He Locked Me Out Now He’s Begging Me Back Chapter 21
On the day of the new project review, I managed to solve two high-risk issues ahead of schedule.
When the meeting ended, my manager said in front of the whole team, “Claire, you’ve been even sharper than usual lately. I want you leading the core module next quarter.”
That evening, my coworkers dragged me out to dinner. Marisol showed up after work, too.
She asked, “You used to say you couldn’t stay late because you had to get home and deal with family stuff. What about now?”
I lifted my glass and smiled.
“Now there’s nothing at home I have to rush back to.”
The moment I finished speaking, Tessa’s call came through.
I stepped outside the restaurant to answer.
She got right to it. “Noah’s been in a really bad mood lately. He keeps asking why you won’t come home. He cried again last night. At the very least, you could video call him and reassure him.”
“He’s your child, Tessa.”
She was quiet for a second.
I went on. “His sense of security is your responsibility. It does not become my fault just because I stopped holding your life together for you.”
“Do you have to be this cold? He’s only eight.”
“You said you were staying for six weeks. After six weeks, he won’t need to adjust to whether I come back or not.”
The line went still.
I asked, “So when are you actually moving out?”
Her voice hardened. “Not until Noah finishes this school year, at least. Transferring him now would hurt him.”