He Asked For Space I Left With His Baby Chapter 03
I could barely recognize the guest room I had prepared.
The fresh bedding had been stripped off and thrown on the floor.
Designer suitcases, cosmetics, shoes, and jewelry spilled out, filling half the room with Vanessa’s things.
A giant teddy bear was propped on the bed like a flag planted on conquered territory.
The front door opened again, and Vanessa’s laughter echoed through the house.
“Thank you for taking me to that restaurant, Roman. It really lifted my spirits. I almost forgot what a terrible day it’s been.”
Roman loosened his tie as he walked in. “Vanessa had another run-in at the estate. Things got ugly, so I told her she could stay here for a few days.”
A soft, humorless laugh escaped me. “Roman, I told you last week that Mia was moving into this room.”
For the first time all night, he faltered.
That flicker of hesitation said it all. He’d forgotten.
When I’d asked him before, he hadn’t even looked up from his papers.
“She’s your friend. It’s your call. You don’t need my input on every little thing.”
Now, his lips thinned.
“I’m sorry.” He held up the dessert box he was carrying.
His voice softened, like he was soothing a child.
“I found a place you’ll like. I’ll take you this weekend.”
I glanced at the logo. It was the restaurant I had spent months begging him to take me to.
He had always been too busy.
But tonight, he had taken Vanessa.
I took the box, walked it into the kitchen, and dropped it into the trash can.
The color drained from Roman’s face. Vanessa rushed toward me.
“Nora, this is my fault. I don’t mind sharing a room with your friend.”
I smiled. Then I walked into the guest room, grabbed her suitcase, the teddy bear, and every last shopping bag.
One by one, I carried them into the hallway.
Vanessa stood frozen, her eyes instantly filling with tears. “But that’s all my stuff. Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”
I glanced toward the master bedroom.
“You can sleep with Roman. It doesn’t bother me.”
Her face went crimson. “Nora! If you don’t want me here, just say so. You don’t have to humiliate me like this.”
She burst into tears and ran for the front door.
This time, Roman didn’t go after her.
Instead, he turned to me, his brows knit together.
“She wasn’t trying to mess with your things. She’s been through a lot. If you didn’t want her here, you could have just told me. There was no need to shame her.”
My smile vanished. “This is our home. You brought another woman into it, and somehow I’m the unreasonable one for expecting you to ask me first?”
Roman exhaled. “Vanessa has nowhere else to go. I thought you’d have some compassion. It’s only for a few days. Something so temporary hardly seemed worth a discussion.”
After a beat, he added, “It’s no different from your friend staying here. You didn’t ask for my approval, either.”
A month ago, I would have fought back. I would have screamed that I was nothing like him, that I would never invite another man into our home.
I would have demanded to know why Vanessa’s feelings always mattered more than mine.
I would have fought to make him see how badly he had hurt me.
But now, I just nodded. “You’re right. No one needs permission.”
If that was true, then I didn’t need his permission to leave Boston.
And I didn’t need it to leave him and raise our child somewhere he would never find us.
I walked to the front door and held it open for him.
“You should go make sure Vanessa is all right. I’ll finish packing.”
For some reason, my answer didn’t seem to satisfy him.
He crossed the room in two long strides and grabbed my wrist. “Vanessa can get her own hotel.”
His gaze dropped to my open suitcase.
Finally, his expression changed. “Why are you packing? Where are you going?”