Chapter Thirteen

Scarlett had been trying to hold it together, trying to believe that Elias could really choose her. But no matter how much she wanted to believe in their relationship, she couldn't ignore the fact that Chloe's presence in Elias' life was overwhelming her. Every time she thought they were making progress, Chloe seemed to be right there, acting as though she still had a claim on him.

That night, when Scarlett returned to Elias' penthouse, she was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. She had hoped for a quiet evening just the two of them, no distractions. But as she walked through the door, she was greeted by a scene she had never expected.

Elias and Chloe were sitting too close on the couch, their conversation light but intimate. Scarlett froze in place, her eyes narrowing as she watched Chloe rest her hand on Elias' thigh. Her heart sank, and for the first time, she felt the reality of their situation hit her like a ton of bricks. The doubts, the insecurities all of it seemed to come rushing to the surface.

She stood there in the doorway for a moment, trying to hold herself together, but her voice betrayed her when she spoke. "Elias."

Both of them looked up, startled. Elias' expression immediately softened, but Chloe's was unreadable, like she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Scarlett," Elias said, standing up quickly. "What's going on?"

Chloe, ever the opportunist, stood as well, brushing herself off as though nothing had happened. "I'm sure we didn't interrupt anything, did we?" she asked with a forced smile, but her words had an edge that Scarlett could see.

Scarlett forced a smile of her own, though it felt unnatural. "I didn't know you had company."

Elias stepped toward her, his hand reaching for hers. "It's nothing. Chloe and I were just talking about some work stuff."

"Work?" Scarlett asked, her tone rising. "Really? That's what this is now?"

Elias' eyes were full of apology, but Scarlett's patience had reached its limit. "You're telling me that after everything, she's still here? In your personal space? Again?"

Chloe, ever the passive-aggressive presence, glanced at Scarlett with a fake sweetness. "Elias and I have a long history. I don't think that's something you can change overnight, Scarlett."

That hit a nerve, and Scarlett's emotions flared. She felt her chest tighten, and the pain in her heart only intensified. The constant back and forth, the wondering whether Elias was truly hers, or whether Chloe would always be in the picture it was more than she could handle.

She pulled her hand away from Elias, her voice cold. "I'm done. I can't do this anymore."

Elias looked at her, stunned. "Scarlett, please don't...."

But she was already walking toward the door. "I can't keep pretending like this is fine when it's not. I need space, Elias. I need to think."

"Scarlett, wait," Elias pleaded, but his voice was a whisper in the vast emptiness she was already creating between them.

But Scarlett didn't wait. She stepped out of the penthouse, the door closing behind her with a sound that seemed to echo in her ears. Every step she took away from Elias felt like a weight lifting off her shoulders, but her heart was breaking with every passing moment.

She couldn't go back to her apartment. She couldn't let him find her there. So she did the only thing she could think of she went to Naomi's.

She had no idea what she was going to say to her friend. She just knew she couldn't face this alone.

Elias' POV – After Scarlett Left

Elias stood frozen in the middle of the living room, his mind racing. He had tried to explain himself to Scarlett, but the words had failed him. Chloe's presence in his life had always been a source of tension, but it wasn't until that moment, when Scarlett walked out, that Elias realized just how far he had let things go.

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration building within him. "Damn it," he muttered. He had known Scarlett was struggling. He had known things were tense between them, but he had never imagined she would walk away from him like this. And now, of all times, when he knew about the baby, when he knew she was pregnant with his child.

Elias dropped down onto the couch, his mind racing. The pregnancy. It changed everything. He had always told Scarlett that he wanted her, that he loved her, but now there was no room for uncertainty. He couldn't afford to let her slip away not when they were about to bring a child into this world.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he glanced at the screen, seeing her name. Scarlett.

His heart skipped a beat. He quickly answered, his voice shaky. "Scarlett, where are you?"

There was silence on the other end of the line, and then her voice, barely above a whisper. "I can't talk to you right now, Elias."

"Please, don't do this," he said urgently, trying to steady his breathing. "We need to talk. I know things aren't perfect between us, but I want to fix this. I swear, I'll do whatever it takes."

But Scarlett's voice was distant. "I can't do this anymore. Not when I feel like I'm not enough for you. Not when I'm constantly second-guessing whether you'll choose me over her."

Elias clenched his fists, his chest tight with guilt and desperation. "I do choose you, Scarlett. I've chosen you since the moment I met you. Chloe... she's part of my past. You... you are my future. Don't leave me like this. Not when we have so much at stake. Not with the baby."

There was a long pause, and when she spoke again, her voice trembled. "I don't know if I can believe that anymore, Elias."

"Scarlett, please..."

But before he could say anything else, the line went dead. Elias sat there, the weight of her words sinking in. She had left him, and this time, he didn't know how to fix it.

He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he couldn't afford to lose her especially now. Not when they were about to become parents together.