Twen’s voice hit me like a punch to the stomach.

I had done everything to keep his existence hidden, and just like that, one small voice shattered it all.

I saw Robbie stiffen like someone had jammed a knife between his ribs. His eyes jerked to mine, wide with something too close to realization.

Shit.

Before he could say a damn thing, I shoved him and slammed the door in his face.

I turned around to find Twen standing there, confused, small hands rubbing his eyes, his little body wrapped in those pajamas Jenny had gifted him.

“Twen, why are you out of bed?” I asked, trying to steady my voice.

“I heard the doorbell,” he said, blinking at me with those innocent, wide grey eyes—the ones he didn’t inherit from me.

“That’s just—” I stopped mid-sentence as a knock rattled the door again.

Oh for fuck’s sake, take a fucking hint and LEAVE.

I wanted to scream. Why was the universe hellbent on kicking me when I was already crawling?

“That’s just Mommy’s guest, okay? You should go back to bed,” I said, forcing a smile like my soul wasn’t currently trying to claw its way out of my body.

Twen tilted his head slightly, giving the door a wary glance. “Then why don’t you let the guest in?”

My mouth went dry.

Because that guest is your goddamn father.

Because if he lays eyes on you, I don’t know what will happen.

“Don’t worry,” I said gently. “He was just leaving. Go back to bed, alright? You’ve got school in the morning. Mommy will come to tuck you in again in a bit.”

He stared at me a little longer than I liked. That kid was sharper than he had any right to be at his age. After what felt like a whole minute, he nodded slowly.

But before he left, he said in a voice that made my heart ache, “Come back fast. I’ll keep the lights on.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I will.”

He disappeared back into his room, and I exhaled like I hadn’t breathed since the moment Robbie showed up.

I opened the door again—and of course, the bastard was still there. 

Before I could speak, he closed the distance between us in two fast steps, eyes locked on mine, breath shallow. He was too close. 

“Is—Is that—” he started.

“None of your business,” I snapped before he could finish.

“That kid... is he—”

“NONE. OF. YOUR. F**KING. BUSINESS.” I spat, each word sharp enough to cut steel.

“Tony,” he said, soft but firm. His eyes bore into mine, searching.

I stared back, jaw clenched, trying to hold back the tremble in my limbs. He was close enough to feel, for his breath to brush across my cheek. It made my skin crawl. No one had been this close in years. No one got to touch me… not since him.

I shoved my hands against his chest, trying to push him away. “Back the hell up.”

But he didn’t move. His hands found my waist and locked me in place.

If someone saw us, they’d probably think this was some kind of passionate reunion, but I didn’t feel passion; I felt cornered.

He leaned in again, lips so close to my ear I could feel the heat as he whispered:

“You really gave birth to my child?”

His child??!

Something inside me snapped. I shoved him hard. My breath was shallow, and my hands were shaking, but I wasn’t backing down.

“He is MY child!” I shouted. “And he will always be MINE. You don’t get to walk in here, years later, and start playing Daddy. You lost that right a long time ago!”

Robbie’s eyes softened. There was something almost sad in them, something that looked too much like regret.

Fuck that. Fuck his pity. Where the hell was that look when I was pregnant, scared, alone, and bleeding in a hospital bed while strangers held my hand?

“You don’t get to pity me now,” I hissed. “Get out. We have nothing to talk about.”

I turned toward the door.

“Oh, and I’ll be handing in my resignation tomorrow,” I threw over my shoulder, hand on the doorknob.

But he grabbed my arm. I spun around, ready to claw his face off.

“Resignation?” His voice cracked. He looked... furious—no, desperate.

What the hell was wrong with this guy?

“I’m not your employee anymore,” I growled. “I’m not your anything.”

I tried to pull away, but his grip only tightened. Before I could even scream, he lifted me-princess style—like I weighed nothing.

“WHAT THE—?!”

I froze for a few seconds, forgetting how to even move. He carried me like I was some damn porcelain doll and started walking down the stairs.

When I finally regained control of my body, I thrashed. “Put me down! L.E.T. M.E. G.O!”

“Ssshhh,” he muttered, not even looking at me. “You’re gonna wake everyone up.”

Wake everyone—?

“What kind of unhinged maniac are you?! Let me go!” I slammed my fists against his chest, but he kept walking.

“Twen’S ALONE!” I screamed. “He’s alone in the apartment, you bastard! Put me DOWN!”

That made him stop. We were at the building’s exit when he froze. I thought he’d finally come to his damn senses.

Instead, he tightened his grip and bolted to his car.

“ROBBIE!” I shrieked, panicked. “Don’t you f**king dare—”

He threw open the back door and tossed me into the seat like a sack of potatoes. Slammed the door shut and climbed in from the other side.

I scrambled to yank the handle. It was locked. I hit the window, yelling, “Let me out! LET ME OUT! Twen’s alone in the house! You psychopath—”

He grabbed my arm with one hand, my collar with the other, dragging me toward him.

Before I knew what he was doing— 

He kissed me.

His mouth crashed onto mine with no warning.