I didn’t order this.
The afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting a golden hue across Dora’s desk. She sat there, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, but her mind was far from work. The morning’s confrontation with Douglas replayed in her head like a broken record. His hurt expression, the way he had looked at her before walking away; it haunted her. She had always relied on him, trusted him, and today, she had repaid that trust with cruelty.
A soft knock pulled her from her thoughts. “Ma’am, your fruit salad,” the housekeeper said, placing a bowl on her desk.
Dora frowned. “I didn’t order this.”
The housekeeper shrugged. “It was requested for you.”
Before Dora could ask more, her phone buzzed. Austin’s name flashed on the screen. Her stomach churned. Of course, it was him.
“What now?” She asked.
“It’s lunchtime. Eat the fruit salad,” Austin said with a calm voice.
Dora rolled her eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“Are you?” he shot back. “Because if you don’t eat, there will be consequences. Either I’ll move you to my office and feed you myself, or I’ll come to your desk and do it in front of everyone. Your choice.”
Dora’s jaw tightened. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me,” he said, his voice dropping. “And don’t forget, I have no problem showing the world how much I care for my pregnant wife.”
She hung up, her hands trembling with anger. Grabbing the bowl, she stormed out of her cubicle and into the empty hallway. Her eyes landed on the trash bin at the end of the corridor, and she marched toward it, ready to dump the salad. But before she could, her phone buzzed again.
“Don’t even think about it,” Austin’s voice warned before she could speak. “Think of the baby, if not yourself.”
“You think pretending to care will make me forgive you?” she snapped, her voice low but fierce. “Do you think calling it ‘our child’ will make me forget what you’ve done?”
Her heart raced, torn between anger and the tiny, traitorous part of her that wanted to believe him. She hated how his words stirred something inside her, something she had tried so hard to bury.
“I don’t think you’ll forgive me, Dora,” his voice came again, but this time, it wasn’t through the phone. It was behind her.
She turned, her eyes wide. Austin stood there, his gaze steady.
“I know you will,” he said softly. “Because one day, you’ll see the truth. You’ll see how much I love you.”
For a moment, she was frozen, caught in the intensity of his stare. She saw something in his eyes, something raw and real, that made her chest ache. But then the memories came flooding back, sharp and painful.
“Either me or that baby.”
“I never said I wouldn’t divorce you.”
“I did the right thing by leaving a woman like you.”
His cruel words echoed in her mind, and she clenched her fists, forcing herself to look away. “I like your confidence,” she said, her voice cold. “It’ll be satisfying to watch you lose.”
Austin’s jaw clenched, his expression hardening. “I already lost myself to you,” he said quietly. “And the proof is right here.” He gestured to her stomach. “Our baby.”
Dora’s breath hitched. She wanted to deny him, to hurt him the way he had hurt her. But the morning’s incident flashed in her mind; Austin’s determination, his refusal to back down. She couldn’t risk another scene, not here, not now.
“Stay away from me,” she said, her voice trembling. “That’s all I want.”
He nodded, his expression softening. “Fine. But take care of yourself. And our baby.”
She turned and walked away, her heart pounding. His words followed her, echoing in her mind. Take care of yourself and our baby. She stared at the fruit salad in her hand, her resolve wavering. If eating it meant keeping him at bay, then so be it.
Back at her desk, she picked at the salad, her thoughts a tangled mess. Her phone buzzed again, and this time, it was Sienna.
“If your idiot husband hasn’t tricked you into lunch with him, care to join me?” Sienna’s voice was sharp, but there was a hint of amusement.
“Where’s Douglas?” Dora asked, ignoring the jab.
“Are you coming or not?” Sienna snapped.
Dora hesitated, then grabbed her lunch box. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with Austin’s antics if he found out she hadn’t eaten. As she walked to the cafeteria, she didn’t notice Austin watching her from a distance, a small smile playing on his lips.
Sienna was already seated, poking at her salad with a fork. “You brought a lunch box?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Long story,” Dora muttered, sitting down. “What’s going on with you and Douglas?”
Sienna sighed, pushing her plate away. “He’s gone crazy. Ever since he talked to Austin at the hospital, he’s been acting like Austin’s some kind of saint. He even said Austin loves you.”
Dora’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I don’t know what they talked about, but Douglas won’t tell me. No matter how much I push, he won’t budge.” Sienna crossed her arms, her frustration evident. “I threatened to stop talking to him, and he still didn’t say a word. Can you believe that?”
Dora felt a pang of guilt. “You shouldn’t let this come between you two. It’s not worth it.”
Sienna raised an eyebrow. “Did you just say ‘us’?”
Dora blinked, surprised at her own words. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. The truth was, she didn’t know what to think anymore. Austin’s words, his actions, Douglas’s sudden change of heart; it was all too much.
As she picked at her food, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had shifted. Whether it was for better or worse, she didn’t know. But one thing was certain: the game had changed, and she wasn’t sure if she was ready to play.
Later that evening, Dora found herself standing in front of her apartment door, keys in hand. She had avoided going home all day, dreading the silence that awaited her. But now, as she stepped inside, she was greeted by an unexpected sight.
The living room was bathed in soft candlelight, the table set for two. Austin stood by the window, his back to her, but he turned as she entered.
“What is this?” she asked, her voice wary.
“Dinner,” he said simply. “I thought we could talk.”
Dora crossed her arms. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Then just listen,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers. “I know I’ve made mistakes, Dora. I know I’ve hurt you. But I’m not the same man I was back then. I’ve changed.”
She wanted to laugh, to throw his words back in his face, but something in his tone stopped her. There was a sincerity there, a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before.
“I don’t expect you to believe me overnight,” he continued. “But I’m asking for a chance. For us. For our family.”
Dora’s heart ached. She wanted to believe him, to trust him, but the scars of the past ran deep. “Why should I?” she whispered.
“Because I love you,” he said, his voice breaking. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you, if that’s what it takes.”
For a long moment, they stood there, the silence heavy between them. Then, slowly, Dora nodded. “One chance,” she said. “That’s all you get.”
Austin’s eyes lit up, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Dora saw a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, they could find their way back to each other.
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