That was unexpected
I looked at him in surprise. Mother of his children?
Did…did he know? Did he remember? Even if he did, I didn't have a child when we were together. But the words, the way he said them, it hit me harder than I expected. For a moment, I couldn't breathe, couldn’t think. I searched his face for any sign of recognition, of memory. Anything that might explain why he'd said it.
Rowan noticed the look on my face and smiled softly. “That must have startled you,” he said, his voice low and apologetic. “I swear it just… it just slipped out. I am sorry if saying ‘mother of my children’ startled you. I just… it just came.” His brow furrowed slightly as if he was trying to figure out where the words had come from himself.
He didn't remember. It wasn’t the deep, soul-crushing realization I had feared. Instead, it was something unconscious, a lapse in the wall his mind had built around his memories. He was still the same man who had forgotten everything.
I noticed the way he held me softly, his hand resting lightly on my arm. The touch was gentle, almost tentative, and yet I couldn’t help but flinch inwardly. Those same hands had once pushed me away, shoved me aside when I’d begged for understanding, for a shred of decency. And now those hands—cold and distant—sent an electric shock through me, making my stomach flip with emotions I had no time or desire to unpack.
I stepped back, just enough to put space between us, and his expression shifted. Confusion. Hurt? I wasn’t sure. I wasn’t ready to interpret the small changes in his face anymore. Not after everything.
"As I said, I'm sorry, Remi," Rowan repeated, his voice almost too soft. “I didn’t mean to—”
“You don’t have to apologize.” I interrupted, keeping my tone even. I was already too tired of this rollercoaster, too worn down from pretending everything was fine. “It’s just… complicated. All of this.”
His gaze darkened, but before either of us could say another word, Asher appeared at my side once again. This time, his hand found the small of my back, steadying me in a way that made my breath catch.
“Everything okay here?” Asher asked, his voice carrying a sharpness that wasn’t lost on Rowan. There was no attempt to hide the tension between them.
Rowan’s eyes flicked from me to Asher, a flicker of something cold passing through them. “We were just talking,” he said, his tone clipped, but restrained. “Nothing more.”
Asher didn’t miss a beat. “Good. Remi needs a break from all this,” he said, with an easy smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Mind if I steal her away for a bit?”
Rowan’s jaw tightened, but he gave a short nod. “Of course.”
Without waiting for another word, Asher gently guided me away from the crowd, away from Rowan. As soon as we were far enough, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My heart was still racing, and I could feel the heat of everything that had just happened crashing down on me.
“Are you alright?” Asher asked, his voice softer now that we were alone. He stopped walking and turned to face me, his hand resting gently on my shoulder. “You don’t look okay.”
I laughed, but it was humorless. “When have I ever looked okay?”
Asher’s lips quirked into a small, sad smile. “Fair enough.”
For a moment, we just stood there, away from the noise, the stares, the judgment. He didn’t push me to talk, didn’t expect anything from me, and that alone was a relief. I was used to people wanting explanations, needing answers I wasn’t ready to give. But Asher…he just let me breathe.
“I don’t know how to keep doing this,” I admitted after a long pause, my voice barely above a whisper. “Being around him, pretending like nothing happened. Like he didn’t…” I trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.
“You don’t have to pretend,” Asher said quietly, his hand still on my shoulder, grounding me. “Not with me. And not with yourself.”
I looked at him, really looked at him. Asher had been my rock for so long, the one constant in my life when everything else was falling apart. But now, standing here with him, I realized just how much I had relied on his strength, on his quiet support. And maybe that was part of the problem. I didn’t want to lean on him anymore. I didn’t want to drag him into this mess with Rowan.
“I’m sorry, Asher,” I said softly, guilt weighing heavy on my chest. “For everything. You’ve done so much for me, and I feel like all I do is drag you down.”
He shook his head, his grip tightening just a little. “You don’t drag me down, Remi. You never have. I’m here because I want to be. You don’t need to apologize for that.”
I looked away, not sure what to say. But before I could respond, Asher’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and frowned.
“Looks like we need to head back,” he said, slipping the phone away. “Rowan’s about to make some big announcement, and you’re gonna want to hear this.”
I sighed, the last thing I wanted was to be back in that ballroom, surrounded by people I didn’t trust and tensions I couldn’t handle. But Asher was right. I needed to hear whatever Rowan was planning.
As we made our way back to the event, the atmosphere had shifted. The murmurs and whispers in the room quieted down as Rowan took his place on stage, a spotlight casting a warm glow around him. He cleared his throat and glanced at the crowd, his eyes finding mine for a fleeting second before looking away.
“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Rowan began, his voice smooth and confident. “Tonight is not just about raising money for the Vaughn Foundation. It’s about something far more personal to me.”
A ripple of curiosity spread through the crowd.
“For years, I’ve watched from the sidelines as incredible advancements in medicine were made,” Rowan continued. “But tonight, I’m proud to say that the Vaughn Foundation will be partnering with one of the most promising research laboratories in the country. A lab that is not only pioneering in its field but is led by a truly exceptional individual. Someone who has dedicated their life to saving others.”
My breath caught as I realized where this was going. The spotlight swung towards me, and I felt the weight of the room’s attention fall on my shoulders.
“I’m proud to announce that the Vaughn Foundation will be fully funding Dr. Remi Laurent’s medical research laboratory,” Rowan said, his eyes locking with mine once again. “Her work has already saved countless lives, and it’s an honor to support her continued efforts.”
The applause was deafening, but all I could hear was the rush of blood in my ears. My mind spun, trying to process what had just happened. This wasn’t just some empty gesture. It was Rowan’s way of acknowledging me, my work—our history, even if he didn’t remember it fully.
Asher leaned close, his voice barely audible over the clapping. “Well, that was unexpected.”
I could only nod, "You could say that again."
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