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Rendal sighs heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. His blue eyes, usually so piercing and confident, now look troubled and conflicted. "Chloe," he says, his voice rough with emotion. I can hear the strain in it, the weight of the situation bearing down on him. "Zola needs her mother. She needs stability. It's... it's complicated."
I feel my heart constrict at his words. I know he's right about Zola needing her mother, but where does that leave me? Where does that leave us? The questions hang in the air between us, unspoken but impossible to ignore.
I feel a pang of empathy for his situation, understanding the complexity of co-parenting. But at the same time, a surge of anger rises within me. "What about us?" I demand, my voice rising slightly. "What about our future?"
I feel my heart constrict as Rendal's eyes meet mine, filled with sadness and conflict. The weight of his gaze is almost unbearable.
"Chloe," he begins, his voice low and strained. "I can't ignore my responsibilities to Zola. She needs her parents to get along."
His words hit me like a physical blow. I feel the air leave my lungs as I process what he's saying. My vision blurs slightly, and I blink back tears, determined not to break down in front of him.
"What..." I pause, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. "What does that mean for us?"
Rendal's shoulders slump, and he looks away. "I don't know," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper.
The silence that follows is deafening, pressing down on us like a physical weight. I watch as Rendal gets to his feet, his imposing frame casting a shadow over me.
Suddenly, a surge of frustration courses through my veins, hot and urgent. I can't let him walk away, not like this. Not when there's so much left unsaid between us.
"You can't just leave every time something gets hard, Rendal," I say, my voice rising with emotion. The words tumble out before I can stop them, fueled by a mix of anger and desperation. "We need to talk about this! Running away doesn't solve anything."
His expression hardens, jaw clenching in that way I've come to recognize as his stubborn determination kicking in. Those piercing blue eyes, usually so warm when they look at me, now seem as cold as ice.
"I won't do this, Chloe," he says firmly, his deep voice resonating through the room. "Zola is my priority. She always has been, and she always will be."
I feel my heart constrict at his words, knowing that I can't argue against his devotion to his daughter. But surely, there has to be room for both of us in his life?
The anger in his eyes and the hard set of his jaw tell me that I'm wrong about that.
With that, he turns and heads towards Penelope's room to get Zola. I'm left sitting on the couch, stunned and hurt,watching his retreating back. The sound of his footsteps echoes in my ears, each one feeling like another crack in my heart.
I want to call out to him, to make him stay and face this, but the words die in my throat. Instead, I sit there, feeling the weight of his decision crushing down on me. The room suddenly feels too big, too empty, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold the pieces of my shattered heart together.
I struggle to maintain my composure as Rendal scoops up a squirming Zola in his strong arms. Her protests echo through the house, each word like a knife twisting in my gut.
I watch helplessly as he carries her out, his broad shoulders tense and his jaw set in determination. The sound of the front door closing behind them feels so final, so devastating.
I'm left behind, my heart racing, trying desperately to hold back the tears that threaten to spill over. The silence that follows their departure is deafening, and I can't shake the feeling that everything we've built together is crumbling around me.
I sink into the couch, tears streaming down my face. What should I do now? I feel utterly helpless and alone.
My mind races, replaying our conversation over and over. How did we get here? Just a few weeks ago, everything seemed so perfect. Now, it feels like my world is crumbling around me.
I wipe my tears, trying to pull myself together. Penelope needs me to be strong. I can't let her see me like this.
Later, the silence continues to hang heavy in the air. I know I need to be strong for Penelope. With a deep breath, I head upstairs to check on her.
I find her in her room, quietly reading a book. She looks up as I enter, her little face scrunching with concern. "Mommy, are you okay?" she asks, her voice small and worried.
My heart clenches. I force a smile, crossing the room to wrap her in a tight hug. "Everything's fine, sweetheart," I assure her, though my heart aches with uncertainty. "We'll be okay."
I hold her close, breathing in the scent of her hair, trying to draw strength from her presence. How do I explain to her that the man she's grown so fond of, the one who's become such a big part of our lives, might not be around anymore? How do I protect her from the pain I'm feeling?
CHAPTER 18
Rendal
Iplow through my workday like a bull in a china shop, my mind already laser-focused on tonight's plans. The weight of everything Chloe and I said the other night has been pressing on me like a ton of bricks, making it hard to concentrate on anything else.
