Chapter 0530

"That's all the time we have," he retorted, not meeting my eyes. "I need to know if I have to quit my job."

"But you're not leaving for months!" I was practically yelling now, my voice steeped in incredulity. "Why do we have to decide this right now?"

"Because I need to be prepared to give the hockey team ample notice. I can't just drop out at the last minute, Nina. It's irresponsible, both to the team and to myself," he argued, his voice steady, almost calculated, as if he had somehow been rehearsing this over the past two hours.

I fell silent for a moment, my mind racing. This wasn't fair. None of it was fair. I looked at him, really looked at him, and what I saw broke my heart-his mouth set in a grim line, a finality in his eyes that I hadn't seen in a long time.

"So that's it then. You've made up your mind, I murmured, my voice tinged with a sadness that took us both by surprise.

He shrugged. "I don't want to do this, Nina. I don't want to force you into making a decision like this. But given the circumstances, I don't feel like we have a choice," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The incident at my dad's party? Or the burglar?" My voice cracked as I listed off everything that had been plaguing us

Nina. I can't leave you here alone knowing

you were in

"But the fact remains, I can't be here to

never asked you to protect me," I shot back, but the words made even me wince, and I knew that wasn't true. "It doesn't matter. I already made that promise when I married you," he retorted,

as if the walls were closing in on me. "You think this is easy for me? You think I want to be the cause of you having to give up your dreams?" My

we have to make hard choices for

cheek, the salty trail it left a testament to the bitterness I felt. "Fine," I choked

tinged with something I couldn't quite place-hope, maybe,

how it's going to be, then fine. You'll get your answer in 48

do it like that, Nina. Don't make it seem like

"Aren't you?"

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255