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.

mean the pregnancy? Edward coming back? The incident at my dad's party? Or the burglar?" My

Nina. I can't leave you here alone knowing what might

danger before you were in the picture. I'm not some

frustration finally spilling over. "But the fact remains, I can't be here to protect you when I'm gone. And that makes

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

was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I felt trapped, cornered, as if the walls were closing in on me. "You think this is easy for me? You think I want to be the cause

make hard choices

my cheek, the salty trail it left a testament to the bitterness I felt. "Fine," I choked out, finally breaking the taut silence that had

what are you saying?" he asked, his voice tinged with something I couldn't quite

be, then fine. You'll get your answer in 48 hours," I said, my words

it like that, Nina. Don't make

"Aren't you?"

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