Chapter 24
Fiona walked into the Obsidian Spire with Martin’s kiss still burning on her lips and the decision solid in her chest.
She’d told her mom the truth about Marcus last night—quietly, tearfully, over cold tea and open wedding magazines. Elara had listened, cried, hugged her tight, and whispered the words Fiona needed most: “You don’t need him. You never did.” The broken engagement was out in the open now. The magazines had been stacked and quietly set aside. Her mother had even joked about turning the swatches into a quilt “for the next Chapter p>
But the bigger secret the baby, the father, the kiss in the elevator still sat locked inside her like a live wire.
Today she would tell Martin.
She had to.
The baby was his. He deserved the truth. Even if he hated her for it. Even if it meant losing the job she’d fought so hard to keep.
She settled at her desk, bay view calm and gray under the morning light. Opened her laptop. Checked Slack. Riley’s usual good-morning meme. Maya’s quick “team huddle at 11.” Sara’s new mockup link.
She opened a blank email.
To: Martin Mole
Subject: Can we talk?
She typed:
*Mr. Mole p>
*I need to speak with you privately. It’s important. Today, if possible p>
*Best p>
*Fiona Flare*
Hit send.
Then waited.
The floor filled slowly Riley rolling in with coffee, Maya calling out hellos, the usual hum of keyboards and chatter. Fiona tried to focus on her notes, but her eyes kept flicking to the elevator.
No sign of him.
Yet.
Around 10 a.m., the excitement hit like a sudden wave.
Laughter loud, warm, unfamiliar spilled from the reception area. Heads turned. People stood up to look.
Fiona frowned. Pushed back from her desk.
Riley leaned over the partition. “What’s going on p>
“No idea p>
They walked together toward the elevators.
The noise grew.
A cluster of people near the glass doors suits, smiles, handshakes.
And in the center: Martin.
Tall, dark hair swept back, gray eyes sharp. Charcoal suit cut to perfection. He was smiling small, polite, the kind of smile he gave clients and investors.
But he wasn’t alone.
An older couple stood beside him silver-haired, elegant, radiating old money. The woman laughed at something Martin said. The man Valentine Mole stood tall, sharp-jawed, same scar on his eyebrow as his son, watching the room like he owned it.
And then there was the girl.
Young mid-twenties, platinum blonde, red lipstick, designer dress hugging every curve. She was draped on Martin’s arm like she belonged there, fingers curled around his bicep, body angled toward him, eyes sparkling up at him like he’d hung the moon.
Fiona’s stomach plummeted.
Riley whistled low. “Holy shit. That’s Valentine Mole. And… who’s the blonde p>
Maya appeared beside them, voice hushed.
“Katherine Thorne. Old family friend. She’s… well, let’s just say she’s been around a lot lately. No one’s officially said anything, but the rumors are flying. Looks like she’s staking a claim p>
Fiona’s ears rang.She looked like she had been hit by a wave ready to be swept away.
Katherine laughed at something Martin said high, bright, perfect. Leaned in closer. Pressed a kiss to his cheek.
Martin’s smile didn’t falter.
But his eyes flicked up.
Found Fiona across the room.
Held.
For one long, burning second.
Then he looked away.
Back to Katherine.
Back to his parents.
Back to the life he’d never mentioned.
Fiona felt the floor tilt.
Riley touched her arm. “You okay? You look like you saw a ghost p>
Fiona forced a nod.
“Yeah. Just… surprised p>
She turned away.
Walked back to her desk on legs that didn’t feel like hers.
Sat.
Stared at her screen.
The baby fluttered—quick, almost frantic.
She pressed her hand to her stomach under the desk.
Whispered:
“I know p>
She’d been about to tell him.
About to say *I’m pregnant. It’s yours p>
Now?
Now there was Katherine Thorne.
A beautiful, confident woman who fit perfectly on his arm.
Who belonged in his world.
Who wasn’t her.
Fiona closed her eyes.
Tasted him again—coffee, cedar, hunger.
And wondered how she could’ve been so stupid.
To think he wanted her.
To think he’d choose her.
To think one kiss meant anything.
She opened her eyes.
Looked toward the elevators.
Martin was gone.
Katherine on his arm.
Parents smiling.
Everything perfect.
Everything wrong.
She touched her stomach one more time.
“We’re okay p>
But for the first time, she wasn’t sure she believed it.
She sat there for a long time—staring at nothing, feeling everything.
She let out a shaky breath.
No one knew.
Not about the baby.
Not about the kiss.
Not about the fiancée who’d just appeared like a knife in her chest.
And maybe that was for the best.
Because if no one knew p>
Maybe she could pretend it didn’t hurt.
Maybe she could keep working.
Maybe she could keep breathing.
But could she really p>