Something shifted.
It wasn't the light.
Not the café playlist humming softly from the speakers.
Not even Dominic's voice—he was still talking about his new consultancy gig, about moving out of his late mother's house, about finally being "free."
But it was the way he looked at me.
Like he was peeling layers I never gave him permission to touch.
I pressed a hand gently over my belly.
The baby was quiet, still. But I wasn't.
Something in me—the part that had learned to listen, especially after being betrayed so many times—began to stiffen.
Dominic used to look at me like I was a good memory.
Now... he was looking at me like I was a fantasy.
A puzzle.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VcUtJj7tp
A want.
And not in the warm, respectful way Tedd did—the way a man looks at the woman he's afraid to lose.
Dominic's gaze was hungrier. Heavier.
And it lingered.
Too long on my lips.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTStWS9vua
Too long when I shifted in my seat.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBZRsl7Lil
Too long when I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"So," he said suddenly, voice smooth, "do you ever miss the way it used to be? You and me?"
I smiled politely. "We didn't really get far enough to miss anything."
"You sure about that?"
My breath hitched—just a second.
The air between us changed.
The Dominic I used to know was charming. Gentle. Easy to be around.
This one?
Calculated.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WOMdrwDUU
Sure of himself.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcON8nB8kzq
Like he'd spent months building a world in his mind where I already said yes.
I stood. "I should go. My dad's waiting. He's driving me to a check-up."
Dominic rose too, quickly. Too quickly. "I can take you—"
"No, it's okay."
I grabbed my bag, holding it a little too tightly.
His hand brushed my arm.
Just a touch.
But it made me flinch.
His smile faltered.
"Sorry," he said, "I didn't mean to—"
"It's fine," I lied.
But everything in my body screamed otherwise.
Outside, the air was warm.
Too warm.
I felt sweat bloom across my spine, heart pounding with something I couldn't name.
Because Dominic hadn't said anything explicitly wrong.
He hadn't done anything dangerous.
But his thoughts felt loud.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UhAzFEWpK
Too loud.14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpV6rqZrZ4
And I wasn't sure I wanted to hear what they were saying.
Later that night, I texted Yuna.
Was I imagining things... or did Dom feel... off to you back then too?
She replied in under a minute.
I always thought he liked control more than comfort. Why?
Because he looked at me today like I wasn't pregnant. Like I was prey.
I shut off my phone.
Wrapped my arms around myself.
And whispered to the baby growing inside me:
"We're going to be okay. Even if we have to do this alone. Again."
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