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Chapter_191
Whitney’s footsteps echoed softly down the hallway as she left the room, the weight of Ludwik’s words still hanging in the air behind her. The tension, thick and suffocating, lingered in her chest like a dull ache. She had come so close to confronting him, to demanding answers, but something inside her had stopped her. It wasn’t fear, not exactly, but a weary understanding that the answers wouldn’t bring her peace. They never did.
Outside, the cool air wrapped around her, offering a momentary escape from the oppressive atmosphere in the house. She inhaled deeply, the crispness of it sharp against her lungs, trying to clear her mind. She needed space, needed time to think about the next step, but her thoughts felt like a chaotic storm—turbulent, shifting, and out of control.
Her hand instinctively moved to her belly, as if the motion could ground her, steady her in the midst of everything falling apart. The baby inside her was the only thing that mattered now. The only thing that gave her a reason to keep fighting.
She walked slowly, her mind racing over the events of the past few days—the hurtful words, the manipulations, the tangled emotions. Ludwik had never been easy to understand, but now, he was a puzzle with pieces that didn’t seem to fit. How could he go from moments of tenderness to cold indifference? And why did it feel like everything she did was caught in the crossfire of his anger and confusion?
For a long time, Whitney had believed in him—believed in their love, in the man he used to be. But now, it felt like those beliefs were slipping through her fingers, slipping away with every cruel word and every action that contradicted the man she thought she knew.
She reached the garden, standing before the wrought-iron gate that separated her from the world outside. She stared at it for a long moment, feeling the weight of the decision before her. She could stay, endure whatever twisted game Ludwik wanted to play, or she could leave, make a clean break, and try to find peace for herself and her baby.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, breaking the silence. Whitney pulled it out, her heart skipping when she saw the name on the screen—Bryce.
She hesitated for a moment before answering. “Hello?”
“Whitney,” Bryce’s voice was calm, yet filled with something unspoken. “I know things have been difficult with Ludwik, but I need you to understand that you’re not alone in this. If you ever need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll be there.”
Her chest tightened at his words, the warmth of his sincerity a stark contrast to the coldness she felt from Ludwik. The offer of support was like a lifeline, but it also stirred a deep conflict within her. She didn’t want to rely on anyone. Not now. Not when she was still trying to figure out her own feelings, her own path forward.
“I appreciate it,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “But right now, I need to figure things out on my own.”
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. “I understand,” Bryce replied, his voice gentle but heavy with concern. “Just know I’m here if you change your mind.”
Whitney didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes, letting the words hang in the air. When she finally spoke again, her voice was steady, but her heart felt like it was on the edge of breaking.
“Thank you, Bryce. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As she hung up, the silence that followed felt louder than ever. She was standing on the precipice of a decision, unsure of which direction to take. But one thing was certain—she couldn’t keep living in the chaos, in the web of hurt and confusion that Ludwik had trapped her in.
Her gaze drifted toward the house, and for the first time in a long while, she felt the stirrings of a decision forming in her heart. The path ahead was unclear, but she knew she had to walk it alone, for herself and her baby. Whatever that meant, wherever it took her.
With a deep breath, Whitney turned away from the garden gate and began walking back toward the house. But this time, something was different. She wasn’t walking toward Ludwik or the past she had known. She was walking toward something new—toward the future she had yet to create.
And no matter how difficult the journey ahead would be, Whitney was ready to face it.
