POV Test 123
Chapter 123
Iris
My face burns hot as the fans stare at us, their cameras in hand. I glance at Hunter, who looks just as stunned as I feel. For a long, awkward moment, there’s nothing but silence.
“Please?” the girl asks, shaking her phone slightly. “Your relationship is so cute!”
“1–we’re not “I stammer, pulling Miles closer to my side.
Hunter clears his throat. “I’m sorry, but we’re just friends. The rumors about us aren’t true.”
The women’s faces fall in obvious disappointment. One of them tucks her phone away with a pout. “But the articles said-”
“The articles were wrong,” I cut in firmly. “Hunter has been kind enough to support my art career, that’s all.”
“Then who is the father of your child?” another woman asks bluntly, nodding toward Miles, who is now half- hiding behind my legs. “Everyone’s saying you two have been hiding your relationship for years. Unless there’s another man…”
My stomach twists uncomfortably. This is exactly what I’ve been afraid of–Miles being dragged into this mess, becoming the subject of gossip and speculation. I thought I’d gotten away from it with the situation with Arthur, but I was wrong.
“That’s really none of your business,” Alice suddenly interjects, stepping forward. “Now if you’ll excuse us, we need to get going.”
The women look disappointed but reluctantly leave. As soon as they’re out of earshot, I exhale heavily.
“I am so sorry about that,” Hunter says, running a hand through his hair. “This is getting out of control.”
“It’s not your fault,” I tell him, even though my heart is still racing
We part ways shortly after, with Alice promising to call me later. The entire way home, I can’t shake the feeling that even more gossip will surface online within hours, along with new speculation about the mysterious man in my life who isn’t Hunter. It’s only a matter of time before someone connects the dots to Arthur.
When I arrive home with Miles, I’m surprised to find Arthur’s shoes by the door. He’s rarely home this early in the afternoon. Miles runs ahead of me, excited to see him.
“Daddy!” he calls out, racing into the living room.
I follow more slowly, feeling a strange sense of dread settle over me. I’ve barely seen Arthur in days. He’s been out of the house pretty much every waking hour since he allegedly ended his contract with Selina, and every time I see him, it feels more awkward than the last.
He’s sitting on the couch with his laptop open, but he closes it when Miles bounds into the room. He scoops our son up with a smile, but something stiffens in his expression when he sees me standing in the archway. There’s tension in his shoulders that wasn’t there before.
“Hey, little wolf,” he says, ruffling Miles‘ hair, and the fact that he picked up on my nickname for Miles makes my heart twinge slightly. “Did you have fun at the park?”
Miles nods enthusiastically and launches into a detailed account of his playground adventures, completely oblivious to the strange heaviness in the air. As Miles chatters away, Arthur’s eyes find mine over our son’s head once more, and something in them makes my heart stutter
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Chapter 123
+25 BONUS
That’s when I notice the stack of papers on the coffee table. The contract. The one that’s supposed to be ending his fake engagement to Selina.
“Miles, why don’t you go wash up before dinner?” I suggest once there’s a pause in his monologue.
He scampers off without argument, leaving Arthur and me alone. I nod toward the papers.
“Is that what I think it is?”
Arthur sighs, leaning back against the couch. “Yes.”
I move closer, perching on the arm of a nearby chair. “Has been canceled yet?” I try to keep my tone casual, but there’s a thread of hope running through it that I can’t quite disguise.
“It’s still in the works,” he says, and something in my chest deflates.
“What’s taking so long?” I ask, unable to keep the edge from my voice. “I thought you said it would be simple.” Arthur’s jaw tightens. “It’s complicated, Iris. There are… factors I didn’t anticipate.”
“Like what?”
He doesn’t answer immediately, and in that hesitation, I feel the distance between us growing wider. “Legal issues,” he finally says with a wave of his hand. “Contractual obligations that need to be fulfilled before the termination can be complete.”
I want to believe him, but there’s something… off about his explanation. I remember the rumor articles and wonder if he’s seen them. If he thinks there’s something going on between Hunter and me.
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