Ethan stepped out of the shadows and walked toward her. He needed the truth.
His shoes echoed against the stone courtyard. Beatrice turned slowly. When their eyes met, it was as if the air left her lungs.
“Mr. Caldwell,” she said softly. “I didn’t know you were home.”
He didn’t answer right away.
He had rehearsed this conversation a dozen times during his drive back from the office. Now, standing in front of her, the words were gone.
“Where are you going, Beatrice?” he asked finally.
She blinked, buying time. “Just an appointment. Nothing important.”
He stepped closer.
“Every day you leave early. Every day you come back looking exhausted. I saw.”
Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.
“The pregnancy,” he said quietly. “I saw.”
Silence fell between them.
“I was going to tell you,” she whispered. “I just… I didn’t want to lose my job.”
“Who’s the father?”
Her jaw tightened. “He left. When I told him, he moved to another state. Changed his number. I’m on my own.”
Ethan felt anger rise — not at her, but at the faceless man who had walked away.
“You don’t have to go through this alone,” he said before he could stop himself.
She looked stunned. “You’d… help me?”