Page 10 of My Rockstar Ex's Broken Vows

"That seems logical. What other choice did you have?"

"I guess I didn't put up a fight because I thought it was temporary. But he left and..." I pause, taking another sip. "He never came back like he said he would. In fact, the day he left he never took or responded to a single call or text. Poof. Gone. It was like our whole relationship had been a dream."

"Oh, Si..." Brooke's voice is gentle. "That must have been devastating."

"Marcus was there through all of it. He was just a friend then, someone who'd listen when I needed to talk. He'd bring me coffee during long study sessions at the library, check on me when I was having rough days."

"Sounds like he knew exactly what he was doing."

I nod slowly. "Looking back now, I can see it. He'd casually mention seeing pictures of Callum with other women or hearing about his success through mutual friends. Each story was like a knife to the heart, and Marcus was always there to pick up the pieces."

"That manipulative bastard."

"The thing is, I didn't see it then. I was so... broken. And then..." I pause, the weight of what comes next sitting heavy in my chest. "Then I found out I was pregnant."

Brooke sets down her glass, her full attention on me. "Wait, what?"

"It was the worst timing. Callum was gone, and I'd had this one night with Marcus when I was particularly low. I didn't know who... I mean, I couldn't be sure..."

"Oh my God, Si." Brooke reaches for my hand. "Does Callum know?"

The question hits me like a physical blow. I shake my head, unable to meet her eyes. "I tried. God, I tried so hard to reach him. I called, emailed, and even tried to find the producer guy from Nashville. But it was like Callum vanished completely. The moment he left Charleston, it was like..." I swallow hard. "Like I never existed to him."

"And you didn't know who..." Brooke trails off delicately.

"No." I take a shaky breath. "The timing... it could have been either of them. I was so lost after Callum left, and Marcus was there, being so supportive. One night, after too much wine and too many tears about Callum, Marcus, and I..." I close my eyes, the memory still painful. "It was just once. But then weeks later, when I found out I was pregnant..."

"What did you do?"

"I panicked." My voice cracks. "Marcus, though... he stepped up immediately. Offered to help, to be there for me no matter what.He even suggested we get married, said we could figure out paternity later, that it didn't matter to him."

"Of course he did," Brooke mutters.

"When the paternity test showed Marcus was the father..." I pause, the guilt of what I'm about to admit weighing heavily. "Part of me was relieved. Because at least I knew. But part of me..." I can't finish the sentence.

"Wished it had been Callum's," Brooke finishes softly.

I nod, wiping away a tear. "Is that terrible? To wish your child had a different father?"

"No, honey. It's human." Brooke squeezes my hand. "So Callum never knew? About any of it?"

"How could he? He'd made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me anymore. And once I knew Ollie was Marcus's..." I shrug helplessly. "It seemed pointless to keep trying. Marcus was there, offering stability and a future. Callum was gone, living his dream, never looking back. It felt like the responsible choice."

"The safe choice," Brooke corrects gently.

"Yeah." I manage a weak smile. "The safe choice."

Before I can say more, my phone buzzes on the counter. A text from Emma lights up the screen:

Si - This just popped up on my FYP

tiktok.com/watch/callumreid_pinnacle_signing_48392

"What is it?" Brooke asks, noticing my sudden tension.

With shaking hands, I click the link. The TikTok shows a series of quick cuts between Callum performing at some small venue and him sitting in Pinnacle Records' gleaming offices, signing papers. He resembles the boy who broke my heart six years ago, just more polished, more sure of himself, with shorter hair and a fancier wardrobe.

The caption reads:

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