Page 20 of The Hotel Room

The words hit like a physical blow.

Kate blinked, her stomach plunging as the air seemed to rush out of her lungs.

She stared at him, heart thudding so loud it drowned out the chaos of the school parking lot.

“Trapped?” Her voice was barely a whisper now, hollow and disbelieving.

James exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair, like he wanted to take the words back—but they were already hanging between them, jagged and unforgivable.

“So…what? Our life? Ourmarriage? Ourchildren? Were all just consequences for you? A mistake you’ve been stuck with for seventeen years?”

His face fell, guilt flooding his expression as he reached for her, softer this time. “No, Kate—God, no. That’s not what I meant—”

But she stepped back, her body trembling with fury and something far worse—devastation.

“You can’t take it back,” she whispered.

“Iloveyou,” James pleaded, voice cracking now. “I love our kids. I just—I was young. I felt like I lost part of myself. That’s not your fault. It’s nottheirs—I’m just trying to be honest.”

Her voice was cold, cutting.

“Well, congratulations, James. You’ve finally told the truth.”

He was already opening his mouth to say whatever new hurtful words he had for her, when Kate turned and walked back to her car.

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Leah’s kitchen felt too bright that morning, the pale sunlight streaking across the countertops, catching the unwashed mugs from the night before. The scent of coffee hung heavy in the air, bitter and sharp in a way that made Kate’s stomach twist unpleasantly.

She grimaced, pressing a hand to her abdomen as another wave of nausea rolled over her.

It’s just stress.

Of course it was.

The tension hadn’t let up since she’d left that New York hotel. The constant ache in her chest, the weight pressing against her ribs—it was all consuming. Some days, it felt like she was just…pushing through, holding herself together because there wasn’t another choice.

She hadn’t slept much the past few nights either. Not with Noah barely speaking to her and Lily clinging too tight, asking questions she didn’t have answers for.

No wonder she felt off.

Kate poured herself a cup of coffee out of habit, but the scent hit her stomach wrong again. She set the mug down untouched, shaking her head.

Probably just the lingering nausea from not eating enough. Shehadskipped dinner last night, the ache in her chest making food feel impossible.

It was just stress.

The headache pressing behind her eyes? Stress.

The exhaustion dragging her limbs heavier than usual? Stress.

The dizziness when she stood up too fast? Definitely stress.

There was too much to do to let this get the better of her. Laundry. Meal prep. She needed to pick up groceries, she couldn’t keep letting Leah feed them all. Lily’s choir rehearsal was that night. And Noah—God, Noah—

Her stomach flipped again, this time so hard she had to steady herself against the edge of the counter, swallowing down the bitter taste rising in her throat.

“Seriously?” she muttered under her breath.

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