Page 91 of The Hotel Room

Let herself sink into the moment—their daughter’s joy, James’s hand holding hers, this picture of a family whole and happy.

Like nothing had ever broken.

Like there were no cracks beneath the surface, no betrayal lingering in the shadows.

What a beautiful moment this would have been—if she could believe it was real.

But even as she clung to his hand, the ache remained, quiet but relentless, whispering:You can’t pretend forever.

------------------

Silverware clinked against plates and Lily chattered happily away while she focused on pushing peas around her plate. Noah gave the occasional teenage grunt in response to direct questions from Kate or James.

Beneath the conversation, Kate could feel the tension. Sitting stiffly on the far side of the table, jaw tight, her eyes narrowing every time James spoke, Leah ate mostly in silence.

James, for his part, was keeping his head down, answering Lily’s occasional questions with a calm, steady patience that only Kate could see was strained.

It felt like the tension was pressing against her chest, heavier with every second that passed.

Kate couldn’t blame Leah.

Her sister had always been protective, fiercely loyal. And James—well, hehadhurt Kate in the deepest, rawest way imaginable.

But still, watching Leah shoot daggers at him across the table made something unexpected twist inside her.

A surge of—

Defensiveness.

She didn’t want to feel it. Sheshouldn’tfeel it. Leah was being a good sister. She hadeveryright to be angry at James, to hold him accountable for the damage he’d done.

And yet, seeing him sit there, quiet, hurting—

No.

He deserved it.

Didn't he?

The confusion was overwhelming.

Her hormones were already making everything feel like too much lately. The pregnancy symptoms were coming stronger now—aches, fatigue, nausea still lingering at the edges—and now this?

This ache in her chest, a storm she couldn’t sort through?

Her throat tightened painfully, her heart pounding faster.

She couldn’t make sense of it.

She hated him for what he’d done.

But part of her still loved him, still wanted toprotecthim. And that terrified her.

The pressure built, pressing so hard against her ribs it felt like she might burst.

Kate set her fork down, her hand trembling.

The loud scrape of metal against porcelain made everyone look up.

---