Page 144 of Beautiful Ruins
It wasn’t a question, but a statement.My vision blurred instantly.
“Oh God,” I whispered, dragging my hands over my face.“This is exactly what I was afraid of.”
He crossed the room in two strides, catching my wrists before I could hide.
“Izzy,” he said, voice lower now.“Talk to me.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
I swallowed hard.And forced the words out before I could lose them.
“I’m pregnant.”
Silence.Complete and absolute silence.
For a second—just one—his expression was completely unreadable.And the fear I had been holding back cracked wide open.
“I know this isn’t what you expected,” I rushed out, voice shaking.“And your life is complicated and violent and maybe you don’t want this and?—”
His hands tightened around mine.
“Izzy.Stop.”
I stopped.
He stared at me like the ground had shifted beneath him.
“Say that again.”
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
“I’m pregnant.”
The words settled between us.Real.Permanent.
Raze exhaled slowly.And then—unexpectedly—he laughed.
He wasn’t loud or mocking.It was just a quiet, disbelieving sound, like something inside him had broken open.
“You thought I’d be angry?”
Tears slid down my cheeks.
“I didn’t know how you’d react.”
His hand came up, brushing my tears away.
“You thought I wouldn’t want this.”
“I didn’t know if you would.”
For a moment, he just looked at me.Then his other hand moved.Down.Resting carefully against my stomach.
Like it mattered.LikeImattered.
