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Chapter_55
Quinn sighed, feeling a wave of frustration rise in her chest. She didn’t know how to explain it to Abigail without sounding like she was trapped, without sounding like she was clinging to something that had already slipped beyond her reach. But as much as she wanted to open up to her friend, the words just didn’t come.
Abigail, noticing the shift in Quinn’s expression, softened a little. “Okay, what’s really going on, Quinn? You don’t have to do this alone, you know. You don’t have to pretend like everything’s fine. You’re not fooling anyone.”
Quinn looked away, her gaze falling on the ground as if seeking some answer in the floorboards. “It’s not that simple, Abigail. I can’t just… walk away.” Her voice wavered, the weight of her words settling between them. “There’s more at stake than just me. And leaving him now would—”
Abigail stepped closer, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I get it, okay? But he doesn’t get you. And he never will. He’s not the one you need to protect you. Not like I will. You’ve been so stuck in this mess with him that you can’t even see the way out.”
Quinn met her friend’s eyes, the frustration and sadness she’d been carrying evident in her gaze. “I know. I know. But it’s not just about me anymore, Abi. There’s a child now.”
Abigail froze, her hand still resting on Quinn’s shoulder. “Wait. What are you talking about?”
“The baby,” Quinn said softly, almost afraid to say the words aloud. She hadn’t meant to tell Abigail this way, but it felt impossible to hide it any longer. “I’m pregnant.”
For a long moment, Abigail didn’t say anything. Her mouth parted as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out. Finally, she let out a slow breath, her expression shifting between disbelief and understanding.
“You’re… pregnant?” Abigail repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “And… Alexander’s the father?”
Quinn nodded, the weight of her revelation hanging between them. She hadn’t expected this to be easy, but hearing Abigail’s shock made it feel even more surreal.
Abigail didn’t pull away; instead, she took Quinn’s hands in her own. “Okay, I get it now. But, Quinn, this doesn’t mean you have to keep going down this path. You’re stronger than this. You’ve always been. Don’t let him decide everything for you. You can be free. You can have your life, too.”
Quinn shook her head slowly, unsure of how to explain. “I wish it were that simple, Abi. I’m not… I’m not sure what I want anymore. I’m scared.”
Abigail smiled gently, her usual fire dimmed just a little. “It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not have all the answers. But you don’t have to face this alone, okay? We’ll figure this out together. You don’t have to stay in this cage because of him.”
The warmth in Abigail’s voice offered Quinn a small comfort, but it didn’t erase the complexity of her situation. Quinn had always been someone who felt deeply for those she loved, and that was part of the problem. She’d given her heart to Alexander so completely that it felt like the foundation of everything she did.
But the truth was, even now, she didn’t feel like she was living anymore. She was existing, surviving—dragged along by the currents of everyone else’s desires and needs.
Abigail wasn’t wrong. Quinn could have more. She could have freedom. She could have choices. But would she be strong enough to make those choices?
“You’re right,” Quinn whispered, her voice small but steady. “I need to think about what’s best for me—for the baby.”
Abigail squeezed her hands. “Exactly. You can do this, Quinn. And I’ll be right here with you, every step of the way.”
Quinn gave her a tentative smile, grateful for her friend’s unwavering support. Maybe, just maybe, it was time to start thinking about herself again.
