The day finally came when Zoya decided to face Logan. She stood outside the bar where he frequently gathered with friends, heart racing yet firm. Sandy was with her, a steadying presence. They watched as Logan emerged, laughing with a group of friends, his smile almost charming yet she remembered the darkness underneath.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI74JgJw8tI
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WRLTyA7yv
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZONOIebbsq
“Zoya!” Logan called, his voice laced with surprise and some semblance of concern. “What are you doing here?”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRu3Wijwve
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMo19CtTGy
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo5RswogY5
She took a step forward, her chin held high. “We need to talk. Now.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO4waXaJWq
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3jMm3QT1K
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5FyAJqDOV
The laughter faded from his companions as they stepped back, sensing the tension. Logan’s expression shifted from surprise to unease. “About what?”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj7BkYF3yo
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96171c15nv
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9ZgpI31qU
“About us, about this,” she gestured vaguely to encompass them, the air heavy with unspoken words. “I need to know what you plan to do if you find out that I’m pregnant.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZu2CYrcSj
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C15cck2YG
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtfD4wKZjZ
The crowd was silent, waiting for his answer. Logan seemed taken aback, uncertainty flickering in his gaze. “Wait, you’re pregnant?” His tone shifted dramatically, and in a flash, he turned stern. “That wasn’t part of the deal, Zoya.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOVFLG7Ef7
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kvQ2b4zsX
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HWFLabvv2
“No deal here,” she said with newfound strength. “This is a life we’re talking about, not a negotiation.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEh0cYRsnZ
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHsINpTwyK
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvkaOqv3bp
His features hardened as he stepped closer, looming. “You know I won’t accept responsibility for a mistake like this.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1COwrnxej
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUdzMsb1Ch
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZS57pP7lY
Zoya raised her chin defiantly, standing her ground. “It’s not a mistake. Logan, you don’t own me. This child is mine, and I will not let your past decisions dictate its future.”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGHIimDsO3
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MTLqDsmVa
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBxKuJsxyo
As the seconds passed, a palpable tension built around them. She could see uncertainty behind his eyes; perhaps he feared what she had become. He let out a sharp breath, realizing that he could no longer intimidate her like before.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5D0JAO4QM
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqLJaSg6BU
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF5W6udha9
Logan turned on his heel, frustration spilling into the air. “You think you can raise a child on your own? You have no idea how hard this life is going to be!”
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6EnJuCPhj
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZk6otq2kK
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo92qOkaYJ0
“Maybe I’ll surprise you,” Zoya shot back, her voice steady as determination filled her with fire.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfzLjcRxBY
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQy8CSuqkd
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWUrhLzsZr
In that moment, she felt different empowered, unbroken. Logan sneered but stepped back from the confrontation, and she held her head high as he walked away. No longer was she the woman who would cower; Zoya had discovered a resilience within herself.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJV2WWLwtj
She paused, oh by the way, I am not pregnant she lied, not understanding why she had to hide the existence of her baby from him at the moment.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gdYr2sOYq
With Sandy at her side, they stepped away from the bar, breathing in the fresh air that felt like freedom. No matter what Logan decided, she could face the world anew. Zoya had forged a path forward, and facing the storm ahead didn’t seem so daunting anymore.
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP53OcmT6G
She was ready to embrace motherhood, ready to protect the child that had already changed her life for the better. And when the shadows threatened to close in again, she would remember this strength, the raw power within her spirit that would not be silenced
ns18.219.224.246da2
