Rejected by the Younger Man

When Dominic slipped in, I kept my eyes closed, pretending to sleep. He carefully lay down next to me, gently wrapping me in his arms. After leaving a tender goodnight kiss on my forehead, he quickly fell asleep. But I lay there, wide awake.

I wriggled out of his embrace and went to the study, where I opened a bottle of red wine and took a deep drink. Was it because I was older and easier to handle, that I was only fit to be used as practice?

Laurel Adams, how did your life come to this?

Tears blurred my vision. I wasn't sure how much I drank before I stumbled towards the bathroom and fell heavily.

Riley was jolted awake, and when he realized I wasn’t beside him, his eyes instantly sharpened.

"Hey, you're up. Why didn’t you call me?" he asked, jumping up from the bed as soon as he detected the scent of alcohol on me.

"What on earth! Laurel, are you out of your mind drinking when you’re not feeling well?" He only used my full name when he was really upset. But I didn't want to respond; I pushed him away, slurring my words.

"Don’t... don’t touch me."

When he felt my forehead burning hot, his tone softened immediately. "Stop fooling around. Let’s get you to the hospital."

My body was weak, my head spinning, but the mention of the hospital snapped me back to my senses. "No need for that. I just need to lie down for a bit. Leave me alone."

He let out an exasperated laugh, wrapping me in a coat and carrying me out the door. He drove us to the hospital, taking care of registration and arranging for blood tests in one smooth motion.

Before I could react, the doctor was already calling my number. "Patient number 17, Laurel Adams, please come in for your appointment."

"Is patient 17, Laurel Adams, here?" The announcement repeated over and over, calling my name.

Riley half-persuaded, half-dragged me to the doorway, but I hesitated, unwilling to go in.

In the midst of our struggle, a sweet voice suddenly chimed in. "Riley, you..."

Riley immediately let go of me and rushed towards the girl, scanning her up and down with concern. "What’s wrong? Why are you here alone? And who told you to wear so little?"

Kamryn sighed dramatically, covering her face and stomping her foot. "It's just a hormone imbalance. The doctor said getting a boyfriend would help, unlike some people..." She cast a pointed glance my way as she spoke.

Riley tapped her lightly on the head. "What are you thinking? She's just an employee." He took off his jacket, placing it on the seat for her, and without a second thought, pulled my coat off my back to cover her legs.

"From now on, no skirts above the knee, got it?"

Kamryn pouted. "But I wanted to feel a little sexy. Don’t all guys like that?"

"Who filled your head with that nonsense? No showing off for others!" he admonished, "I'll take you home."

Throughout their playful exchange, Riley didn’t spare me a single glance. Listening to their banter, I gained a new understanding of my own foolishness. Riley always insisted I dress provocatively for his business events, though it never felt right to me. He claimed it was to make others envious.

But when it came to the girl who truly mattered to him, he wanted nothing more than to lock her away, jealous of even a single extra glance from others.

Perhaps that's the difference between a fling and someone cherished.

I pressed my lips together and walked into the examination room. The doctor reviewed my test results with a frown. "You have polycystic ovary syndrome; natural conception will be challenging. You're four weeks along. Are you considering keeping the pregnancy or opting for a termination?"

"Either way, you need to decide quickly."

After leaving the examination room, everything went black for a moment. I nearly fainted, saved only by a passing nurse. Given my poor health, the hospital required a family member’s presence. I could only think to call Riley.

I phoned him numerous times, but he never answered. Eventually, his phone was turned off.

After a few hours of rest, I was allowed to go home. The biting north wind cut through me, aching down to my bones. The only coat I had was the one Riley had taken.

All the way home, I pondered the doctor’s words. No matter what decision I made, it needed to be soon.

Two days should be enough time, right?

I opened the door to my home to the sound of laughter and chatter.