The Billionaire Recluse & The girl who stayed.

Unexpected or maybe expected, Reaction.

~ Lexi ~

I sat there in silence long after he'd gone.

The room felt... empty.

Too quiet.

Too big.

My hands trembled slightly in my lap as I stared at the teddy still beside me, the tiny scan picture resting against it like it hadn't just changed everything.

That wasn't how I imagined telling him.

Not even close.

I thought he'd smile... maybe pull me into his arms... maybe even cry like I had.

Instead—

He froze.

And then he left.

My chest tightened, tears slipping down my cheeks before I could stop them.

"Maybe... he doesn't want this," I whispered to myself.

The thought hurt more than I expected.

But even as it settled in, something else followed right behind it—

Understanding.

Jasper wasn't like other men.

He didn't react normally to anything.

And this... this wasn't just a baby to him.

This was everything he'd already lost once before.

His wife.

His unborn daughter.

A whole future ripped away from him in one night.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing.

"He's scared..." I murmured. "That's all it is... he's scared."

But that didn't stop it hurting.

Didn't stop the sting of being left there.

Alone.

Unable to even move after dropping something so big into his world.

A small sob escaped me before I grabbed my phone, quickly texting Charlotte.

Can you come to the cinema room please... I need help.

—

It didn't take long.

The door opened quickly, Charlotte rushing in, Lilly just behind her.

"Lexi—what's happened?" Charlotte asked, panic written all over her face.

I swallowed hard, trying to pull myself together, but my voice still shook.

"I told him... about the baby."

Their expressions softened instantly.

"And?" Lilly asked gently.

I let out a weak, humourless laugh.

"He left."

The words felt heavy.

"He just... froze and walked out. Didn't say anything. Didn't even look at me properly."

Charlotte's face fell, but Lilly... Lilly just sighed softly, like she understood something I didn't fully yet.

"Come here, sweetheart," she murmured, helping guide me carefully into my wheelchair.

"He didn't leave because he doesn't want it," Lilly said softly. "He left because he doesn't know how to handle it."

I looked up at her, tears still clinging to my lashes.

"He's already lived through losing a wife and a baby," she continued. "This isn't just good news to him... it's terrifying."

I nodded slowly.

"I know..." I whispered. "I do. I just... didn't expect to be left like that."

And that was the truth.

I understood him.

But I was still hurt.

Still embarrassed.

Still sitting there wondering if I'd done something wrong.

—

"I don't want to stay in that room tonight," I said quietly after a moment.

Charlotte glanced at me. "You mean your room with Jasper?"

I nodded.

"I just... I can't. Not right now."

Lilly gave me a gentle smile.

"That's okay, sweetheart. You've still got your old room here. Let's get you settled in there."

—

The hallway felt longer than usual.

Every turn reminded me of him.

Of us.

Of everything that had changed in just a few minutes.

When we reached my old room, Lilly pushed the door open softly.

It was exactly how I'd left it.

Familiar.

Safe.

Mine.

Charlotte helped me inside while Lilly adjusted the bed.

"You want me to stay?" Charlotte asked gently.

I shook my head, managing a small smile.

"I'll be okay... I just need some space."

She hesitated but nodded, squeezing my hand before leaving with Lilly, quietly closing the door behind them.

—

The silence settled around me again.

But this time...

It felt different.

Less empty.

More... heavy.

I wheeled myself closer to the bed, staring at it for a moment before carefully getting myself settled.

It wasn't easy.

It never was.

And tonight, it felt harder.

Maybe because everything else felt harder too.

—

I lay back, staring up at the ceiling.

My hand slowly moved to my stomach.

A baby.

Our baby.

Tears slipped quietly down my temples.

"I understand why you reacted like that..." I whispered into the silence.

"And I don't hate you for it."

My voice cracked slightly.

"But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."

Because it did.

More than I wanted to admit.

"I just wish you stayed," I murmured softly.

The room stayed quiet.

No answer.

No comfort.

Just my thoughts...

And the steady, quiet realisation settling deep in my chest—

No matter what happened next...

I wanted this baby.

With him.

Or without him.

And that thought?

That scared me almost as much as his reaction did.