SHARING EMMA [18+]

32. Twinge of Resentment

|CARLOS|

As I sat alone in my thoughts, I knew that it was time to face the truth. Admitting to myself that things between Emma and I had become far more complicated than I had ever imagined.

My love for her was undeniable, but ever since her pregnancy had become a reality, I found myself struggling with conflicting emotions. Of course, I wanted nothing but the best for her and her unborn child. But a nagging doubt gnawed at me, threatening to shatter the delicate balance that we had created.

It was a question that I dared not ask aloud, but one that burned in the back of my mind: was this child truly mine? Or did Ryker have a hand in its conception?

The uncertainty was almost too much to bear, but I tried my best to keep a brave face in front of Emma. I didn't want her to think that I was having doubts about our future or the fact that if the kid turned out to be Rykers I would drop her like a hot potato.

Part of the reason for my silence was the fact that Emma didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. It was as if she had more pressing matters to worry about, which only fueled my fear that she knew something that I didn't.

I couldn't shake the feeling that if she did have any doubts or suspicions about the father of her child, she should have brought them up by now. Why keep it a secret if there was nothing to hide?

But then again, who was I to judge? Emma was going through a difficult time, dealing with a pregnancy that was both unexpected and complicated. Maybe she simply didn't have the mental or emotional bandwidth to deal with any additional stress.

As I sat in my office, my mind was divided between worrying about Emma and the more pressing issue of Ryker's anger. He stood in front of me, his eyes blazing with frustration and impatience.

"It's been over a week. How much longer are you going to drag this out?" Ryker's words were sharp, his tone cutting through the air like a knife.

"It's not that easy, Ryker," I said to him, but I knew he wouldn't understand the complexity of the situation with Emma. I didn't have the energy to explain it to him.

Ryker had always been an explosive ball of fury, his patience non-existent and his concern for important matters even lesser. The concept of consequences had never seemed to register with him.

When Emma and I had agreed to our casual arrangement, she had assured me that she was taking birth control. I had accepted her decision at face value, but now that she was pregnant, I couldn't help but feel a wave of shock and disbelief wash over me.

A whirlwind of questions, doubts, and fears raced through my mind. Could Ryker have convinced Emma to stop taking her birth control? The idea seemed far-fetched, but the nagging doubts in my head wouldn't go away.

I quickly dismissed the notion, shaking my head in disbelief. It was impossible. Ryker and Emma had only been together briefly, and I couldn't imagine him scheming to get her pregnant so soon. Moreover, I couldn't ignore the fact that it was after their fling that Ryker had found out about me and Emma.

I tried to push the thoughts away, but they kept creeping back into my mind like an insidious pest. I knew that Ryker had a history of reckless behavior, but the idea that he might have interfered with Emma's birth control was too much to bear.

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, a mix of anger, confusion, and sadness churned in my stomach. I knew that I needed to find out the truth, but the prospect of confronting Emma about it filled me with a sense of dread and uncertainty.

As if sensing my unease, Ryker's tone turned to taunt. "Well, then make it. That's what you're so good at, dad, aren't you? Carlos Kingston - always cool as a cucumber no matter the stress."

His words hit a nerve, and I felt my patience wearing thin. Ryker had always known how to push my buttons, and I was on the brink of snapping.

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my temper in check. "This isn't about that, Ryker. Emma's pregnant," I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth before I could stop them.

I bit my tongue before I could say more, knowing that adding fuel to the fire wouldn't help the situation. It was true that Emma's feelings for Ryker had changed, but that wasn't something I needed to share with him right now. Things were already spiraling out of control, and I didn't want to make things worse

I immediately regretted what came out of me as Ryker looked at me with a mix of shock and disbelief. He scanned the room as if searching for something to hold onto, as if the news had physically rocked him.

I cursed myself for letting it slip. Ryker was sure to make it all about himself.

He began pacing back and forth in my office, his hands on his hips.

"What?" he exclaimed, pausing in his tracks. "When did this happen? How long have you known?"

"I just found out a few days ago that she's more than six weeks pregnant," I revealed to him. He stood there, motionless, seeming to absorb the weight of my words. Then, he began to pace back and forth, anxiously running his hand through his hair.

Finally, he leaned over the desk and stared straight into my eyes. His intense gaze made me feel a bit uneasy, but I knew I had to tell him the truth.

"It's mine. It has to be. The timing is perfect," he declared with a tone of absolute conviction, his words ringing out like a bell in the silent room.

I hesitated for a moment, considering his words carefully. The possibility that he could be the father of Emma's child was a haunting thought, but I couldn't be entirely sure. "You can't be completely certain," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "She's been on birth control since I've known her."

The words hung in the air for a moment as Ryker processed what I had said. His jaw clenched, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind as he tried to make sense of the situation. But even as doubt crept into his mind, I could see the fierce determination in his eyes.

"That doesn't matter," he insisted. "Birth control isn't foolproof. Besides, I know what I feel, and I know what I want. If there's a chance that this child is mine, then I need to know."

His words stung, but I knew he was right.

The thought that he might be the father of Emma's child was a troubling one, and I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get much more complicated.

His piercing stare bore into mine, and I could feel the weight of his expectations resting heavily on my shoulders. I leaned back in my chair, the cold metal armrests pressing into my skin as I tried to gather my thoughts.

"I'm going to talk to her," I said finally, my voice sounding small and uncertain. "We'll figure this out together."

Ryker nodded, a small hint of relief showing in his eyes. "Good," he said softly. "And if it's mine, I'll take care of them both."

Ryker's words hung in the air for a moment. His slow nod and the small hint of relief in his eyes showed that he was willing to do whatever it took to take care of Emma and the baby, should it turn out that he was the father.

Despite the sincerity in his words, a pang of jealousy shot through me. The thought of Ryker being the father of Emma's child was a bitter pill to swallow, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment.

But I pushed those feelings aside. Right now, the most important thing was ensuring the safety and well-being of Emma and the baby, no matter who the father was.

It was a situation that required careful handling, and I knew that I had to approach it with the utmost care and sensitivity.