BAD WIFE

Chaper {21}

Niko stood frozen.

The door had barely closed behind Baylee, but her words still echoed through him like a thunderclap he couldn't shake.

She was pregnant.

The silence around him felt louder now. His body remained rigid, his mind racing—and the worst part? He didn't know how to feel. He was angry. Still so angry. But now... confused. Torn. Unsettled in a way that rattled him to the core.

The sound of keys jingling snapped him back to the present.

"Hey..." Melissa stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind her, her smile faltering when she noticed him still standing in place. "Waiting for me?" she teased gently before leaning in to kiss his cheek and hang up her handbag.

He cleared his throat and stepped toward her. "We need to talk."

Without waiting for her reply, he took her hand and led her into the kitchen. His grip was firm but distracted, like he was moving on autopilot. After gesturing for her to sit at the table, he reached for a bottle of water from the fridge and set it in front of her.

Melissa eyed him warily. "What is it? You're making me nervous."

He exhaled heavily, hands braced against the counter. He didn't know how she was going to react, but there was no avoiding it. She had to know.

"Baylee is pregnant."

Her eyes widened instantly. "What?" She blinked hard. "Who told you that?"

"She did."

Melissa leaned back slightly. "And you believe her?"

"I don't think she'd lie about something like that."

Her fingers gripped the bottle. "Did you think she would try to sleep with her best friend's husband?"

His jaw clenched. His fists tightened at his sides.

Melissa closed her eyes, wincing. She realized she'd crossed a line.

"I'm sorry," she said, more carefully this time. "I just meant maybe... maybe we should be cautious with her."

She twisted open the bottle and took a slow sip.

Niko said nothing.

She hadn't exactly said anything wrong—but it grated on him. Everything she said grated on him tonight.

Why?

Why did he want to yell at her?

Baylee could've nagged him all day and it wouldn't have bothered him. But right now? Everything Melissa said felt like static in his ears.

"Did you talk to her?" she asked.

"She was here."

Melissa's brows shot up. "What? When?"

"Just a few minutes ago," he said. "She said the baby is mine."

Melissa stood abruptly, tension snapping through her like a whip. "And you believe her?"

"I asked for a DNA test," he said tightly.

"Good," she replied quickly. "Because that could be Conner's baby."

His jaw clenched so hard it ached. "She refused the test."

Melissa scoffed. "That only means you're not the father. Why else would she deny you one? She's just trying to—"

"I have to go see her," he cut her off sharply.

Her face fell. "What? Why?"

"What do you mean why?" he snapped. "If she's carrying my child, I need to be there. I can't just stand around hoping for a text."