Chapter 172

Robert's POV

"Why are you calling me?" The words came out colder than I'd intended.but I couldn't help myself. Having just ended my call with Howard Thompson and reviewing my meeting notes, seeing Sarah's name flash across my screen was the last thing I expected.

Her voice sounded different-softer, almost vulnerable. The sharp edge that had cut me so deeply during our last conversation was gone.

"Robert. I just heard you went to Howard Technologies today," she said,her tone carrying a hesitation I rarely heard from her.

I immediately tensed. How could she possibly know about this? I had only left Howard's office a few hours ago.

"How did you know that?" I asked, suspicion rising within me.

"That doesn't matter," she answered quickly, with an undercurrent of anxiety in her voice. "I have my ways."

I fell silent as suddenly everything became clear. Of course, it all made sense. Howard inviting me to his office happened right after I told him about Sarah's plan to release doctored footage of me and Annie. This wasn'

t just about my project-Howard was using me to distract Sarah, to divert her attention away from Annie.

This realization should have angered me, being used as a pawn in someone else's game. But strangely, I felt a twinge of admiration for Howard's strategy. Besides, he was offering a genuine funding opportunity for my project. If he wanted to kill two birds with one stone, who was I to complain?

"Yes, I did," I finally answered, deliberately keeping my voice casual. "We discussed business opportunities."

"Oh?" Her interest was immediately piqued. "Howard thinks highly of you?

I chose my words carefully: "He was impressed with my project proposal.He's providing funding and resources to get it off the ground."

The silence that followed was loaded with calculation. I could almost hear the gears turning in her mind, reassessing my value now that Howard Thompson deemed me worth investingin.

"I'm sorry," she finally said, the words so unexpected I nearly dropped my phone. In all our years together, Sarah had rarely apologized for anything.

"I was too harsh with you the other day," she continued, her voice growing softer. "Pregnancy hormones have made me emotional and irrational. I said things I didn't mean."

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes. The timing was too convenient,her change of heart too sudden. Just days ago during that phone call, she had been venomous, spitting fire. The call had ended abruptly, and my attempts to call back went unanswered. She had rejected me utterly then,clearly wanting nothing more to do with me. And now that Howard had shown interest in my business, she was suddenly gentle and apologetic?

"Robert? Are you still there?" she asked when I didn't respond.

"I'm here," I said flatly. "If you called to apologize, don't bother.We're done, Sarah. You made your feelings quite clear the other day." "No," she responded quickly. "Robert, do you remember that suimmer we spent in the Hamptons? When Max was just three?"

The memory surfaced unbidden-a perfect weekend away from the city.Max building sandcastles on the beach while Sarah and I watched from under an umbrella, her head resting on my shoulder. It was one of those rare moments when everything felt right, when we truly felt like a family.

"We were happy then. weren't we?" she prompted gently.

"We had good times," I grudgingly admitted, hating how easily she could pull me back into the past.

"We could have that again," she said sofly. "This pregnancy... it's made me realize what's important. Family, Robert. You, me, Max, and this baby."

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the picture she was painting."Sarah, you made yourself very clear a few days ago. You said you never loved me."

"I was angry and scared," she insisted. "Pregnant and alone, watching you struggle after the bankruptcy. I lashed out. But this child deserves better,doesn't it? Better than parents who can't even speak to each other."

I remained silent, wrestling with the conflicting emotions her words stirred up. Part of me-the part that hadn't stopped loving her despite everything-desperately wanted to believe her. And another part,hardened by pain, recognized the manipulation.

"Robert?" Her voice caught slightly. "There's someone who wants to talk to you."

Before I could protest, I heard movement on the other end of the line,and then a familiar small voice that immediately tightened mv chest.

"Dad?" Max's voice was tentative,uncertain.

"Hey, buddy," I said, my own voice suddenly thick. "How are you?"

"1 miss you," he said simply, and the words hit me like a physical blow."Mom says you might come home. Is that true?"

I swallowed hard. "Max, it's... it's complicated, buddy."

"But why?" His confusion was evident. "Don't you want to be with us anymore? Don't you want to be my dad anymore?"

"Max, I will always be your dad," I assured him quickly. "Nothing could ever change that."

"Then why can't we be together? Like before?" His voice wobbled dangerously. "I want us to be a family again. With the new baby too."

I felt something crack inside me-the protectve shell I'd built around my heart since the bankruptcy, since Sarah's rejection. Max had always been the innocent party in all of this, caught between parents who couldn't make it work.

"Can we, Dad? Please?" he pleaded, and I could hear the tears he was holding back.

There was movement on the other end of the line, and Sarah came back on."He misses you terribly," she said softly. "We both do."

"Sarah, this isn't fair," I said quietly, my resistance crumbling. "Using Max like this..."

"I'm not using him," she countered. "He asked to speak to you when he heard me on the phone with you. He wants our family back together as much as I do."

1 rubbed my face with my free hand, feeling trapped. Howard's proposition could transform my career. If Sarah and I could somehow make things work again, Max would regain his family,and the new baby would have both parents from the start.

But could I trust her? After everything that had happened, after the things she'd said?

"Robert." her voice was barely above a whisper. "This is your child I'm carrying. If for no other reason, please give us another chance for the baby's sake."

Silence stretched between us as I wrestled with the decision. In the end,my heart overruled my head.

"Alright," I finally said, the word feeling both like surrender and hope."We can try again."

After hanging up, I didn't know if I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life or taken the first step toward rebuilding everything. Only time would tell.