**Chapter 69: More Questions** The air hung heavy between us, charged with unspoken words after his unexpected apology. Lunch turned out to be a strained affair, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness as we sat in silence. Each bite felt more burdensome than the last, my thoughts a chaotic whirlpool centered around his sudden show of remorse. I couldn’t help but wonder what he expected from me. Was forgiveness on his agenda? If so, he would find that notion far from reach at the moment. As we finished our meal, silence weighed heavily in the car during the drive home. I could almost see the thoughts swirling in his mind, obscured and indecipherable to me. This new version of Rowan was a puzzle, and a disturbing one at that. I couldn’t determine how I was supposed to make sense of him now. “Thank you," I finally managed to say as we pulled into the driveway. “For being there during the appointment and for lunch.” “It was no trouble,” he replied, attempting a smile that faltered before it reached his eyes. I nodded, ready to step out of the vehicle when he halted me, his hand clasping mine momentarily. “I need you to let me know about your appointments from now on,” his gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. I stared back at him, bewildered. “Why would I do that?” I pulled my hand away, the heat radiating from his grip lingering as if it had burned me. “Because I want to be there for you,” he said, his tone simple yet weighty. “And again I ask, why? You weren’t there when I was pregnant with Noah. Now, you want to attend appointments for a baby that isn’t yours?” The question burst from my lips, a mixture of frustration and disbelief spilling forth. “Don’t you see how that looks?” His demeanor was confusing, a stark contrast to the man I once knew. I felt my resolve crumbling. I didn’t want to engage with this unpredictability. I didn’t want to provoke Emma’s ire, which would surely follow if she found out about his presence in my life. “I just want to be there,” he insisted, his voice steady, though I could feel the tempest brewing beneath it. “As a matter of fact, yes, it is hard for me to believe. Let’s be honest here, Rowan—your history with me is hardly one of concern.” I let out a long sigh. “That’s an understatement. You downright hated me. So this sudden wave of compassion is nothing short of unbelievable.” Silence fell between us, thick and suffocating, as he continued to gaze at me with an unrelenting focus. I fidgeted under his stare, feeling increasingly unsettled. “Just let me know about your appointments. One way or another, I’ll find out, and I’ll show up like I did today,” he finally stated, determination etching itself into his features. “Have you given any thought to how this will affect your relationship with Emma?” I countered, pushing back. Emma was my best defense against his unreasonable new affection. “Emma doesn’t matter right now!” he growled, his eyes chilling to a frosty glare. Stunned, I blinked at him, my mouth agape. I never imagined I would hear him dismiss Emma with such intensity, nor did I anticipate my heart racing unexpectedly at his words. “What on earth has gotten into you?” I demanded, bewildered. “How can you say she doesn’t matter when you’ve devoted your life to loving her?” His jaw clenched, nostrils flaring at the mention of his long-standing affections for Emma. “Drop it,” he snapped, a dangerous edge to his tone. I sensed that Emma remained a raw nerve for him, but it didn’t deter my thinking. I understood that sooner or later, they would reconcile. Emma was nothing if not tenacious, and Rowan had always struggled to resist her allure. Deciding I had said enough, I flung the car door open and stepped out, moving briskly toward my house. “Remember what I said, Ava,” he called out as I turned to walk away. “I will be at all your appointments, whether you tell me the dates or not.” With that, he revved the engine and drove off, leaving me staring in disbelief at the place where he had just been. Frustration bubbled within me. Why couldn’t he just retreat back into the shadows where he belonged? As I approached my front door, a curious sight caught my eye—a man tending to the grass in the yard next door. He turned at that very moment, as if sensing my focus on him, and our eyes connected. My breath hitched slightly; he was undeniably attractive, yet what pulled me in was a sense of familiarity I couldn’t quite place. Shaking free of those errant thoughts, I offered him a small smile before stepping inside. “Mommy! You’re home!” Noah’s voice burst forth as I crossed the threshold. I had arranged for his nanny to pick him up from school that day since my appointment fell during school hours. She typically didn’t live in, only coming over when I had errands or appointments. “Yes! How was school today?” I asked, setting my bag down. “Fun! I aced every question on my math test!” he exclaimed, his smile bright and proud. “That’s amazing! My baby boy is a math genius!” I teased, watching as his cheeks flushed crimson. “Mom!” he whined, stretching out the word in embarrassment. “Please stop!” “What? It’s true! I’m so proud of you!” His mischievous smile returned, and I could tell he was plotting something. “Can I play video games then? Since I’m a math genius?” I knew I’d been played. “Fine, but only for an hour,” I relented, unable to resist his charm. He bolted up the stairs, jubilant shouts of “thank you” echoing behind him, which brought a smile to my face. “Hey, Maria,” I called out to our nanny as I entered the kitchen. “You’re free to leave.” “Are you sure?” she asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into her voice. “Yes, really. Now go enjoy the rest of your day,” I insisted, waving her off. She left with a smile, and within fifteen minutes, silence enveloped my home. At that moment, with Noah occupied, I was left alone with my thoughts. A sense of isolation crept in, the quiet threatening to drown me as I contemplated starting dinner early when the door swung open. “Yoohoo! Ava, where are you?” Letty's cheerful voice sliced through the stillness, instantly brightening my mood. “In the kitchen!” I shouted back. Moments later, she breezed in with a familiar face trailing behind her—Corrine. “Look who I found! We arrived simultaneously,” Letty said, plopping onto a bar stool at the island. I had shared with Letty how Corrine stood up for me against Anita, and it seemed she had taken a liking to her instantly, believing anyone who defended me deserved a chance. “What brings you here, Corrine?” I asked, curiosity piquing. “Well,” she began, “you gave me a glimpse of warmth at the restaurant, so I thought, why not? I’ve wanted to be your friend for a long time.” Skepticism bubbled within me, urging me to turn her away, but I pushed it aside—now was not the time to close myself off. “Well, welcome to my humble abode,” I said, the sincerity of my smile spreading to her. “I came here for a completely different reason, though. Have you seen the latest gossip column? It was posted like an hour ago.” Letty’s expression shifted as she produced her phone, handing it to me. “No, why?” I asked, my brow creasing in curiosity. She watched as I read the caption, my heart plummeting with each word. **[Billionaire Rowan Woods seen on a lunch date with ex-wife, Ava Sharp, months after their divorce and weeks after rumors of him dating her elder sister, Emma Sharp.]** Beneath the text was a candid photo of Rowan, his hand gently resting on my lower back as he led me into the restaurant. “Shit,” I cursed under my breath, dread filling me. “This is going to cause unnecessary drama.” Emma would surely blow a gasket at this. I wasn’t fearing her, but I desperately wanted to avoid conflict. The image suggested a level of intimacy that simply didn’t exist, and anyone who gazed upon it would misconstrue what was real. “Is there something going on that I’m not aware of?” Letty queried, her eyes darting between Corrine and me. “Nothing happened. He just showed up at my appointment out of the blue and asked if we could have lunch,” I explained, recapping the strange afternoon, including his bizarre apology. As I finished recounting the events, I felt more confused than ever. Nothing seemed to align, no matter how I analyzed it. “What if he’s genuinely remorseful?” Letty posed, her tone thoughtful. That question lingered in my mind, echoing with doubt since his words of regret had been uttered. But I quickly shoved it aside, refusing to admit how much his apology weighed on me. “I don’t know," I admitted with a heavy sigh. “Forgiveness needs to be earned, and as of now, he’s accomplished nothing but confusion and a slew of unanswered questions.” How could I possibly move past everything? For nine years, he had drilled into my soul that he despised me, and now? Now he was sorry? The sudden reversal of his emotions felt insincere, a facade rather than genuine transformation. It was inconceivable that someone could shift so drastically so quickly. “What do you think, Corrine?” Letty turned to her, having remained unusually quiet throughout our exchange. “I think those are the actions of a man who doesn’t realize he’s in love,” Corrine replied, surprising me with her insight. I burst into laughter, although it was tinged with disbelief. “That’s rich, Corrine. Rowan doesn’t love me.” How could he? He had explicitly declared otherwise during that explosive confrontation when he stormed into my home, defending his beloved Emma. “Think about it, though,” she pressed, undeterred. Letty chimed in, “Corrine might be onto something. Why would he suddenly care when he hasn’t in the past? It doesn’t add up unless there’s been something buried beneath the surface.” “Exactly!” Corrine nodded enthusiastically. “What if he loved you all along but never realized it? And now that he’s lost you, those feelings are bubbling to the surface?” I didn’t want to entertain their speculations. Instead, I brushed off their inquiries and attempted to steer the conversation to safer topics. The afternoon passed quickly, and soon the three of us were sharing laughter and stories, with Corrine firmly establishing herself within our close circle of friends. Yet, despite the warmth and joy surrounding me, I couldn’t shake their words from my mind. The reality remained stark: Rowan’s heart had always belonged to Emma Sharp and would likely never change.