Chapter 21 You Always Have A Choice By the time we made it downstairs, we looked like any other couple—maybe even a little too perfect. I was in a dungaree and Roman was in shorts and a white cotton shirt. We looked normal. Too normal. Emily was radiant, seated at the center of the room like the returning queen she was. A birthday cone was sitting on her head and a giant cake in front of her that you'd think it was her birthday. Her hair was braided neatly in a french plait, eyes sparkling with health, her stuffed unicorn sitting beside her plate of lasagna. There was champagne, wine, red velvet cake, and family crowding every space. Even Lizzie's mom, Aunt Carol, was present. Alyssa beamed when she saw Roman, mouthing a silent ‘be right back’ to Uncle Jace then began to walk in our direction. She pulled Roman into a hug, whispering, “Thank you so much.” I awkwardly stood by the side, hands folded at my back, watching the exchange like a stranger. ‘The wheels on the bus’ was playing loudly through the speakers and Dad and Emily were having a good time demonstrating and singing. He'd throw his head back and laugh whenever she missed a step. You could feel the love he had for her— even watching from a distance. I unconsciously touched my stomach, thinking if he'd have been this way with mine if it was allowed to live. But who was I kidding? Dad made sure it never saw the light of day. My breath was knocked out of my lungs when Alyssa unexpectedly pulled me into a bone crushing hug. “Thank you, Sav. I owe you my daughter's life.” Her eyes turned glassy. “Nonsense, Alyssa. I love Emily. We're family.” She glanced at Roman who was in a discussion with mom and Aunt Thelma. Mom said something to which Aunt Thelma laughed and Roman looked at me. Mom noticed we were looking at each other and nudged my aunt. They both giggled like schoolgirls. I looked away. “Thank you for bringing him into our lives and our family. I'm forever indebted to you, Sav.” She gripped my hands firmly. I bit my lip, not knowing if it was the best time to bring this up. But it was eating me alive. I swallowed the lump in my throat and gently tugged Alyssa away from the laughter and music, toward the quiet space beneath the staircase—away from Emily’s shining eyes and Roman’s quiet smile beside her. “Alyssa,” I began carefully, “about Emily…” Her body stiffened. She didn’t need me to finish the question. She instantly knew what I was referring to. Her eyes darted towards her daughter and her uncle. Roman was now beside Emily, posing for a photograph as Lizzie sprawled on the ground to get a perfect shot of the uncle-niece duo. Their profiles mirrored. Their laughter, identical.I didn’t miss the way Alyssa’s jaw clenched. “You knew?” I asked softly. “Yes.” Her voice cracked, barely above a whisper. The ground tilted beneath me. I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself. “How long?” Alyssa hesitated. Her eyes welled, but she blinked the tears back quickly, like she’d practiced. “Since the day I walked into his office with a folder in my hand,” she murmured. “I always knew.” My stomach coiled, “Why, Alyssa?” She looked away, shame flickering through her features. “Because I had no choice.” “What do you mean by that? Are you pulling my legs right now?” “No.” “You always have a choice,” I said, quieter now. “You always do. I know I did.” “I get what you're saying,” she whispered. “But you have to understand—” “I do understand,” I cut in, sharper than I meant. “You think you’re the only one who’s had to make impossible choices?” Her lips parted, but no words came. “I know what it’s like to feel like you’re drowning,” I continued. “I know what it’s like to lose something before you ever got to hold it. But I still made a choice.” A beat of silence. “That was different, Sav.” “Was it?” I whispered. She didn't respond. Her silence was louder than any words. My voice trembled now. “Alyssa… he's been married for seven years. Emily’s five. You don’t need my help doing that math.” Her face crumpled slightly. “Sav—” “You said you didn’t have a choice, but you did. And you chose a married man. Why would you make the same mistake?” The tears finally spilled. She wiped them away fast, jaw clenched tight. “Because I was desperate, okay?” Her voice cracked. “Because I was an intern and he was the boss. Because I was broke and scared and didn’t want to come crawling back home just to be treated like a failure.” I took a breath, shaken. “Then why didn’t you come to Dad? He would've helped you with anything. He loves you.” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Right. So he could parade me around as the golden child who ruined her life? Please. Dad only loves winners. Like Chloe. I did what I had to do to survive.” The words hit like a gut punch. Maybe because part of me agreed. “I didn’t plan for Emily,” Alyssa said softly. “But the moment I knew she existed, I swore I’d protect her. From everyone. Even from him.” I looked at her, really looked at her—at the exhaustion behind her eyes, the weight she’d been carrying all alone. “You should’ve told me,” I said quietly. She swallowed, her voice hoarse. “You would’ve hated me.” “No,” I whispered. “I would’ve fought beside you.” We stood there in silence. Roman’s laugh echoed from across the room, soft and genuine. Emily was beaming. Alyssa now looked at me like I had betrayed her. Strangely, I felt like I did. She has always supported me, through thick and thin. “Emily is mine. She's my daughter. And I'm raising her on my own just fine. I don’t need anyone telling me I’m the greatest sinner—because I never claimed to be a saint.” She folded her arms. “What happened has happened and Emily is here now. I'm a grown woman, I don't need scolding. Least of all from you, Sav.” The breath was knocked out of me. And I slowly nodded. “Yeah, you're right. I'm probably in no position to speak on morals.” Alyssa didn’t reply. Her eyes stayed on Emily, blinking too fast. “Congrats on Emily's discharge. I'm glad she's back.” I smiled and left, looking for my fiancé. I found him sitting on the sofa, a can of soda in hand, legs crossed and eyes focused on Emily as she posed for photos with Chloe and Mom and Dad. His head was tilted to the side as if he was checking something out. I looked away. “I've never been photogenic.” I blurted out. “So don't look for me over there.” Roman smirked, placed the soda can on the stool beside him and pulled out his phone. When he tapped on the gallery, I laughed. “Alright, Roman. I get your point.” “You're the most photogenic person in the room, Savannah. They're just assholes for leaving you out.” I smiled. He casually scrolled through rows and rows, columns and columns, unaware and aware pictures of me on his phone. “Okay, fine.” I raised my hand. He put his phone back with a smug smile. “Sav always used to say she was the black sheep. Those kinds of people don’t end up in family photographs.” We turned. Dean was in the corner, drink in hand, watching everything too closely. Roman didn’t even look at him. Or act like he just spoke. He faced forward. “Good morning to you too, brother-in-law.” I rolled my eyes. “Hope we didn't disturb you last night?” He teased me, smirking lasciviously. Roman's posture showed his annoyance. “Of course not. I can't forget the solid three minutes. It usually ends before it begins.” I raised a drink. Roman didn't react. At least not outwardly. He was just casually tapping his foot to the rhythm of the music. Dean was obviously not expecting that clapback. He crushed the can to wrinkled junk and stomped off, flicking his wrist to get rid of the liquid. Chloe spoke to him but he ignored her, brushing past her and aiming for the stairs, angrily disappearing. Dean-1, Savannah-1. Chloe, of course, was still glowing with smug satisfaction as she shook off the disgrace and kept on walking. She sipped from a champagne flute, leaning close to us. "So… about that double date we talked about?" Roman blinked. "What double date?""You and Sav. Me and Dean. Tonight. What do you say?” I raised an eyebrow. "Where?" She smirked, tapping her glass. "It’s a secret, sis. Dress code: hot." She turned away before we could protest, linking her arm with Dad's. I looked at Roman. He looked at me. That was the moment we both knew— Tonight would be a game. And we were already losing.