Please Come Back, My Love novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72

Elena: POV

I walked.

Out of the hospital. Down the street. Past buildings and people and cars that all blurred together.

My hand pressed against my chest, right over my heart.

It hurts. God, it hurts so much. When will it stop hurting?

Then my hand dropped to my stomach. The baby. Our baby that he’d never want.

“Baby,” I whispered. Tears streamed down my face. “I tried. I tried so hard to make your dad love me. But I couldn’t do it. I just… I couldn t.”

People passing by probably thought I was crazy. Talking to myself. Crying on a street corner.

I didn’t care.

“When you’re born,” I continued, my voice thick, I’ll give you all the love in the world. We don’t need him. We’ll be okay. Just you and me, baby. Just you and me.”

I stood on the corner of Lexington and 67th, the October wind cutting through my coat like knives.

My phone felt heavy in my hand as I scrolled to Sophia’s name.

She’s your only option right now. You can’t go bo

to that penthouse. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.

My finger hovered over the call button. Part of me didn’t want to burden her-Sophia had her own shit to deal with. But where else could I go?

I pressed dial.

“Elena?” Sophia answered on the first ring, her voice tight with concern.

‘I need a place to stay.” My voice came out flat. Dead. “Just for tonight. Can I come over?”

Silence stretched for three heartbeats.

“Of course,” she said finally, and I heard rustling in the background. “I’ll text you my new address. Get here safe, okay?”

“So,” I said, gesturing to her neck with my mug. “Looks like you’ve been

busy. Got a new situation going on?”

Sophia’s hand flew to her neck, her cheeks flushing. “It’s nothing. Just-

“Just what?” I leaned closer, grateful for the distraction from my own mess. “Come on, Soph. Those are definitely fresh. And there are a lot of them.”

She rolled her eyes,

but I caught the flicker of something in her expression. Pain, maybe. Or hurt.

“Fine.” She tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear. “I’ve been seeing someone. Sort of. It’s casual. Friends with benefits, you know? Keeps things simple.”

Liar.

I’d known Sophia for fifteen years. I could read her better than anyone.

And right now, hing filed about her body language screamed that this was anything but casual or simple.