Jack’s POV
The ballroom’s music faded into a distant hum as I walked out, my mind in chaos. Her words played over and over in my head like a relentless echo.
"You’re the only man I’ve ever laid with my whole life, Jack. If the child wasn’t yours, then tell me—who else could it be?"
It wasn’t a denial. It wasn’t an attempt to deflect. It was the truth, plain and simple. And it hit me harder than I thought anything she could say ever would.
I found myself walking without direction, my legs carrying me until I reached the hotel bar. It was quieter here, the warm, muted glow of the lights a stark contrast to the glitzy chaos of the party.
Sliding onto a stool at the far end of the counter, I waved for the bartender. “Whiskey. Neat.”
As I waited, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the
