Kayla sat motionless, the remnants of her dinner untouched before her. The phone call had left her visibly shaken, her hands trembling as she struggled to regain her composure. Each ring of the phone echoed like a warning bell in her mind, reviving fears she thought she had buried deep within.
Aiden and Harry, sensing the tension, excused themselves with an understanding nod. Richmond, left alone, watched the scene with a furrowed brow, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion.
He couldn't understand why a mere phone call could unravel Kayla to such an extent. His curiosity piqued, yet he reminded himself of the wall of resentment he had built against her.
As Richmond made his way to his room, a heart-wrenching sob from the room opposite his halted his steps. Through the thin walls, Kayla's cries pierced the silence, each sob a testament to her inner turmoil.
Richmond stood there, conflicted. A part of him yearned to offer comfort, to hold her and soothe away her fears. But his mind rebelled against the thought. "She's the reason for your loss," he reminded himself sternly, trying to stifle the unwelcome surge of empathy.
Turning on his heels, he retreated to his study, determined to drown his thoughts in work. However, focus eluded him; Kayla's sobs echoed in his mind, bringing out emotions he was reluctant to acknowledge. His heart warred with his head, a battle he wasn't sure he wanted to win.
A call from his mother broke the spell, pulling him back to reality. "Mom," he greeted, his voice a mixture of relief and distraction.
"When will you come to see your daughter?" his mother's voice crackled through the phone, a hint of reproach in her tone.
"Soon, Mom. I promise," Richmond replied, a familiar guilt settling in.
"That's what you always say, Richmond. Audrey needs her father," she pressed, her concern evident.
"I'll come for her tomorrow," he conceded, realizing the weight of his responsibilities. "And yes, I've arranged for a nanny."
They exchanged goodnights, and as the call ended, Richmond's thoughts inadvertently drifted back to Kayla. "She'll be Audrey's nanny," he murmured to himself, the decision feeling strangely right despite his reservations.
Standing up, he resolved to get some sleep, hoping to find clarity in the sanctuary of his bedroom. Yet, as he walked, Kayla's sobs continued to haunt him, a reminder of the complex web of emotions he was yet to unravel.