Lisa stood from the bench as soon as she saw Alex under the streetlight.
"Lisa, wait—"
She turned her face away and started walking. Fast. Her chest tightened with every step.
"I don't want to talk, Alex."
"Lisa," his voice was low, urgent, following her. "Please, stop."
But she didn't. She walked faster, her arms crossed over her stomach, shielding herself — from him, from everything. From the truth that kept burning in her veins.
Why now? Why only now, Alex?
When he finally caught her wrist, she snapped.
"Let go of me!" she shouted.
He froze.
Her eyes were filled with tears. "Why, Alex? Why did you have to do that to me?! Why act like nothing happened?! Why pretend like I'm just your adopted little sister? When you knew what you did... when you knew what I've felt all these years!"
He stared at her, speechless.
"You broke me," she whispered, voice trembling. "You ruined everything I built in silence. My heart... it hurts so much I can barely breathe. And you... you're still just standing there, saying nothing."
She yanked her hand free, stepping back.
"I think it's time I leave this family," she said.
"What...?" Alex's voice cracked.
Lisa wiped her tears with the back of her hand. "Mum, Dad, Eli... they don't need to know. No one does. I'll resign from the kindergarten. I'll move out. I'll live somewhere else. I'll be fine. I have to be."
"And the baby?" Alex's voice was quiet, but sharp — like a dagger cutting through the silence.
Lisa stopped breathing.
Slowly, she turned her eyes back to him.
"You knew?" she whispered.
Alex's voice was hoarse. "I had a feeling... I noticed. Your tired eyes. The way you've been touching your stomach. I'm not stupid, Lisa."
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I was going to raise this child alone," she whispered. "You don't have to take responsibility. I don't want anything from you."
But Alex stepped forward, jaw clenched.
"I want to take responsibility."
She shook her head violently. "No. You don't love me. You never did. You were going to marry Mia."
Alex's eyes darkened. "That was before I realized the only woman who ever truly saw me... was you."
Lisa gasped.
"I've always been too much of a coward to admit it," he continued. "But that night... I felt something I never let myself feel. And since then, I can't sleep, I can't think, because all I can see is you."
Lisa's hand trembled.
Alex took another step. "Don't go. Please."
She wanted to run. But her legs betrayed her.
He came closer, and with a soft voice said, "Let me be the father to our child. Let me try... to love you the way you deserve."
Lisa cried harder — because a part of her still didn't trust him... and another part had waited her whole life for this moment.