ELIJAH'S POV
When Deborah stepped into my office, the air seemed to thicken. She stood there, her chin lifted defiantly, but I could see the slight tremor in her hands as she clutched her purse, waiting for my answer.
But I didn't have one.
"Elijah?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You're right," I gestured to the chair across from my desk. "We need to talk. Please, sit down."
She moved gracefully, lowering herself into the seat. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the weight of our situation hanging between us.
I cleared my throat. "Deborah, I've been thinking about... our situation."
Her eyes flickered with hope. "And?"
I leaned forward, clasping my hands on the desk. "I think we need to be practical about this. We can't keep the baby."
The hope in her eyes extinguished instantly, replaced by a fierce determination. "No," she said firmly. "That's not an option."