Chapter 173. Regret and Realization

Teyana’s POV

My stepdad stood near the window at first, arms folded, staring out at the parking lot below like he was trying to keep himself together for my sake.

Vance must have informed him, and now he knew about my pregnancy, and that I had aborted his son’s baby. I wondered how that must have felt to him—considering it was after I confronted him and Mariah earlier today.

He finally turned around and approached my bed, “You shouldn’t let Jeremy’s words get to you,” he said gently, pulling the chair beside my bed closer and sitting down. “He was only speaking from a place of anger.”

I stared at the ceiling instead of looking at him.

My body was still heavy, weak in that quiet way that whispered pain into every movement. My lower abdomen ached faintly, like a reminder I couldn’t switch off. My chest hurt more. That one was louder.

John continued, carefully choosing his words like each sentence could either help me breathe or push me furthe