She pushed Mitchel hard, but he kept at it.

When Mitchel noticed that she was no longer kissing him back, he paused but still held on to her.

The phone kept vibrating. Raegan turned her face away.

After a moment of silence, Mitchel stood up and went to the balcony to answer the call.

The door that led to the balcony was ajar. Raegan vaguely heard a woman's soft sobs coming from the other end. Mitchel said a few words in a low magnetic voice.

Although she couldn't make out what they were talking about, she could tell from the tone that Mitchel was trying to comfort that woman.

Raegan withdrew her eyes and then looked down at the bruises on her palm which were freshly cleaned. The pain in her hand was nowhere near the one in her heart.

More than ever before, Raegan knew she was heartbroken.

Mitchel walked back. He bent over and picked up his car key from the table. He had buttoned up his shirt and his face was cold and noble now.

He looked at Raegan and parted his lips, but he closed them on second thought.

At last, he said, "Dinner is on the table. Eat it and then go to bed early."

His lips were cold but plump from all the kissing.

"Don't go, Mitchel..."

As soon as Mitchel spun around, Raegan jumped up and hugged him from behind. Her voice trembled.

She couldn't look him in the eye for fear that she wouldn't have the guts to air her feelings.

She wanted to tell him to stay with her instead of rushing over to Lauren whenever Lauren called.

But the words got stuck in her throat.

Despite knowing that she was throwing herself at him cheaply, Raegan was willing to have a try for the sake of her baby.

She was trying to stay afloat before the waves swept her away.

Raegan promised herself to ask him to stay just this once.