From Best Friend To Fiancé (Savannah and Roman) novel Chapter 56

**TITLE: Dreams Folding Into Broken Time**
**Chapter 56**

“Are you ever going to give me a warning before you throw me around like some rag doll?” she grumbled, her voice laced with playful indignation.

A low, amused chuckle escaped my lips. “That’s a charming question… but the answer is still no.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, sparkling with a mix of disbelief and challenge. “No, no, no. That wasn’t my actual question, Roman.”

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Well, it sounded like a question to me. And I gave you an honest answer.”

“You tricked me!” she protested, her pout deepening, which only made my smirk widen.

“I merely stated the truth,” I replied, enjoying the playful banter. “Now, it’s my turn to ask.”

Her expression shifted, eyes narrowing slightly, but she remained silent, clearly intrigued.

“What did Chloe do at the hospital?” I inquired, leaning back slightly, curious to see her reaction.

Her brows knit together in thought. “Chloe? She… was filming herself in Emily’s room.”

A grin broke across my face. “Bingo, baby.”

Her smile blossomed, and she executed that ridiculously adorable little victory wiggle that had a way of piercing straight through my defenses. “Yes!”

“Now, ask away,” I encouraged, eager to see where this would lead.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she dove in. “Why don’t you want children? Or to settle down? I’m still curious about that.”

The question caught me off guard, jolting me from my casual demeanor. I had anticipated something more along the lines of family dynamics or perhaps Chloe’s antics. Not this. I realized, perhaps too late, that I shouldn’t have opened that door with her.

I kept my expression neutral. “Babies cry. They get sick all the time. They’re… just too much work. They can even pull husbands and wives apart… sometimes.” I lied, knowing that my words were far from the entire truth.

Her gaze was piercing, cutting through my facade like a knife. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“Now that’s another question. You’re breaking the rules,” I countered, trying to deflect.

“You lied. I want my payment,” she insisted, her voice firm, eyes glinting with determination.

“And how do you know that?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Because you just described me with that… And last time I checked, you’re still keeping up with my annoying self even though I cry and I’m too much work.”

I was taken aback. She didn’t realize it, but that sentence had sharp edges, cutting deeper than she might have intended.

I clapped my hands together in mock celebration. “Great thinking, Sav. You’re one smart cookie.” I couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Now it’s time for my payment,” she reminded me, her tone teasing yet serious.

My smirk was instinctive. “What currency are we talking about?”

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