SCANDAL: UNEXPECTED

The air in Olivia's apartment was thick with tension. Fitz had just gone back to the White House after spending the night with her—his new routine. Most nights, he found an excuse to escape, even if it was just for an hour.

But tonight, something felt different.

Olivia sat at the edge of her bed, rubbing slow circles over her belly. Their baby had been kicking more frequently, a constant reminder of how much things were about to change.

A knock at the door broke her thoughts.

She already knew who it was before she even opened it.

Mellie.

Olivia sighed, bracing herself as she pulled the door open.

Mellie stepped inside without an invitation, her arms crossed over her chest. "I need a drink."

Olivia raised a brow. "I'm eight months pregnant. I don't keep alcohol around."

Mellie sighed, shaking her head. "Right. Forgot you're a saint now."

Olivia closed the door behind her. "Mellie, what do you want?"

Mellie turned, her expression unreadable. "He told me."

Olivia froze. "Told you what?"

"That he's stepping down."

A long silence stretched between them.

Mellie let out a bitter laugh. "You know, for years, all I wanted was for Fitz to get out of politics. For him to let go of this obsession with being the golden boy, the hero. And now? Now? The second you have his baby, he's willing to give it all up."

Olivia swallowed. "It's his choice."

"No," Mellie snapped. "It's yours."

Olivia's brows furrowed. "Mellie—"

"Oh, don't play dumb," Mellie cut her off, stepping closer. "You're the only person who can change his mind. And you know it."

Olivia stayed silent.

Because the truth was—Mellie was right.

Fitz wouldn't listen to Cyrus. He wouldn't listen to his advisors, to the press, to his own conscience.

But Olivia?

She was the only one who could convince him to stay.

Mellie let out a slow breath, her voice quieter now. "Do you really want him to walk away from everything? To become the man who gave it all up for his mistress?"

Olivia's stomach churned.

Because that's exactly what the world would call her.

Not the mother of his child. Not the woman he loved.

His mistress.

And Fitz?

His legacy would be ruined.

Mellie took a step back, her voice softer than before. "You've always said you wanted to be on the right side of history, Olivia. Well, now's your chance."

Then, without another word, Mellie turned and left.

And Olivia was left standing there, heart pounding, as the weight of Mellie's words settled deep into her bones.

Sleep didn't come easy for Olivia that night.

Mellie's words played in her mind like a haunting melody—over and over again.

"Do you really want him to walk away from everything?"

"You've always said you wanted to be on the right side of history."

She sat in bed, staring at the ceiling, one hand resting on her belly. Their baby shifted beneath her palm, a reminder of the life they created, the future that was coming whether they were ready or not.

But was this the future she wanted for Fitz?

For their child?

For herself?

Morning came too soon, and with it, a knock at her door.

She already knew who it was.

Fitz stood there, coffee in hand, looking impossibly handsome in his suit. His eyes softened the moment he saw her, taking in her tired face.

"You didn't sleep," he noted, stepping inside.

Olivia shut the door, exhaling. "No."

He frowned, setting the coffee down. "Is something wrong? Is it the baby?"

"No, the baby's fine," she reassured him, but the worry in his eyes didn't fade.

Fitz cupped her face, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "Then what is it?"

She hesitated, closing her eyes for a moment before stepping back.

"You can't step down."

Silence.

Fitz blinked, taken aback. "What?"

She swallowed hard. "You can't leave the presidency, Fitz."

His expression darkened. "We already talked about this."

"No, you talked," Olivia countered, her voice firm. "And I let you believe this was the right choice. But it's not."

Fitz let out a humorless laugh, running a hand through his hair. "So, what? You've suddenly changed your mind?"

"I never wanted you to step down," she admitted. "But I was scared. I thought if I fought you on this, I'd be taking you away from our child. But Fitz... if you walk away now, you're not just giving up the presidency. You're giving up everything you fought for."

Fitz's jaw clenched. "I fought for you. For this. For our family."

"And I love you for that," Olivia whispered. "But I won't let you throw away your legacy."

His eyes flashed. "My legacy doesn't matter to me, Liv."

"But you know it does!" she argued. "You stepping down doesn't just affect you. It affects this country, the people who believed in you. And yes, it affects me. Because I can't be the woman who let the most powerful man in the world throw away his presidency for her."

Fitz stared at her, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths.

Finally, he spoke.

"If I stay, what happens to us?"

Olivia's throat tightened. "We figure it out."

His gaze searched hers. "And if I don't want to figure it out from the White House? If I want to be with you every day, every night, raising our child together?"

Tears burned in her eyes. "Then you have to ask yourself if this was ever about us... or if it was about you wanting a way out."

That hit him like a slap.

He opened his mouth, then closed it, emotions flickering across his face too fast to catch.

He wanted to argue.

But the worst part?

He didn't know if she was wrong.