So Selfless He Lost Me

My boyfriend, Jacob Torrance, claimed he hated being touched.

Five years together, and all I got were stiff hand-holds and the rare side-hug.

Even in bed, he kept his distance.

I figured he was just emotionally shut off.

Then he dropped this: he wanted a kid—with his mentor's daughter.

"Take it as a sperm donation," he said. "Dr. Lynn asked me before he died. Wendy's got no one else."

I smiled. "You don't have to explain. I support you."

When you're over someone, there's no point fighting about what's right or wrong.

Jacob Torrance and I were together five years.

Day one, he laid it out: "I'm not comfortable with too much physical affection. If that's something you need, I get it if you want to walk away."

I figured it was just one of those genius quirks, so I brushed it off. We held hands, hugged now and then—nothing past that.

Then everything flipped.

Dr. Lynn, Jacob's longtime mentor and career gatekeeper, landed in critical condition.

The second Jacob got the call, Jacob threw on whatever was nearby and bolted to the hospital.

Didn't come back till morning, looking wrecked and quiet.

We were halfway through breakfast when he said it:

"I'm planning to have a child with Wendy."

I froze. Thought I misheard. "Sorry, what?"

His tone didn't even change. "Dr. Lynn doesn't have much time left. His biggest wish is to see his daughter settle down with someone reliable. He's done a lot for me. I owe him."

I was stunned. "But... she could find someone else. Wendy can get a boyfriend or—"

Jacob rubbed his forehead, cutting me off. "Feelings don't work like that. And it's just a kid. I'm basically donating sperm. It's not like I'm marrying her."

He said it like he was talking about running errands.

I slammed my fork down, eyes locked on his. "Jacob Torrance, do you even hear yourself? We're getting married in a month, and you're telling me you're having a baby with someone else?"

His brow twitched, eyes flashing with that quiet, irritated look he always gave when I didn't fall in line. "Wendy's Dr. Lynn's daughter. She's like a sister."

I snapped. "Since when does a sister ask her brother to knock her up?!"

I couldn't wrap my head around it. None of it made sense.

Jacob flinched for half a second, then slipped right back into that blank, unbothered look.

"Nina, don't be unreasonable, I—"

His phone rang mid-sentence. He answered, and whatever was said made his face change.

"Okay. I'll be right there."

He stood, didn't even look at me, and rushed out.

The breakfast I'd made? He left it untouched—barely sipped the cream soup.

As the door clicked shut, all the strength just vanished. I dropped into the chair, numb.

When did it all start falling apart?

I kept thinking back to college—back when Jacob was this cold, untouchable guy.

Anyone who tried getting close? Shut down, fast.

People even whispered he didn't like