LOGINChapter 98: Telling Alex was Simpler Than She Thought It Would BeAurora’s POVMorning light filtered softly through the curtains, pale and warm, painting Alex’s room in shades of gold. I sat on the floor beside his bed, my back resting against the mattress as I watched him play. He was still in his pajamas—blue ones with little stars scattered across the fabric—his hair tousled from sleep, cheeks flushed with that permanent hint of warmth he always carried.Renald was tucked under his arm, the teddy bear’s worn fur pressed close as Alex pushed one of his toy cars across the rug with careful concentration. He made soft engine noises under his breath, completely absorbed, his world reduced to plastic wheels and imaginary roads.It should have felt peaceful.Instead, my chest was tight, my heart beating just a little too fast from what I was about to do.“Mommy,” he said suddenly, not looking at me. “When can I see magic man again?”How was it that this child was asking for more about J
Chapter 97: The Things He Refused to ChangeJace’s POVI sat in my home office long after the house had gone quiet, my phone lying face-up on the desk like it might accuse me if I looked at it too closely.Aurora was going to tell Alex.The thought alone sent a sharp, unfamiliar rush through my chest—something dangerously close to excitement. I tried to temper it, tried to be rational about it, but I couldn’t stop the images from forming anyway. Alex’s face lighting up. The questions he would ask. The way he might look at me differently once he knew. The way he already called me magic man—as if I were something special instead of the man who had missed the most important years of his life.I exhaled slowly and leaned back in my chair.I should have felt happy, honestly, I felt happy but there was still something heavy and restless in my chest that just refused to settle.I picked up the phone again, my thumb hovering uselessly over the dark screen. Her message replayed in my mind whet
Chapter 96: Right, Goodnight Aurora’s POVKelsey had decided to spend the night here because apparently the work we did was too much for her to even walk straight without falling. I knew that was an exagerration but I went with it.And she also did say something about how she knows Alex would miss her terribly if she just left like that and she was going to spend the night with him.I left them to their devices choosing to take a bath before going to bed. Kelsey would do the same for Alex so I wasn't worried.I had just come out of the bathroom, wearing my bathrobe when I noticed my phone had lig up.I approached the bed and picked it up, frowning when I saw it was a text from Jace.Jace:I know it's late but you never texted. Did you and Alex get home safe?My chest tightened in a way I didn’t appreciate.Of course he was checking in. Of course he would. It was reasonable. And still, it felt like fingers pressing against a bruise I’d spent years pretending wasn’t there anymore.I s
Chapter 95: Refusing To Go Back To The Same Situation As Before Aurora’s POVKelsey didn’t speak right away.She just looked at me—really looked at me—with that careful expression she wore when she was measuring the weight of my words instead of reacting to them.“Are you sure?” she asked finally.I nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”My voice didn’t shake. That alone surprised me.“There’s no reason to keep it hidden anymore,” I continued. “Not from Alex." I leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling for a second before looking at her again. “He already likes Jace. A lot. He talks about him like he’s some kind of superhero. If anything, knowing Jace is his father will just make him happy.”Kelsey studied my face like she was looking for cracks. “And you’re okay with that?”“I am,” I said honestly. “Alex deserves the truth. I won’t let fear decide that for me.”She nodded slowly, accepting that much. Then she tilted her head slightly, eyes sharpening.“And what if,” she said
Chapter 94: The Truth She Was Afraid OfAurora’s POVI gave Kelsey a look and shook my head, hard enough that it made my temples throb.“No,” I said, pushing myself off the couch. “No. That can’t be true.”I started pacing the length of the living room, bare feet brushing against the floor as if movement alone could untangle the mess in my head. My hands moved restlessly—through my hair, over my arms, clasping and unclasping in front of me.“It shouldn’t be true,” I added, my voice sharper now, like I was arguing with an invisible jury. “It can’t be.”Kelsey didn’t interrupt. She just watched me with that steady, infuriating calm she always had when she knew something I didn’t want to admit. And for someone who I was more level headed than to be looking at me like that right now kind of unnerved me.“Do you even believe that?” she asked finally.I stopped short, turning to face her. “It doesn’t matter if I believe it or not.”She raised an eyebrow.“It just shouldn’t be true,” I conti
Chapter 93: The Things She Didn’t SayAurora’s POVBy the time Alex finally fell asleep, the house felt quieter than it should have.Kelsey had given him everything she had, and then some. She sat cross-legged on the living room floor with him, playing a ridiculous card game she made up on the spot, letting him win dramatically every single round. She listened—actually listened—as he talked nonstop about Magic Man. About the shark apron. About helping in the kitchen. About bubbles and prayers and Finding Nemo.He basically told her everything he had told her on the way over, all over again, going on about how he liked Magic Man a lot.She laughed at the right places, asked the right questions, reacted with just the right amount of awe, like everything he said mattered. And to her credit, it did.Alex talked until his words blurred together, eyelids drooping, sentences trailing off into half-finished thoughts. When he finally leaned against her shoulder, thumb tucked into his palm, Kel







