Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lumina (Luna)

I wanted to check who it was. Because I wasn't expecting Xenois but Ollie was faster than me and I could barely grab onto him from running towards the sound of the door.

"Daddy?" Ollie called out, already running toward the hallway.

I followed behind slowly, feeling dread as well as anger. What was he doing home? 

More importantly, why was he here instead of with Sophia and Riley?

Xenois stood in the entryway, looking a bit hesitant like he had been caught doing something wrong. When Ollie threw himself at his father's legs, I saw something flash across his face. It looked a lot like guilt but it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Hey, buddy," he said, his voice sounding cheerful like it was forced. It was odd. Did something happen? "What have you been up to today?"

"I made an art project!" Ollie yelled excitedly waving his hand around as he turned back to check if I was there before tugging at his hand. "Mom said you wouldn't be home, but you are! Come see it!"

Xenois glanced at me over Ollie's head, his expression unreadable. I kept my face intentionally neutral, locking down my emotions. He wouldn't see my pain or anger—not this time.

"Let me see this famous art project then," he said, allowing Ollie to drag him toward the kitchen.

I followed without saying anything, just waiting for the moment where Xenois would eventually fuck up and I'll be the one mending the broken pieces of my son's heart. I watched silently as my son eagerly explained every detail of his creation to a father who was actually paying attention to him and not on his phone. 

Xenois asked questions, pointed out details, and praised Ollie's work. Any other day, it would have warmed my heart and made me think that there was hope for us and maybe we would be able to reconcile our differences. But after knowing what I know now, today, it only made me more suspicious.

"It's getting late, Ollie," I said eventually when I saw that Xenois had no intention of rounding up the small talk as he was conversing with him.

 "Time to get ready for bed."

"But Dad just got home," he protested, although he yawned, a telltale sign that he was fighting sleep just to spend more time with his dad as he didn't know when he would have that chance again.

"Your mom's right," Xenois said, surprising me as I glanced at him, my eyes widening a bit before I focused my attention on Ollie who was watching me carefully with a puzzled look

He looked back at Xenois who was still speaking. "How about I come up and read you a story once you're in your pajamas?"

Ollie's face lit up hearing this as he looked hopeful, his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Really? You promise?"

"Promise," Xenois said, ruffling our son's hair.

As Ollie raced upstairs to prepare, I began clearing the table, keeping my back to Xenois.

 The silence between us was getting longer with nobody saying anything despite having a million things to say.

"You're home early," I finally said, keeping, my voice carefully neutral.

"I got your text," he said. "About Ollie wanting to show me his project."

I turned a bit as I watched him, trying to find something different.

"Since when do you drop everything for a child's art project?"

His jaw tightened at my tone as he stared at me with hints of frustration in his voice. "He's my son."

"Is he?" The words came out before I could stop them but I wasn't going to apologize for it.

 "I sometimes wonder if you remember that."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I shook my head, turning back to the sink. "Nothing. Don't keep Ollie waiting for his story."

I heard Xenois leaving behind me, felt him pause close enough that I could sense his body warmth near mine. For a moment, I thought he might touch me, might try to start healing the bridges that had been burned between us. But then he moved away, his footsteps getting farther as he moved toward the stairs.

Once I was alone, I leaned against the counter, finally allowing myself to feel the full force of my anger. In my past life, I swallowed it down, made excuses, and tried to be understanding with him, giving him a lot of leeway. Not this time. 

This time, I wouldn't break myself trying to hold our family together. This time, I would be strong enough to walk away.

But first, I needed to be sure Ollie would be safe. His health, his heart—both had been broken before by people who were supposed to love him. I wouldn't let it happen again.

I took out my phone and pulled up Dr. Mercer's contact.

 Tomorrow, I would demand the tests that had been pushed aside and dismissed as not important in my previous life. Tomorrow, I would start fighting for my son in ways I hadn't known how to before.

As I headed upstairs, I stopped outside Ollie's room, listening to Xenois's deep voice reading a story about brave wolves and their adventures. 

Ollie's delighted giggles floated through the door, a sound that I swore to protect for as long as I lived.

"Again, Daddy! Please?" He begged holding onto his father arm from where I could see them, the door slightly opened..they hadn't noticed me. Or maybe Xenois had, but wasn't letting it interfere.

"One more time," Xenois agreed, his voice was softer than I'd heard in months. "Then sleep, okay?"

I made it to our bedroom, leaving them to their rare moment of father and son bonding.

Let Ollie cherish this for now. If Xenois was anything like I remembered, soon all his attention will be on Sophia and her son as soon as they arrive in his city.

And once more Ollie would be cast aside.

But this time I was going to make sure that everyone who had a hand will regret this.