LOGINThe moment Keith leaned in close to Amelia, Christopher's grip tightened around his pen until his knuckles turned white, a sharp ache twisting in his chest.But he didn't say a word. He just watched.He knew he didn't have the right to interfere in Amelia's life anymore.What she said yesterday, about facing things together, kept echoing in his head. They stirred something in him, something warm and painful all at once, leaving him no choice but to bury everything under silence.Darell cleared his throat and called the meeting to order."Today, we're focusing on the supply timeline for the drone's core components, along with next week's field testing schedule."He turned slightly. "Mr. Zephyr, how's resource coordination on your end?"Christopher pulled his gaze away, his voice calm and even. "The infrared modules have already been delivered to the Academy's storage facility. The composite material samples will arrive tomorrow. As for the test site and equipment, everything's
Christopher froze for a second. He didn't say a word.An odd, heavy silence settled between him and Amelia.Amelia studied the tight line of his jaw, then asked again, softer but more direct, "Are you still hung up on whether you're going to accept Evelyn as your daughter?"The question caught in his throat. His Adam's apple bobbed as his gaze drifted toward the bedroom door.From inside, there was the faint rustle of Evelyn flipping through the pages.He looked back at Amelia, his voice firm, leaving no room for doubt. "Of course, I accept her. She's my daughter. She has been since the day she was born."The words landed in Amelia's chest like a stone dropping into still water. The tension she had been holding onto finally loosened.She stepped closer until there was barely a two-foot distance between them, her voice dropping to a quiet murmur. "Then what's really bothering you lately? Is it Jayden or the car crash? Whatever it is, can't we face it together?"Christopher's bod
"Alright." Christopher took the workbook from Evelyn and started walking her through the problem, patient and steady.His voice stayed low as he worked through each step on the scratch paper, carefully laying everything out.Evelyn watched him closely, then scooted a little closer until her small body leaned softly against him. Christopher wasn't used to that kind of closeness, and when she pressed in, he stiffened slightly, unsure what to do.He could handle billion-dollar deals without blinking, but sitting here with his own daughter, he felt completely out of his depth.He pressed his lips together, forcing himself to settle.Whenever Evelyn got stuck, he explained it a different way, taking his time until she finally nodded in understanding."Wow, you're amazing, Daddy." Evelyn clapped her hands, staring at the finished answer with bright excitement. "You explain it way better than Mommy!"Christopher looked at her smiling face, his eyes brimming with gentleness.He reach
Christopher gently patted Evelyn's back and handed her the snack bag he had been holding. "There are your favorite strawberry cookies in there, and that bunny plush you said you wanted."Evelyn took the bag and eagerly opened it. The moment she saw the plush bunny, her eyes curved into happy little crescents.But after that first burst of excitement, her movements slowly turned careful. She clutched the toy tightly, no longer hugging Christopher around the neck the way she had just moments ago.She remembered how it used to be.Every time she called him "Daddy," he would frown and tell her not to call him that. Only Nathan was allowed to say it.A small flicker of fear crept into Evelyn's chest as she wondered if he would get upset again.Christopher noticed the shift almost immediately.He saw the hesitation in her eyes, and something in his chest tightened, sharp and aching.He knew exactly why.He had been cold and distant before.And now, even a simple "Daddy" made his da
Kids are simple. They don't overthink things or twist meanings the way adults do.-By 5 p.m., the office building at the Academy of Aerospace had mostly quieted down.Amelia stared at the drone design on her computer screen, but her fingers hovered over the keyboard without moving.The clock in the corner kept ticking forward, a steady reminder that it was time to pick Evelyn up from school.Her mind drifted back to Christopher's expression the night before.She frowned slightly, hesitated for a few seconds, then reached for her phone. She pulled up a number she knew by heart and hit call.It rang three times before he picked up."Hello?" Christopher's voice came through the line."It's me." Amelia's tone was tight. "Something came up at work, and I can't leave right now. Where are you? Could you pick Evie up for me?"There was a brief pause on the other end. She could hear faint traffic noise, along with the quiet rhythm of his breathing.A flicker of unease crept into her
Amelia paused.Christopher's apology came out of nowhere.Her throat tightened, as if something was caught there.She looked into his eyes and saw the weight in them, the complicated emotions churning beneath the surface.Depression wasn't something light.Even Jessica, someone as professional as she was, had said his condition was serious.Amelia's lips parted slightly, and she took a breath. "Don't overthink it. No matter what you decided back then, you did it because you thought it was best for Evie and me. You just chose the way you believed was right."She gave a faint smile. "I don't blame you. And maybe one day, you'll be able to really open up and tell me what you've been carrying all this time."Christopher's chest sank. Hearing her try so hard to comfort him only made it worse.He had made the wrong choices. He had let her and their daughter carry the consequences for years. And now, in the end, she was the one comforting him.That hurt more than any accusation ev
At Lucia's words, Christopher halted in his footsteps."That's a doctor from the hospital. Amelia's uncle is sick, and they're discussing his treatment plan." He looked calmly at Lucia and asked, "Do you have some sort of prejudice against her?"Lucia was stunned by his question.She mumbled unde
Amelia was making it clear that she wasn't here for Christopher. Why would she wear a gown he prepared for her?Christopher's outdated mindset assumed that she liked something conservative. However, that wasn't true. Amelia used to dress that way to adhere to the expectations of the Zephyr househ
Amelia knew that Gerald was a fair and righteous man.However, she also knew the tricks that Christopher was capable of.Gerald couldn't always come to her defense. On the other hand, Christopher could make a move on her anytime he wanted revenge. They even had a binding agreement.There was no n
Christopher fell silent at Dorothy's words, his face unchanged."Nicole grew up with you, and you should help her, but not at Mia's expense. Do you understand where I'm coming from?"Dorothy held her phone in one hand as she trimmed the bushes in the garden with the other.Christopher and Nicole







