Chapter Fifty-Three

"You want to what?" Wesley was fuming. He couldn't wrap his head around what could possibly drive his daughter to take care of a person who had caused her so much pain, regardless of if they were a child now or not. "That is not a child. That is a monster who did unspeakable things to you."

"Max is not a monster. He needs someone to teach him what real love is." Esper was not backing down. "Yggdrasil was able to see a spark of good in Max and gave him a second chance. Why can't you?"

Seraph stood and stifled his laughter as he watched the father and daughter go back and forth. Even Esper wasn't actually his daughter; she still wanted his blessing and approval.

Not understanding the heated argument, Maxim ran over to Esper and hugged her leg. He looked up at Wesley and stuck out his lip, making as stern a face as he could. "Don't yell at Mama!"

Wesley paused from the toddler's words and looked down at him, then back up at Esper. He could already see the bond between mother and s