Masuk"It was a business dinner. And then he stopped by with papers. That's all." I was too tired to pretend. "Carter, the twins just asked me why you don't live here. Asked me why our daddy left." Silence on his end. Then: "What did you tell them?" "The truth. That you didn't know they existed at first
This was the conversation Carter had wanted to have. The one I'd said they weren't ready for. Except August was ready. August was asking directly. And I couldn't keep avoiding it just because it was hard. "When I told Daddy I was pregnant with you and James, he didn't believe me." The truth, simple
"But Daddy is good now." August said it with certainty. "He's trying really hard. I can tell he's trying. Why isn't that enough?" "Sometimes trying isn't enough, baby. Sometimes people hurt each other so badly that fixing it takes a very long time." I was crying harder now. "But that doesn't mean D
GRACE'S POV Ethan left thirty minutes after he arrived, papers signed, merger details confirmed, everything professional and appropriate. But August had been quiet since Ethan walked out the door. Not his usual thoughtful quiet where he was processing information. Different quiet. Closed off quiet
"I'm fine. Just tired." I was about to leave, about to escape before I said something I'd regret, when I saw a car pull into Grace's driveway. Not Grace's car. A black SUV I didn't recognize. Ethan Cross stepped out. Walked to Grace's front door like he'd been here before. Knocked instead of using
"Carter." Dr. Chen's voice was gentle. "You're not going to lose August and James. You're their father. That's permanent. Whatever happens between you and Grace doesn't change that." "But it changes whether I get to be part of their family or just the weekend dad who shows up for scheduled visits."







