Chapter 141: Too Late to Be a Father

KATHRYN'S POVI did not stop.Because if I stopped I would have to think about my feelings. I was not ready for that right now.I kept talking. My voice became colder. "You want to talk about knowing things?" I said. "You want to act like you were just unlucky like things just did not work out at the time?"I shook my head.Iris was standing in front of me. I did not want him to think he was a part of my life. "You do not get to stand in front of me and act like you were part of any of this " I said.Iris took a breath.I saw him trying to calm himself down before he spoke. "I never stopped thinking about you " he said.For a moment I felt something inside me.. It was not a good feeling. It was anger. I was angry because he was saying this now when it was too late."That is not love " I said. "That is guilt."Iris flinched when I said that.I took a step closer to him. "You do not get to come after all these years and think you can just be a part of my life again " I said, my voice qu

Chapter 142: The Day the Masks Slipped

KATHRYN POVThe door was already half open.Jacob was inside the room.Course Jacob was inside the room.He was seated behind his desk like Jacob's world had never been disrupted.It was like custody battles were normal appointments for Jacob, not huge problems.Like people did not break into the spaces Jacob controlled.He looked up when we entered the room.And for a short time. So short it could have been imagined. Something changed in Jacob's face.It was recognition.Then Jacob's normal calm face returned, like a mask being put on.Jacob said calmly "Well this is becoming a pattern " while leaning back in his chair with his fingers around a glass.Iris stepped forward.There was no hesitation now.No softness in Iris.Iris said, "I want to see Celine ". It was not a question.It was not a demand that sounded polite.It was a statement that assumed saying no was not an option for Jacob.Jacob did not move.Jacob studied Iris, like a man looking at something that had entered Jacob'

Chapter 143: The Ghost of the Wedding Night

KATHRYN POVEven Jacob did not respond away and I saw his fingers grip the base of his glass tightly for a moment before he put it down again being very careful. The room felt smaller than it was a minute ago like the walls were listening in now.I told myself Kathryn do not move, because this is not over yet.Jacob leaned forward a little like he thought he could take control by being closer. "You are guessing what someone meant " he said, being careful with his words now. "Be very careful what you say, Iris because if you cannot prove it you could be in trouble for saying something about someone."Iris's face did not change,. I saw something in his eyes become clear and strong. "Then I will prove it " he said and he was not bragging he was just decided.I looked at Jacob's face. It was calm again but it was not easy for him to keep it that way. He was working to stay in control. That made a difference.Jacob stood up slowly. When he did the room seemed to move around him like it was

Chapter 144: After the Truth Came the Fight

IRIS POVThat one word was still sitting in my chest like something that had not decided whether it was sorrow or responsibility.I walked to the window because I needed to stop looking at Kathryn's face for a moment needed to see something that was not a memory or a consequence or a child I had not known I had.Outside the city did not care.It never does.It just keeps going like people do not rebuild their lives in a kitchen at night.Behind me, Kathryn did not speak.She did not interrupt the silence. Somehow that silence felt heavier than anything Kathryn had said so far.I pressed my palm lightly against the glass not because I needed balance but because I needed something that was not Kathryn's voice.In my head, everything kept repeating.Kathryn's daughter has my eyes.Kathryn's daughter is five years old.Kathryn kept it alone.I turned back slowly.Kathryn was still sitting there hands folded tightly like if she loosened them she might fall apart completely.I realized some

Chapter 145: The Edge of Goodbye

IRIS POVI did not think.I moved before I could think about what I was doing because watching Kathryn pack her things felt like watching something bad happen in motion and my body did not want to accept that it was already happening."Kathryn " I said, her name coming out louder than I meant it to like I could stop her with my voice alone.She did not turn around.She kept folding her clothes, carefully and precisely in a way that did not match the shaking in her voice earlier like she had decided that if she moved carefully enough she would not feel anything."I said I am leaving " she repeated, quieter like she was trying to make it final before I could turn it into a conversation.That is when I crossed the room.Not slowly.Not carefully.Fast enough that she finally looked up."Kathryn stop " I said, my voice lower now because I could hear how close I was to losing control of my tone. "Do not do this. Not like this."She breathed out sharply like a laugh without any humor."Ther

Chapter 146: The Petition

IRIS POVThe moment Kathryn stopped trying to pull from me I felt the fight leave her body although she still looked really exhausted and that exhaustion worried me more than her anger ever could.She stood in front of me for a second without a word, my hands still holding hers, and I realized that neither of us was arguing anymore. We were just done fighting.We were tired of everything.Tired of Jacob.Tired of all the secrets.Tired of losing all the time.Most of all tired of surviving one thing only to go into another.Finally, Kathryn looked down. Let out a long sigh.It was not like she was agreeing with me.It was more like she was accepting reality.Not Jacob's reality,. Ours."I will stay," she said quietly.Those words were small. They made me feel a little better for the first time all night.Her eyes went to the packed suitcase on the bed and her face got tight again."Not because you think everything will be okay," she said quickly. "Not because I think this will work ou