Elsa was as pale as a ghost, her eyes welling up instantly when she saw Austin trapping me in his arms. "I know I have no right to say this, but can you please stay?" she asked, advancing slowly as tears trickled down her cheeks. "I really love you very, very much, Rennie. Everything I've done… It was all because I didn't want to lose you," she said. She reached out to take my hand, but I flinched back. Her hand froze midair, and she cried even harder. "I know I was wrong, but our child is already two years old. She can't be without a father." As though she had gathered every ounce of her resolve, she pulled her phone out of her pocket and presented it to me. A single photo was displayed on the screen. That little girl sat on Austin's shoulders, smiling from ear to ear. Meanwhile, Elsa stood next to them, watching them with a gentle gaze. "Look, Rennie. This is our daughter. Her name is Shalom," Elsa said in a soft and tender voice. "S-h-a-l-o-m, meaning 'peace.' We named
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