Chapter 18
“Everything?”
“She said you tried to be with her after our divorce.”
His jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
The honesty hurt.
“Were you in love with her?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
He looked at me.
“Because I had destroyed us for a choice involving her, and I was too much of a coward to admit I had destroyed us for nothing.”
I stared at him.
“That might be the stupidest thing you’ve ever done.”
“It is.”
“No argument?”
“None.”
I walked toward him.
“You don’t get me back because Vanessa wasn’t the villain.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get a second chance because you regret what you did.”
“I know.”
“You don’t get to walk into Noah and Lily’s lives and become their father just because biology says you are.”
His face tightened, but he nodded.
“I know.”
I stopped in front of him.
“Then what exactly do you want?”
For several seconds, Adrian Moretti said nothing.
Then the man who had once controlled every room he entered answered me with nothing but uncertainty in his voice.
“A chance to earn whatever you’re willing to give me.”
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Chapter 4: The Father They Chose To Know
I did not forgive Adrian that day.
I did something much harder.
I gave him rules.
He could see Noah and Lily only when I was present.
He would not involve them in Moretti business.
His men would not carry visible weapons around them.
Nobody would call him Boss in front of them.
He would not take them anywhere without asking me.
He would not buy their affection.
When I said that last one, Adrian looked offended.
“I know how to behave around children.”
“You rented an entire hotel floor.”
“That was security.”
“You sent Lily a dress yesterday that cost more than my first car.”
His expression became cautious.
“She liked it.”
“She’s six.”
“That isn’t a denial.”
“Adrian.”
He sighed.
“Fine.”
“And Noah does not need a miniature sports car.”
“It was electric.”
“No.”
“It has a speed limiter.”
“No.”
“Eight miles per hour.”
I stared at him.
“Four.”
I almost smiled.
Then I caught myself.
That happened more often than I liked.