ia's

something else- a flicker of guilt, perhaps a hint of longing, that began to take shape in his gaze. The man I had once loved and the ma

x is... my son?" The words seemed to struggle to l

art of me wanted to look away. "Yes. He's yours. He's been you

doing it all on my own, had been overwhelming. But in that pain, I had made a decision. I had built a life for Max without

able, his eyes still locked on mine. "But why didn't you

etrayal, or the pain of losing him. It was everything-the way he had left without a word, the way he had just walked away from everything

so hard to forget the way he had left, the way he had refused to listen to my plea for him to

hrough his hair, his eyes distant. "I never knew,

ou chose your career, your life, over me and the family we could have had. I couldn't-" My throat ti

anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but it was mi

but resolute. "I shouldn't have left. I should've

ure if it was too late to fix what had been broken. "It doesn't matter now, Marcus," I said, my voice

s," Marcus insisted, his eyes pleading. "I can't undo what I've d

nto our lives, to give Max the father he deserved. But another part of me-one that had been hurt too many t

aid honestly. "It's been so

t trust me. I know I've lost that right. But I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm

really let him back into our lives? Could I risk openi

but I didn't want to shut him out completely either. "But it's not just about me. It's about Max. H

ief and apprehension. "I'll do whatever

I needed time to process everything. The years of pain, the years of pretendi

us's

g the right thing by leaving, by focusing on my career, my ambitions. I had buried my regrets, hidden them away, and

family, and now I was paying the price. Olivia had done an incredible job raising him on her own, and from the way she spoke, s

my voice filled with remorse. "I shou

e flat, emotionless. "You left

d no excuse. I had abandoned her, and now I ha

ued, my voice shaky. "But I want to try.

stant, lost in thought. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the bat

said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I had earned her distrust. But I wasn't going to give

I'm not the man I was. I'm not the man who left you. I'm t

d, even if just a little, gave me hope. It wasn't

ia's

cus was back in my life, and Max's, whether I was ready or not. I had no idea if I could ever forg

or him. If that meant giving Marcus a chance, then I would. But it would t