ackwood Family Day was alive with energy-children darting between food stalls, employees smiling freel

Aira followed close behind, her heart hammering with unease. Every instinct warned

hted chatter drowne

than my fist?" Liro asked, his

gger. We raise exotic hens here-herit

s eyes widen

ith patience and genuine interest, did something to her chest. Men like him weren't suppos

listening as if Liro

-

d with care. Inside, rows of hens clucked softly, some wandering in open pens.

o many!" he

See that one? That's a Brahma hen. She

?" Liro

re you get one to take home

rly split his f

er son's joy, she couldn't bring herself to speak. Liro had never had a father figure in his life, never

of her that wanted

ny rides, face painting, and even a small petting zoo. Jason walked comfortably beside

he pony?" Liro begge

though her voice was ge

elmet with practiced ease. "You'll be a natur

she was pregnant hadn't even stayed long enough to hear Liro's first heartbeat. Yet his brother,

radictio

, his hand steady on the reins. For a moment, Aira allowed herself to breathe, to imagine

catching hers across the field. Heat spread through her chest at the inten

kly look

him easily, spinning him once before setting him down. Aira swallowed hard. He

sked, brushing ha

Liro

tone careful. "Join me? T

and her son's pleading eyes. Final

was small bu

urgers, corn on the cob, lemonade. He didn't flaunt wealth here; he blended seamle

the kind of coldness that came with too much power. Instead, he was..

his mouth full of corn, holdin

t's sparkling lemona

o asked suddenly, his tone as serious

secret. "I do. And between you and me, I once had a dino

sped. "

her had slipped too easily, too naturally. She stiffened, reminded sharply of the

iro's sake, masking the

walked them back toward the parking lot. Liro's small hand was

id softly, her voice

t need to thank me. I enjoyed it." His eyes lowered brief

hed. "This can'

calm, but his eyes bur

. complicated,"

hat only she could hear. "Life is always com

respond, Liro tugged at her sleeve.

own at him, her hear

r as she led Liro away, his

ugh to know one thing:

how many walls she built, wa