Page 116 of Broken Destiny

Laughter filled the room.

After dinner, we all huddled together on the couch and played Ludo while the television murmured in the background.

Lucas argued dramatically over the rules while Emma kept trying to move everyone’s game pieces instead of her own, making all of us burst into amused groans every few minutes. Milo and Oreo sprawled across the floor between us, their tails thumping lazily whenever the children squealed excitedly.

As the night wore on, the energy slowly faded.

Lucas began rubbing his eyes between turns while Emma’s words became sleepy and slurred. Both children fought to stay awake, stubbornly insisting they were not tired even as their yawns grew bigger.Within the hour, they drifted off against the couch cushions, their small bodies warm and heavy beside us.

“Any plans for tomorrow?” Caleb asked from behind me as he gently lifted Lucas into his arms and carried him upstairs to his bedroom.

“I promised to take them to the farm tomorrow,” I replied, holding Emma carefully against my good side.

“That’s great.”

“Would you like to join us, or are you going back now?” I asked.

My heart raced as I waited for his answer.

I wanted him to share that simple day with us, to laugh with the children, to be part of our world, even if only for a little while longer.

“I’m staying at the hotel this weekend. I have some business to take care of here,” he said, pausing before continuing. “I’d be more than happy to join you tomorrow.”

He tucked Lucas into bed, pulling the blanket up to his chin and smoothing his hair back. Then he walked toward me and carefully lifted Emma from my arms.

“Let me,” he said softly.

I watched as he carried her to her room, cradling her.

He laid her down gently on the bed and tucked her in, adjusting the blanket around her small body with the same careful attention he had given Lucas.

Standing there in the doorway, I blinked back the tears in my eyes.

Father and daughter.

The sight rooted me to the doorway. I wished I could freeze that moment forever and hold on to it for the rest of my life.

Would this be the right time to tell him? Would he forgive me for keeping this secret from him, or would doubt cloud his eyes? Would he accept Emma as his child, or would he turn away from us both?

Guilt coiled tightly inside me as I watched them together.

Our daughter.

He and Emma were growing closer every day, building a bond without realizing who they truly were to each other. By staying silent,I was cheating him out of the truth, withholding something that rightfully belonged to him.

Walking back downstairs together, he turned toward me and said, “Why don’t you guys come to the hotel for breakfast tomorrow, and we can go to the farm after that?”

“That sounds great,” I replied.

A minute later, we found ourselves standing at the front door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked, his voice gentle, his gaze steady.

Lowering my eyes, I nodded slowly.

I did not want him to leave. Every part of me longed for him to stay, to close the distance between us and hold me the way he once had.

When I lifted my gaze to meet his again, time slowed.