Page 262 of Secret Heir For The Billionaire Twin

“I’m going to watch TV,” he tells me.

“Okay,” I say. “Keep the volume reasonable.”

“I know.”

He disappears down the short hallway with the model tucked against his chest. The television comes on a moment later. Julian and I are left standing near the dining table. The quiet feels different now.

For a moment, neither of us says anything, and I can still hear Theo shifting things around in the other room. Julian looks toward the hallway before turning back to me.

“I want to be clear about something.”

I fold my arms loosely across my chest.

“Okay.”

“I’m not bringing lawyers into this unless you force me to.”

My shoulders tense despite the way he says it.

Julian notices. “That came out harsher than I meant.”

“It did.”

He exhales.

“I’m not interested in taking Theo away from you. I’m not interested in dragging him into some custody fight, changing his school, or dismantling the life he already has here.”

I study him carefully.

“What are you interested in?” I ask.

Julian’s expression shifts.

“Being his father.”

The answer is simple enough that it catches me off guard. He continues before I can respond.

“I want time with him. I want to know what his days look like. Eventually, I want to pick him up from school. Have dinner with him. Spend weekends with him when he’s comfortable with that. I want him to be able to call me because something happened at school or because he built something and wants to show me.”

My throat tightens.

Julian keeps his voice even.

“I missed too much already. I know I don’t get to walk in here and demand those years back.”

“No,” I say quietly. “You don’t.”

“I know.”

That is what stops me from getting defensive.

He is not arguing with me.

He is not trying to win.

He is telling me what he wants and leaving room for Theo inside it.

I look toward the family room.