Our return home was uneventful, quiet in a way that made the night feel longer than it was. Fred had grown unexpectedly close to Mr. Jonas; they hugged with an ease that suggested a bond had been forged. Tanya and Fred parted on good terms, though Fred kept a respectable distance, exactly one arm's length. It looked a bit comical, two people chatting like old friends, separated by an invisible barrier.
Twen stirred from his nap, rubbing his eyes before accepting the ice cream offered to him. He devoured it, still groggy but delighted.
Tanya came over and wrapped me in a warm hug, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Thank you so much for coming," she said with a wide smile. "See you tomorrow at work."
"See you. And happy birthday again," I replied, returning the hug with a smile of my own.
Robbie gave her a short, one-armed hug and murmured for her to take care. Mr. Jonas shook hands with him while Mrs. Teena looked at all of us and said kindly,
"You must come again. I'd love to have you over."
We all nodded and exchanged warm goodbyes. Tanya really does have a beautiful family. As we walked away, I glanced back. They were waving at us, still smiling, and for a fleeting moment, I felt a deep longing stir inside me. I quickly shoved it aside. I had a family. There was no reason to feel like something was missing.
Once the three of us stepped out onto the dimly lit street, Fred turned to say goodbye.
"How are you getting back?" I asked, a little concerned. He'd come with us, without his SUV.
"Cab," he said with a shrug.
"Why? Come with us. We'll drop you," I offered, frowning slightly. The street was deserted, and it didn't feel right to let him wait alone. Robbie looked equally uneasy.
"Don't worry," Fred assured, his voice booming but relaxed. "I've already booked one. It's on the way. Besides, your place and the restaurant are on opposite sides of the city. No point dragging you around."
"If you say so..." I said, still not entirely convinced.
"Bye, Champ. See you again," Fred called out as we were getting into the car.
"Bye-bye, Uncle Fred!" Twen waved enthusiastically.
Robbie started the car, and as we pulled away, I caught a glimpse of a cab turning the corner and heading toward Fred.
"Doesn't he have a chauffeur or someone to bring the car?" Robbie muttered. "Traveling by cab this late isn't exactly smart."
I smiled, hearing the irritation in his tone, even though concern was underneath. Robbie might not like Fred, but he didn't hate him either. In fact, the nights they'd spent drinking together at Fred's restaurant had softened something between them.
"The SUV isn't his. It belongs to the restaurant, part of their VIP services," I explained. "It's used for important clients after large parties or business meetings. He borrows it sometimes, but he doesn't own it."
Robbie blinked, surprised. "Doesn't he have his own car? He doesn't exactly look like someone who can't afford one."
I laughed. "He can afford it, sure. But he refuses to buy one with his father's money. He wants to buy it with his own earnings."
Robbie grunted, sounding both impressed and annoyed. "Didn't know he was that grounded."
"Fred is a strange mix," I said fondly. "Spoiled but principled. He can be annoyingly childish, yet surprisingly mature. It's his duality that makes him so... Fred. You can't help but like him. His biggest flaw is that he never shows weakness."
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about him while you're with me," Robbie said abruptly.
I blinked. "What?"
"I get it, he's your best friend. But I'm still sitting right here. Can you just not?" he added, like a sulky child.
I burst out laughing. "Seriously?"
"I know we aren't official or anything yet, but still..."
"I've told you before, and I'll say it again," I said between laughs. "Fred is a friend. He's always been a friend. It won't change."
"Just don't," he mumbled.
"I'm not taking orders," I teased, reclining against the seat.
"Take it as a favor," Robbie said quietly.
I glanced over at him. His black curls were falling over his forehead, and his gray eyes were focused on the road, but his hands were gripping the steering wheel just a bit too tight. Tanya's words echoed in my mind again—
"Our CEO found his home in you."
Could it really be true? He didn't want me eight years ago. My love meant nothing then. Neither did my pregnancy. And yet, now... he feels different. He acts differently. But can I trust him again?
I watched his face in silence, my chest tightening with conflict. I want to believe him. But it's not just my heart on the line anymore. Twen deserves stability. He deserves someone who will stay.
"Tony, stop staring at me like that. You're distracting me," Robbie said suddenly, the tips of his ears turning red.
"Oh!" I looked away quickly, flustered.
I really need to stop overthinking.
The rest of the drive passed in silence. I drifted in and out of sleep while Twen, tucked in the back seat, was already far into his dreams. When we finally reached home, it was nearly half past eleven.
I stepped out of the car, carefully picking up Twen as Robbie exited and locked the doors.
"You staying the night?" I asked, a little surprised.
Didn't he have some merger deal to prepare for?
"I'll work overtime tomorrow," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me gently into his chest. "Thought I'd recharge here first."
"If that's the case…" I smirked, "Hold him."
Robbie laughed and didn't hesitate. He took Twen into his arms, gently patting his back as he carried him inside. Once in Twen's room, he took off his shoes, cleaned his face with a handkerchief, tucked him in, and kissed his forehead.
I watched quietly from the door, arms crossed, chest full of emotions I couldn't explain. This… is what Twen always wanted, a father who'd tuck him in.
"What's wrong?" Robbie asked softly, shutting the door behind him.
"Nothing," I said, turning away quickly to hide the tears forming in my eyes.
He brushed my hair aside and placed a kiss on the back of my neck, wrapping his arms around me.
"I'll do whatever I can for both of you," he whispered, breathing me in. "Just don't be sad. I want you to be happy."
My lips curled into a smile. He's been so impossibly sweet lately that sometimes I feel like I'm dreaming. Still, there's something I need to ask, something I've carried for far too long.
"Robbie?" I murmured hesitantly.
"Hmm?"
"There's something I want to know."
"Ask."
"Why didn't you break our bond after you left?"
He stilled behind me. His hand froze. His breathing paused. Slowly, he turned me around and met my gaze.
"Why do you want to know that?"
His voice was low, tinged with something I couldn't quite place
"I just... you had every chance to do it. Alphas can break the bond. You could have moved on, found someone else—"
He silenced me with a hand over my mouth.
"Don't," he growled softly. "Don't talk like that."
Then, he cupped my face in both hands, his eyes burning with emotion.
"Don't ever talk about me breaking the bond. That's the only thing that kept me sane... that kept me connected to you. I couldn't lose that."
I nodded against his hands, and he kissed my temple, leading me to the bed. He sat down, took a deep breath, and began.
"After I rejected you, I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was you broken and betrayed. I heard your voice screaming in my ears. I'd wake up in cold sweat, gasping, desperate to forget. I tried everything—booze, drugs, sex—anything to numb it out. But it never worked. I thought about breaking the bond a hundred times. But every time I tried... I just couldn't."
He clenched his fists.
"I couldn't let go of the only thing tying me to you."
I was stunned. I never imagined he'd been through so much. I thought he just... moved on. Had his fun. Lived his life. But I was wrong.
"I didn't realize it until my last year in college," he continued. "Why I couldn't break it. Why it haunted me. It wasn't guilt. I was already in love with you. You'd become a part of me, and living without you felt like walking around with a missing limb."
I stared at him, trembling. I could see the truth in his eyes.
"I went looking for you. The welfare center said you were gone. Your church didn't know. Even your father had no idea. I tried everything. Then, one day, you appeared in front of me. Just like that."
He reached out and held my face again.
"It wasn't a coincidence. It was fate. You're my destiny, Tony."
He looked at me with eyes full of longing.
"Have you read that Paulo Coelho quote?" he asked softly.
'When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.'
"I never believed that stuff," he said, "until you came back into my life."