Ivy's POV
My mom sobbed into Dad's chest, her voice breaking as she spoke. "Don't say that, Cod. I am so sorry. I betrayed you."
Dad gently tilted her chin up, forcing her tear-filled eyes to meet his. "Look at me, Gra. Never say that. This isn't on you. Everything that's happened over the last seventeen years—all of it was because of my decisions. I realized that a long time ago. I never blamed you, not once."
"Cod, how can you say that?" She closed her eyes as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. "I can't imagine..."
Dad gave her a tender smile that made my heart ache. "Can't imagine what?"
"Why would you forgive me after everything? I treated you so badly. I had to do—"
Dad silenced her with a gentle hand over her mouth. "You did what you had to do to keep our pup safe. Just like I did what I had to do to keep you safe."
"Cody. You can't mean that." The disbelief in her voice broke my heart. How could she not see how deeply he loved her?
