Kai's POV
"I don't want to go."
River plants his feet on the apartment floor, arms crossed exactly like I do when I'm being stubborn. Luna clutches her favorite stuffed rabbit, her amber eyes—Ethan's eyes—wide with worry.
"We talked about this, buddy." I kneel down, trying to keep my voice steady even though my heart is racing. "Remember? We're meeting someone special today."
"Uncle Ade is special," River argues. "Why do we need someone else?"
Because your real father just found out you exist and hasn't stopped crying for three days. Because Victor Cross broke into our home and proved we're not safe anymore. Because whether I like it or not, Ethan has the power to protect you in ways I can't.
But I can't say any of that to a four-year-old.
"Uncle Ade will be there too," I promise. "He's coming with us."
Luna tugs my sleeve. "Is it the sad man from the airport? The one with the flowers?"
My chest tightens. "Yes, sweetheart. That's him."
"Why was he sad?"
"Because—" My voice catches. How do I explain this? "Because he missed us very much."
Adrian appears in the doorway, his security team positioned outside. Since the break-in three days ago, he's insisted on twenty-four-hour protection. I wanted to argue, but the message painted on my wall keeps flashing through my mind.
"These bastards don't deserve the Cross name."
"Ready?" Adrian asks gently.
No. I'm not ready. I'll never be ready to watch my children meet the man who destroyed me.
But they deserve a father. And Ethan deserves a chance to be one.
"Let's go," I say.
The park is crawling with security.
I spot them immediately—suited men trying to blend in as joggers and dog walkers. Ethan's doing, obviously. He's not taking any chances after his father's threat.
And there he is.
Ethan stands by the playground, holding two gift bags and looking like he might throw up. When he sees us approaching, his whole body goes rigid. He's terrified.
Good. He should be terrified. These are his children. The ones he didn't know existed. The ones his father called bastards.
River's hand tightens in mine. Luna hides behind my leg.
"River, Luna," I say softly, kneeling down between them. My hands shake as I touch their faces. "This is Ethan. He's... he's your father."
Silence.
River's eyes narrow with suspicion. "Our father? The one who couldn't be with us?"
The words hit me like a punch. That's what I told them. That their father couldn't be with us. Not that he didn't want to be—I never said that. But now, seeing Ethan's face crumble at River's question, I wonder if I should have prepared this moment better.
"Yes," I manage. "But he wants to be with us now. If that's okay with you."
Luna peeks out from behind my leg. She studies Ethan with those too-smart eyes, tilting her head like she's solving a puzzle. Then she walks right up to him.
My breath stops. Adrian tenses on the nearby bench.
"You have my eyes," Luna announces, staring up at Ethan.
Ethan drops to his knees so fast it must hurt. His hands hover near her, wanting to touch but not daring to. "You have your grandmother's eyes," he says, and his voice breaks. "She would have loved you so much."
"Where is she?" Luna asks innocently.
"She's in heaven, sweetheart. But I'll tell you all about her. I'll tell you everything. About her paintings and her garden and how she made the best chocolate chip cookies in the world—" He stops, overwhelmed.
River steps forward, still holding my hand like a lifeline. His small face is serious. Too serious for a four-year-old.
"Did you make our daddy cry?" he demands. "Sophie said you hurt him."
Oh god. When did River talk to Sophie? I should have known she'd find a way.
Ethan doesn't lie. Doesn't make excuses. He looks my son—our son—straight in the eye and says, "Yes. I made the biggest mistake of my life. I hurt your daddy very badly, and I'll never forgive myself. I don't expect you to forgive me either. I just..." His voice cracks. "I just want to know you. If you'll let me."
River stares at him for a long moment. Then: "Do you like bugs?"
Ethan blinks. "I... what?"
"Bugs. Do you like bugs?" River's tone suggests this is the most important question in the world. "Because I'm going to be a scientist and study bugs when I grow up. Especially beetles. Did you know there are over 400,000 species of beetles?"
A laugh bubbles out of Ethan—half sob, half joy. "I think bugs are fascinating. Will you teach me about them?"
River's suspicious look softens just a fraction. "Okay. But if you hurt Daddy again, Uncle Ade will beat you up."
From the bench, Adrian coughs to cover his laugh.
"That's fair," Ethan says seriously. "I deserve that."
Luna tugs on Ethan's sleeve. "I brought my rabbit. Her name is Starlight. Do you want to meet her?"
"I would love to meet Starlight," Ethan says, and the tenderness in his voice makes my eyes burn.
The gift bags hold exactly the right things—a magnifying glass and bug-catching kit for River, an art set with every color imaginable for Luna. He remembered what I told him at dinner. He listened.
The next hour passes in a blur. Ethan pushes the twins on swings, his laughter mixing with theirs. He helps Luna search for pretty rocks, praising each one like it's a diamond. He crouches in the grass while River explains beetle anatomy with intense four-year-old focus.
And I watch. Heart aching. Walls cracking.
This is what we should have had five years ago. This is what his father stole from us.
"They're good together," Adrian says quietly, appearing beside me. His jaw is tight. "He's good with them."
"I know."
"You're falling for him again."
It's not a question. Adrian knows me too well.
"I don't know what I'm feeling," I admit. "He broke me, Ade. But he's their father. And they're so happy—"
"Daddy! Papa! Look!" Luna's voice rings out.
Papa. She called him Papa.
I look over. Luna is swinging between Ethan and me, holding both our hands. River runs ahead, chasing a butterfly.
"This is fun!" Luna giggles. "Can we do this again?"
Ethan looks at me over her head. Hope and fear and love shine in his eyes. "Can we?" he asks softly.
Before I can answer, my phone rings.
Unknown number.
I almost don't answer. But something—instinct, maybe—makes me pick up.
"Hello?"
Heavy breathing. Then a voice that makes my blood turn to ice.
"Enjoying your little family reunion?" Victor Cross's voice drips with venom. "How sweet. Too bad it won't last."
"Don't you dare—"
"Look up, omega. I want you to see this."
My head snaps up. Across the park, a black car idles at the entrance. The back window rolls down.
Victor Cross stares directly at me. At my children.
He smiles.
Then he holds up a folder. Even from this distance, I can see the label: "RIVERS - CUSTODY PETITION."
"See you in court," Victor says. "By the time I'm done, those bastards will be in foster care, and you'll never see them again."
The line goes dead.
Ethan sees my face. "Kai? What's wrong?"
I can't speak. Can't breathe. Can only stare as Victor's car drives away, taking my entire world with it.
"Kai!" Ethan grabs my shoulders. "What happened?"
"Your father," I whisper. "He's suing for custody. He's trying to take my babies."