Chapter 32
My eyes darted to Sloane behind me. I sighed, stood, and walked to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pressed a kiss to the hollow of her shoulder, pulling her closer until her back curved against me.
"You should've told me," I whispered. "I should've stayed."
She chuckled and turned to face me.
I loosened my grip and straightened, watching her lean against the vanity.
"Aren't you the one who decided to leave?
" she asked. Her smile was small, but it reached her eyes.
"I tried to tell you—so many times, Ro. I came to you more times than I can count, but you kept running. What else was I supposed to do?"
"I didn't know we could conceive back then." My throat tightened. "When did you find out? How long did you know you were pregnant?"
"The same day you broke up with me." She shrugged, then pushed off the vanity and walked past me. "I even tried to reach out to your mother, to tell her I was carrying the heir to your family, but I never heard back."
My brows drew together. "You did what?"
She arched a brow. "Auntie would've told you if I had. So I figured she was the one I should go to. Isn't that why you—" She cut herself off and let out a bitter laugh. "God, the stress I went through after that."
"Sol." I reached for her hand, my other hand dragging across my face as if to wipe away everything I couldn't say. "When did you try to reach out to my mother?"
Tilting her head, she clicked her tongue. "Near the end of my first trimester. I'm sure she told you. You even had someone following me back then. I figured you really wanted me out of your life if you went that far."
The knot in my brow deepened as I tried to process her words. I shook my head slowly. "I didn't..." My voice broke. I swallowed hard. "Sol, I never ordered anyone—"
A knock at the door cut me off.
Both of us turned toward the door, but Sloane moved first. She opened it to find Dione standing there, clutching a life-size teddy bear.
"Dione? Why aren't you asleep yet?" Sloane asked, swinging the door wider.
"Mommy, can I sleep here with you and Pops?" Dione's eyes flicked between us, hopeful.
Sloane glanced at me, then back at our daughter. "Sweetie, don't you have your own room?"
"She can sleep here, Sol," I cut in gently.
Both Sloane and Dione looked at me.
Dione broke into a grin, while Sloane sighed and rubbed her temple.
"You two just met and you're already spoiling her," she muttered, shaking her head before patting Dione's hair.
"Fine, you heard your Pops." She ushered Dione inside and closed the door.
Dione bounded over to me, hugging me tightly before clambering onto the bed and perching at the edge. Sloane scoffed under her breath, then nudged me toward the mattress. "Bedtime," she said firmly.
I chuckled, moving to the left side of the bed while Sloane took the right. She gestured toward the center. "Scoot over a little, Sweetie," she told Dione.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stretched my legs across the mattress and adjusted my pillow against the headboard before leaning back.
On the other side, Sloane slipped beneath the blanket, settling in as she propped herself against the headboard and straightened the pillow where Dione was curled up.
"Good night, Mommy," Dione said, sitting up to wrap her arms around Sloane and kiss her cheek.
"Good night, Sweetie." Sloane poked Dione's nose before tucking herself under the blanket.
I can't help smiling at the sight of them.
"Pops, good night!" Dione chirped, darting over to give me a quick kiss on the cheek. The sudden gesture catches me off guard, but laughter escapes as I hug her back.
"Good night, kiddo," I murmured, warmth tightening my chest.
She tilted her head, glancing between me and her mother. "Pops, you should give Mommy a good night kiss, too."
Heat rushed to my face. When I glanced at Sloane, she's already watching me.
"Right," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat as I cleared it. Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Good night, Sloey."
Dione lets out a delighted squeal, and I laugh while Sloane muffles her own flustered smile by swatting her with a pillow. "Sleep now, you little devil," she said, though the pink still lingers across her cheeks.
Dione giggles, hugging her teddy bear as she nestles in the middle of the bed.
"I'm so happy," she said, making both of us look her way.
She glanced at me, then at Sloane, her grin wide.
"I have a complete family now. Thank you, Mommy, for letting me meet Pops Aurie. "
Sloane reached out and playfully ruffled her hair. She doesn't answer, but a soft smile lingered on her lips as she lay down beside her daughter.
Dione snuggled closer to her mother, then stretched out to grab my hand, tugging insistently. "Pops, come here. We should sleep really close together since you haven't been with us for so long," she announces, pulling me toward them.
I can't help but smile as I move closer. She guided my hand onto her small tummy, then took her mother's hand and set it gently on top of mine, trapping us together.
"Thank you, Mommy, Pops, for making my birthday wish come true. I'm really happy," Dione said, giggling as she clutched both our hands.
A quiet hum escaped me as I watched her, then I lifted my gaze to Sloane. "No... thank you, both of you," I said softly. "For making my life complete."
Our eyes met across the pillow, holding in silence while Dione's innocent chatter filled the space between us.
Thank you for coming back into my life, Sol—for letting me see our daughter. I am beyond grateful.
That night, I fell asleep with a smile on my face, at peace for the first time in years. How I wish time would slow, just enough for me to savor this—my wife, my daughter, my family. That is all I want to hope for.
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My hand paused as I looked at Sloane, then at Dione, who was happily eating beside me. I tilted my head, sighed, and set my cutlery down before turning in my chair to face her.
"And why exactly do you want to come with me to the office?" I asked, reaching for my glass of fresh orange juice and taking a sip.
Across from me, Sloane glanced up briefly from her tablet, listening.
"I just want to see your workstation, Pops," Dione grinned, popping a cube of apple into her mouth.
I chuckled, reaching over to pat her head. "That's not a bad idea... but—" I turned toward Sloane. "I think we need to get Mommy's approval first."
Dione's eyes lit up as she swiveled toward her mother. "Mommy? Can I go with Pops to her office?"
Sloane set her tablet aside, exhaling as she clasped her hands together on the table. Her gaze was steady, a little too stern. "Ro, the thing is... no one knows we even have a child together. Much less—" she motioned at Dione, "a tween daughter."
I met her eyes, then looked at Dione. "That's exactly why she should come. It's time they knew."
Sloane pierced a sausage with her fork, cutting it into precise little bites.
"Ro... Dione's been using my surname. If you suddenly claim her—" she hesitated, lowering her voice.
"I mean... are you considered her father?
It's your semen, but..." Her expression flickered with unease.
"Sloey," I said gently, smiling at her. "We can work it out. Let's fix Dione's papers, let her carry my name. I'm just as responsible for her as you are. And besides—she's going to inherit both of our legacies one day."
Sloane didn't respond immediately. She looked at me, then at our daughter. "Sweetheart," she said carefully, "do you really want to go with Pops to her office?"
Dione's grin widened, earnest and bright. "Please, Mommy? I want to see her workstation—and her designs." She pressed her hands together, lips pursed in a pleading smile.
With an audible sigh, Sloane nodded. "Alright," she said, taking a bite of her sausage. "Just make sure you don't wander off alone, okay? I don't want you causing trouble at Pops' office."
"Yes, ma'am!" Dione grinned, giving her mother a playful salute.
When breakfast ended, Sloane pulled me aside while Dione went to her room for a bath. She glanced down the hallway, as though double-checking that Dione was really gone, before turning back to me.
"Let's talk," she said.
Her shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath. "Ro, aren't we going too fast with this? Yes, Dione is yours too, but making it public right now? She's twelve. I don't think we should expose her to this world yet—especially the business side of it."
I nodded, taking her arms gently and rubbing them as I looked at her. "Sol, I understand. I won't expose our daughter to anything dangerous. I'll just show her my workstation, nothing more. Maybe we'll get some time to bond while I'm not swamped with work."
Sloane pressed her lips into a thin line, her sigh almost trembling. "Just... don't let her out of your sight. If you must, check on her every single minute. I know it sounds unreasonable, but I need to be sure my daughter—no, our daughter—is safe."
"Of course." I smiled, cupping her cheeks. "Come on, Sloey. Don't overthink this too much."
But she clutched at the hem of my shirt, her eyes still sharp with worry. "Ro, I mean it. Dione has never been out in public as my daughter. That's why I need you to be extra careful—don't let her wander off alone, not even for a moment."
I frowned. "Wait... not even your company knows you have a daughter?"
Her breath hitched, and she gave a small nod.
"It's not that I don't want people to know she's mine—and yours, too.
But if the wrong people found out? Those who want me out would use her against me.
I can't afford that. I couldn't survive if something happened to her.
Not even my closest business partners know she exists. "
Pulling her closer, I rubbed my thumb along her cheek. "I understand," I murmured before leaning in to kiss her lips. "Don't worry, Sloey. I'll take care of our daughter."
Sloane held my wrist, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I'll try to stop by your office once I'm done with the investor meetings. If not, I'll call. I'm not sure I can skip the party later."
"I got it," I said with a nod, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I love you, Sol. Don't worry—I'll handle Dione. I'll make sure she's safe. Just focus on closing the deal with your investors."
She smiled, nodding. "Thank you." Wrapping her arms around me, she hugged me briefly before stepping back. "Now, go get ready. I'll check on Dione."
But I pulled her close again, kissing her lips once more. Then, softer, I brushed a quick kiss before pulling away. "Thank you, Sol. For giving me this time with her. I swear I'll take care of Dione."
"You'd better." She jabbed a finger against my chest, her stern look undercutting the softness from moments ago. "Because if anything happens, I swear I'll keep Dione away from you—and you won't see her again. Got it?"
Groaning, I sighed. "Sol, that's harsh. She's my daughter too. I have rights to her, same as you."
"Uh-huh. You do—once you're acknowledged on her papers as her father, or mother." Her voice dropped, sharper. "Until then, while she bears my surname, I'm the one legally responsible for her. That means every decision falls to me."
A sigh slipped from my lips. "Fine, Sloey." I chuckled, trying to soften the edge.
She patted my cheek, her expression easing. "Good. It's better that we're clear about everything." She kissed both my cheeks before finally turning to leave me alone.