Chapter 14
Landon
I haven’t stopped pacing for the past two hours. Glancing at my watch, I see it’s six. Anna said she’d be here by seven. One more fucking hour to go. Every second stretches like the universe is testing me on purpose.
Forcing myself to pause, I let my eyes wander around the living room, trying to drag my mind off the clock.
A slow smile spreads across my face as I take it in.
The place looks… ready. Every detail is carefully baby-proofed—soft corner guards cap the coffee-table edges, all the outlets are sealed, and a thick rug blankets the floor so she’ll have a cosy landing if she wobbles or falls down.
In the far corner sits the toy nook I built, with tiny shelves stacked high with plush animals and bright blocks. Upstairs, her room is a pink-princess kingdom, with gauzy curtains, a canopy bed, and walls dotted with glittering stars that glow when the lights go out.
Even the kitchen is stocked like a fortress.
Rows of eatables line the shelves—crackers, fruit pouches, and snacks I’m not even sure she likes or can eat.
But the worst part is that I don’t even know what brand of milk she drinks, what cartoon makes her laugh, or which blanket she curls up with to fall asleep.
My fist clenches the moment it hits me again: how little I know about my own daughter and how Anna robbed me of all her firsts. Her first steps. Her first words. The first time she said Daddy or Mommy.
Anna took all of it. She stole years I’ll never get back.
“Mr. Hayes, they’re pulling in now,” my housekeeper’s voice cuts through the quiet.
My chest tightens like it’s about to explode at the words. They’re here.
I dip my chin in acknowledgment. “I’ll handle the door. You take care of dinner.”
She nods and walks away, and I don’t even bother steadying my breathing. My legs are already moving on their own, carrying me across the room. And before my mind can catch up, my hands reach for the door.
The moment I pull it open, my heart kicks harder at the sight of my world.
Anna stands there in jeans and a simple blue top, her hair loose around her shoulders.
And in her arms is our daughter. My little girl blinks up at me, her tiny fist tucked in her mouth.
Damn. Seeing them here, in our home, hits me like a punch to the ribs.
“Can I—” My voice cracks, and I suddenly realize I’m shaking. “Can I hold her?”
Anna hesitates for a moment, then nods.
I reach out, every muscle pulled tight, terrified I’ll get it wrong. Slowly, carefully, I wrap my arms around her tiny frame and hold her close.
“Hi, baby.” I smile at her, my hand trembling as I stroke her back. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
She just stares at me, wide-eyed, and then she places her tiny hand to my cheek. And I swear… nothing has ever undone me the way that tiny touch does.
I stay frozen in this moment, soaking in every inch of my daughter, her every breath, her every heartbeat, until Anna clears her throat, shattering the fragile spell.
“Are we spending the night at the door?”
I step aside. “Please, come in.”
Anna steps inside, and we head into the living room. Her eyes sweep across the space, taking in every detail, and suddenly I’m nervous, wondering if she’ll like it.
She exhales, almost scoffing. “You’ve really gone all out.”
“I wanted it to be perfect for my princess. Her room upstairs is ready too. If there’s anything that needs changing, just tell me.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “I suppose I should thank you for at least asking me this time, considering this is the first choice you’ve actually given me.”
I ignore her sarcasm, not wanting to start an argument, especially with my daughter in my arms for the first time. “Her nanny will be here in a few minutes. You can tell her if there’s anything she needs to know.”
“Nanny? You hired a nanny? For my daughter? Without checking if I needed one?”
“Our daughter,” I correct her. “And yes, a nanny makes sense for convenience. I don’t see anything wrong with it.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. You were brought up that way. You don’t understand what it means to actually raise your child without an army of people doing it for you.”
My jaw locks. “Careful, Anna.”
Her shoulders rise, but then, maybe remembering and realizing how those words have always stung and left me with a hollow ache, she reluctantly sighs. “I don’t need a nanny. Mick and I handled everything just fine.”
“Well, Mick isn’t here,” My eyes burn into hers. “And given that we both have jobs, we’ll need extra help. I won’t risk Liala missing out on anything just because we’re both stretched too thin.”
She folds her arms. “This isn’t about her. This is about you taking control.”
“Control?” I laugh, humorless. “If this were about control, Anna, I wouldn’t be standing here trying to make this work. I’d take her from you without caring about what you say. And you know damn well I could.”
Her mouth twists, like she wants to spit fire, but instead she says, “Where’s my room? I need to rest.”
“The first room when you go up, next to our daughter’s,” I reply. “My room is right opposite.” I let my eyes linger on hers. “I wanted you in my bed. But I know you wouldn’t be comfortable. So for now, I settled for that.”
“Good,” she snaps. “And let’s be clear, there will be no sex.”
I take a step closer, Liala still resting against my chest. “We’re under the same roof, sweetheart. You really think that’s possible?”
She tilts her chin defiantly. “Yes. It is.”
I simply smirk. “We’ll see.”
Her nostrils flare, and she steps forward, reaching for Liala, but I shake my head. “I’ve got her. You go rest.”
Knowing this is yet another battle she won’t win, she huffs, spins on her heel, and storms up the stairs, leaving Liala and me alone.
Liala stirs, her tiny hand clutching at my shirt. I smile and sink onto the couch, settling her in my lap. Her eyes lock onto mine, curious, studying me as if she’s trying to figure out who I’m.
“I’m your Daddy, princess. You don’t know me yet, but you will soon,” I whisper, brushing a kiss over her soft hair.
She gurgles softly, and my chest tightens with a mix of awe and pain.
I grab one of the little toys from the coffee table and wiggle it in front of her. She reaches for it with her tiny fingers, her laughter bubbling out, and I can’t help but laugh with her. Leaning back, I hold her close as my mind spirals, the vow embedding itself deep into my bones.
“Princess, I’m going to win Mommy back. She can fight me all she wants, but I’ll break through her defenses. For you. For us. For this family.”
I press my forehead to hers, my eyes closing as I breathe her in. “You both belong here. With me. And I swear, I’ll never let you all leave me again.”
???
Turning on the coffee machine, a grin spreads across my face as I think about last night.
About how Anna ignored me all through dinner and shot daggers at me when I introduced her to Liala’s nanny.
But amid all her irritation, one thing made my chest swell with a quiet warmth and happiness: spending half the night wide awake with my daughter curled against me.
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of holding my little girl.
It’s just her mother who’s the real challenge. Stubborn as hell, a tough nut I’ll have to crack.
As if sensing my thoughts, Anna steps into the kitchen.
Her hair is pulled into a messy bun, and she’s wearing one of those simple T-shirts that should be illegal, making her look both effortless and devastatingly beautiful.
She heads straight for the coffee machine, completely ignoring me, like I’m not even here.
I lean against the counter, my arms crossed. “Morning.”
She pours herself a cup, takes a sip, then finally meets my gaze. “Where’s Liala?”
“Asleep in her crib,” I say, picking up my coffee mug and taking a sip. “She spent most of the night in my arms before I put her down.”
“You should’ve woken me.”
“She was fine,” I reply. “And for the record, I think she loves sleeping on my chest. The way her tiny body relaxes against me… it makes me realize just how much I’ve longed for this.”
“Don’t even think about starting this again,” she snaps. “Especially don’t throw it in my face like I stole something from you on purpose. I did what I thought was best.”
“You thought hiding my daughter was best?” My voice hardens. “You thought ripping two years away from me was best?”
Her lips press together, holding back any retort, and before she can say anything else, Liala’s cry pierces the quiet through the baby monitor on the counter.
Anna sets her cup down. “I’ll get her.”
But I’m already moving. “I’ve got her.”
I take the stairs two at a time and enter her room to find my daughter awake. I walk up to her and immediately scoop her into my arms. The second she clings to me, burying her face in my shoulder like I’m her safe place, I swear I could take on the whole damn world for her.
By the time I carry her back downstairs, Anna is waiting in the kitchen, her arms outstretched.
“Hand her to me, Landon.”
“She’s fine with me.”
“She needs her breakfast,” Anna huffs.
“I know.” I pull out the high chair and settle Liala into it. “Which is why her cereal is already ready.” I point to the counter. “Banana oatmeal. I read it’s good for toddlers. I wasn’t sure if she prefers it warm or room temperature, so I made both.”
Anna blinks, caught off guard. “You… did research?”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Of course I did. She’s my daughter.”
Anna sighs and slides into the chair across from me. She helps feed Liala, who laughs and smears oatmeal all over her cheeks. The sight twists something deep inside me. This little family picture feels so right, and yet so damn fragile.
“You can stop looking so smug,” Anna mutters as she wipes Liala’s chin. “One night of playing dad doesn’t make you a perfect father.”
I slam my hand down on the counter, making her flinch. Liala goes still, her wide eyes darting between us. The moment I see that, I pull in a slow breath and rein in my temper, not wanting to scare my daughter. Still, I manage to get the words out in a low voice.
“Yes, one night won’t make me a perfect dad. But I won’t give up until I become one… for my daughter, who deserves nothing less.”
Regret flashes in Anna’s eyes, but I don’t bother to hear her response. I turn away and leave, guilt already gnawing at me for losing my control in front of my daughter.
Stepping out onto the balcony, I grip the railing and let the cool morning air wash over me. My chest still burns from Anna’s taunts, but I refuse to let them shake me. I will become the perfect dad for Liala, and one day, the perfect husband for Anna too.
I close my eyes and draw in a long, steady breath. No matter how hard it gets, no matter how much Anna pushes me away, I know one thing with absolute certainty: Nothing will stop me from building the family we were always meant to be… the family we all deserve.