Aria pov
"Damien." I stopped him. "Thank you, for all of this. For not pushing. For respecting my boundaries while still... still being here."
"I meant what I said at the press conference," he replied, his eyes intense. "I'll spend the rest of my life making this up to you, to Noah. However long that takes."
A scream from Noah's room had us both running.
But it wasn't fear—it was delight. Noah had discovered the toy chest and was now buried in stuffed dinosaurs, laughing as they "attacked" him.
"Mama! Daddy! Come play!"
Damien looked at me, asking permission.
"Go ahead," I said. "I'll be there in a minute."
I watched from the doorway as Damien sat on the floor, letting Noah pile dinosaurs on him, roaring and growling and making my son laugh. Really laugh, not the scared whimpers from the warehouse, but genuine joy.
This was what I'd wanted years ago. A family. A father for my son. Love and safety and belonging.
I'd just never imagined it could happen with Damien.
