Over an hour after dinner, Rosalie lay on the bed, ready to sleep.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Rosalie sat up from the bed. "Who is it?"
"It'sand Steve."
Rosalie immediately said, e in."
Theodore opened the door, holding Steve in his arms as he entered.
"Mama." As soon as Steve saw Rosalie, he immediately reached out his arms.
Theodore walked over to the bed and placed Steve on it. "No matter how I try to get him to sleep, he keeps calling for you, so |
brought him over."
As soon as Steve was on the bed, he crawled toward Rosalie. "Mama, hug."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtRosalie hugged Steve and said, "Just leave him here. I'll put him to sleep. Thank you."
Theodore stood by the bed, watching her. "You don't have to thankevery time. I'm his father."
Rosalie lowered her gaze, and a trace of guilt flashed in her eyes. "Theo, I'm sorry for keeping this from you. There were so many
times | wanted to tell you, but for various reasons... In any case, I'm at fault."
A child's father had the right to know of his child's existence, but because she held grudges, Theodore never found out even
though he had spent a lot of twith Steve.
"Rose, if this had been before, | would've blamed you." Theodore sat down on the bed. "I would've questioned you, and | might've
done something unimaginable in a fit of rage, but now..."
Theodore let out a bitter laugh.
"So much hashappened, and |
suddenly re {ize that my being
emotional as the root cause of or
separatién. If | continue to act that
way, things will only get worsegand
the sittiation will be more
extreme. So | can't let emations
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"More importantly..." He looked at her and gently took her hand. "Right now, your safety and Steve's are the most important to
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmme. Everything else doesn't matter."
After experiencing a near death, he realized that all the things he once cared about were insignificant, as long as the people he
loved were safe.
"Rose, no matter what happens, we'll raise Steve together, right?"
Rosalie nodded. "Yes, Steve's your son. No one can change that. | don't have the right to take him away from you."
Rosalie's heart sank. "What are you saying?"
Theodore smiled bitterly. "Nothing. It's late. You should rest. If Steve doesn't fall asleep soon, bring him to me. I'll try to get him to
sleep."
Rosalie murmured in agreement, but even if Steve didn't sleep, she wouldn't bring him to Theodore for fear of disrupting his rest.
Theodore got up to leave, glancing at her before carefully closing the door.
Rosalie let out a soft sigh and lay back on the bed, holding Steve.
"Steve, I'm sorry it took so long for you to know that he's your father. You'll never lack fatherly or motherly love. | know he'll be a
good father."