Valeria’s POV
The next few seconds could have been eternity with how hard my heart was beating.
The air between us felt fragile. Heavy. Like one wrong word could shatter whatever strange truce had just begun forming.
My hand remained on him for a moment longer before I forced myself to speak.
“I’ve been through a lot these past couple of years with you at the center of it all. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive you but… as a parent, I understand the part about wanting a relationship with Elliot.”
The words tasted raw coming out of my mouth.
Admitting that much felt like peeling open a wound that had barely begun to scar. Luka’s eyes widened slightly, genuine surprise flickering across his face. Maybe he hadn’t expected empathy from me. Maybe he didn’t think I had any left t
