I barely slept that night.
Not because I was angry anymore.
Because I was grieving.
Grieving the version of Lucas I thought I’d lost.
Grieving the harsh words that still echoed inside my chest.
And yet…
When I woke the next morning, I knew one thing.
I wasn’t ready to forgive him.
Not yet.
⸻
The house was unusually quiet during breakfast.
Adrian sat beside me, occasionally squeezing my hand beneath the table.
Neither of us brought up what had happened.
Lucas walked into the dining room a few minutes later.
His usual confidence had disappeared.
His shoulders were slumped.
His eyes were puffy.
He looked as though he hadn’t slept at all.
He glanced at me cautiously.
“Daddy…”
I looked up.
He immediately lowered his eyes.
“Good morning.”
“…Morning.”
It wasn’t cold.
It w
