Aloe's POV
Wakes discovered I was seeing Blake during a custody exchange when Evelyn, in her innocent one-year-old way, babbled "Bake! Bake!" and pointed at my phone where Blake's contact photo was displayed.
"Blake Matthew?" Wakes's voice was carefully controlled. "You're involving him with my daughter?"
"I'm dating someone who Evelyn happens to like. That's not the same as involving him in custody arrangements." I kept my tone neutral, professional—the voice I'd learned to use with Wakes.
"Dating the man who manipulated you for revenge against me? Aloe, have you considered that he might still be using you?"
"Every day. Blake and I have discussed manipulation extensively. We're being careful, taking it slow, making sure this is real rather than residual trauma bonding."
Wakes looked
