Ryan sat in his office, the hum of his desk lamp the only sound in the room. On his phone, a stream of photos of Amelia and Hale scrolled by, each one more striking than the last. One showed them standing on the deck of a sleek yacht, champagne glasses in hand, the wind catching Amelia’s hair. Another captured her laughing, her head tilted back as Hale looked on with an adoration that twisted something deep inside Ryan.
“Maybe I’ve been selfish,” Ryan muttered to himself, setting the phone down with a forceful click. His reflection stared back at him in the darkened screen, tired and full of questions.
The door creaked open, and Brenda entered, cradling Caleb. She walked in without asking, as if she belonged there—a habit Ryan hadn’t questioned until now. “You’ve been holed up in here all day,” she said lightly. “What’s so important?”
Ryan shook his head. “It’s nothing.”
Brenda moved closer, placing Caleb in his bassinet before turning to him. “It’s Amelia, isn’t it?” she said knowingly.
Ryan exhaled sharply. “She’s with Hale now. She looks... happy. Maybe it’s time I let go.”
Brenda’s lips curved into a sympathetic smile, though her eyes gleamed with calculation. “You’ve been holding onto something that isn’t there anymore, Ryan. She’s moved on. And honestly, isn’t it time you did too?”
He ran a hand through his hair, his chest tightening. “I just keep thinking—what if things had been different? What if I hadn’t—”
Brenda interrupted, her voice soft but insistent. “Ryan, she’s made her choice. And so have you. You have Caleb now. A son who needs you.” She placed a hand on his arm, her touch lingering. “Don’t you think it’s time to stop chasing what’s gone and start building what’s right here?”
Ryan’s gaze drifted to Caleb, peacefully sleeping, oblivious to the turmoil around him. Guilt churned in his stomach. For all his mistakes, Caleb was innocent. He owed him something better.
Brenda leaned in, her voice dropping. “We’re a family, Ryan. It’s time to show the world what that means.”
He nodded, though the weight in his chest didn’t ease. “Maybe you’re right.”