“I don’t deserve you,” he said through tears. “I don’t deserve this chance.”
I lifted his face, making him look at me. “You deserve love. You deserve joy. And you deserve to be a father, if that’s what you want.”
He nodded desperately. “I swear to you, I’ll make it up to you every day. I’ll be the best husband. The best father. I promise.”
I leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around me, holding me as though he feared I might disappear. Between us now was more than forgiveness—there was a future. Fragile. Uncertain. But real.
“We’ll figure it out,” I whispered.
Jake pulled back just enough to rest his hand on my stomach, tentative, reverent. For the first time in years, I saw something new in his eyes.
Hope.
And this time, I let myself believe in it too.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance. All images are for illustration purposes only.
