Sebastian sensed the fragile thread of her composure threatening to snap. The anguish etched on her face was a razor-sharp blade, slicing through his chest and leaving him breathless.
He'd arrived with a naive hope, thinking the kids' innocent pleas would coax her to dinner. But he knew better. She despised him, and rightfully so. His past transgressions had earned her scorn, yet he yearned to bridge the chasm between them.
Years ago, her family and the trauma they'd inflicted had been her triggers, unraveling her very fabric. But now, as a mother, she'd learned to harness a powerful control, a coping mechanism forged in the fire of necessity.
His heart twisted, heavy with regret. He was her trigger now, and the weight of his guilt threatened to crush him.
Would she ever forgive him? Could she ever forgive him?
"Mama?" Leon's innocent voice pierced the tension, his small hand reaching out to Aurora.
