Page 201 of Mile High Ex's Dad
“And you choose her.”
“I choose the mother of my daughter. I choose the person everyone in this family has hurt and blamed and used because it was easier than looking at themselves.”
Alina flinches, but I don’t stop.
“And yes, I choose her over your pride. Over Ethan’s lies. Over whatever you thought you still had a claim to in me.”
Her eyes shine, but she refuses to cry. “You’re cruel,” she says.
“No,” I say. “I’m finished pretending. Maybe you did too when you were fucking Maksim. Do you know he’s the one who came after me? Who almost killed her, and your son? All in sometwisted scheme to hurt me because he thought you still loved me.”
Alina remains quiet. She looks at Sienna then, and for once there’s no polished contempt in her face. Only grief and resentment and something close to defeat. “You have no idea what you’re walking into,” she says to her.
Sienna’s voice is quiet, but steady. “Maybe not. But I know what I’m not walking away from.”
Alina looks back at me. For a second I think she might say something else, something old and sharp enough to draw blood. Instead she steps back. “I hope she survives loving you better than I did.” Then she turns and leaves.
The door closes behind her.
Sienna looks exhausted. Not just physically. The kind of exhaustion that comes after too much fear, too much pain, too many people trying to decide what your life is worth.
I sit down again and take her hand carefully. “I’m sorry,” I say.
“For what?”
“For all of it.”
She gives a faint, tired smile. “That’s a big apology.”
“It’s a big mess.”
That almost makes her laugh, but it hurts, so she stops with a wince.
I lean closer. “I meant every word.”
Her eyes lift to mine. “With Alina?” she asks.
“With you.”
Her face softens, but there’s caution there too. I don’t blame her for it.
“I love you,” I say. “I love our daughter. I want you with me, both of you, but not because you’re trapped or scared or because I say so. I want you to stay because you choose it.”
Her eyes fill.
I keep my voice low. “And if you need time, I’ll give you time. If you need space, I’ll hate it, but I’ll give you that too. I only need you to know that what I said before was true. You come first for me now.”
She looks at me for a long moment. Then she whispers, “That’s terrifying.”
“I know.”
“It’s not simple.”
“No.”
“And your life is dangerous.”
“Yes.”
