Parker’s POV

"I can’t believe what you just pulled back there," I muttered through gritted teeth as we settled into the car.

"What exactly did I do wrong? I couldn’t control myself when I saw that woman," Moon shot back, her voice dripping with defiance.

The twins were buckled into their car seats behind us. Olivia and Grace had already drifted off to sleep, their small faces peaceful in the dim light. But my mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of someone else entirely. Tara.

My other daughter. The child who had never known a father’s love. Today, for the first time, I’d held her in my arms, only to have that precious moment stolen away.

"I saw how quickly you jumped to her defense."

Moon’s bitter voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, dragging me back to the present tension filling our car.

"She’s our guest, Moon. Don’t you understand how crucial it is that we find a cure for this disease?" I snapped, watching her eyes roll dramatically before she slouched against the passenger seat.

"Of course. She used to throw herself at you, and now she’s back. Here I thought we might finally work things out, but I see that’s never going to happen. Not while that woman keeps showing up, even though she’s got herself a husband and kids now."

This was Moon’s pattern. She’d talk and talk until she pushed me past my breaking point. I’d try to listen, attempt to be reasonable, but she never cared. She always found new ammunition for our endless battles.

"Why the hell did you bring the kids along?" I demanded, pressing harder on the accelerator. The moment I caught sight of my sleeping daughters in the rearview mirror, I eased off the gas. They didn’t deserve to pay for our dysfunction.

"What do you mean? Of course I brought them," she replied with that familiar attitude, completely dodging accountability.

"I’ve told you countless times, you’re nothing more than my children’s mother. And what was that bullshit about me being annoyed by her calls? Why were you picking fights with her?"

My control was slipping. Now that the truth was out in the open, I didn’t even know what I was feeling anymore. Initially, I’d been furious with Bella for keeping secrets from me. But then I remembered how we’d treated her back then.

How cold and cruel we’d been. No wonder she hadn’t told me about the pregnancy.

"Are you going to say something, or are you still fantasizing about her?" Moon’s voice dripped with venom.

My knuckles went white as I gripped the steering wheel.

"I’ve said everything I need to say. You’re my children’s mother, nothing more. Don’t expect anything beyond that. I’ve made this clear before, and I’ll keep saying it until you get it through your head. You’re free to walk away anytime. But you won’t. That’s on you, not me."

The words I’d repeated for years hung in the air as Moon crossed her arms and turned toward the window with an irritated grunt.

Every time I told her I didn’t want her, she’d shut down the conversation like this, as if silence could somehow bridge the gap between us or make me change my mind.

This time, my anger burned deeper than usual.

When I pulled up to the house, her shocked expression almost made me laugh. She tried to guilt me into staying, claiming the babies wanted daddy time. But Olivia and Grace would have to wait. I had another child occupying my thoughts. I ignored her protests and drove away.

Instead of returning to face Bella, I sent urgent messages to my friends, demanding they meet me at our shared office space. They arrived within the hour, just as I knew they would.

"What’s the emergency? You sounded desperate on the phone."

Derek spoke first as they walked in, while Hugo remained characteristically silent, studying my face with those sharp eyes, waiting for me to explain the urgency.

"Remember when Bella told us she was pregnant?" I cut straight to the heart of it.

Both men nodded, so I pressed on. "She wasn’t lying."

The words hit them like physical blows. I watched confusion, disbelief, and shock play across their features before I delivered the final truth. "Those children are mine."

Hugo actually stepped backward, his composure cracking for the first time in years.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, his voice tight with disbelief. "How could you possibly know that? Please tell me you’re not creating drama where none exists."

His accusation made my jaw clench. Hugo’s ability to hold grudges was legendary, which was exactly why we barely spoke anymore. He never let anything go, constantly dragging up old grievances until conversations became unbearable.

"I’m not creating anything. You want to know how I’m certain? Because I felt it in my bones. I caught my scent on Tara today. Bella had been masking it with some kind of pendant, but when it fell off, there was no denying it. Tara is my daughter. Zack and Leah too. They’re all mine."

I ran both hands through my hair, feeling the weight of this revelation pressing down on my shoulders.

Hugo went completely silent, walking to the massive window and staring out at the city below.

"So what’s your next move?" Derek asked, making me shift uncomfortably and shove my hands deep into my pockets.

"I know what needs to happen." Hugo finally turned around, his expression grim. "Don’t destroy what you’ve built with your wife. You have two other daughters to think about. If you acknowledge these new children, it’ll create absolute chaos. And remember, Bella has moved on. She’s married to someone else now. Let sleeping dogs lie. Just leave it alone."

His words made me wonder if he was right. Maybe walking away was the smart choice.

"Think about it. Your children are being raised well by this other man. Do you really want to tear that apart?" Hugo pressed, reminding me how difficult it would be to get my family to accept those children, or Bella herself.

"You’re absolutely right," I heard myself say. "I don’t want complications. I don’t want trouble. I can’t let my daughters, the ones who’ve always known me as their father, suffer because of my choices."

The admission felt like defeat, but Hugo’s approving nod told me I’d made the decision he wanted to hear.