Evelyn’s ’s POV
I was completely stunned by Calvin’s twisted logic. We were discussing custody of our children, and here he was, going off on so bizarre tangent.
I was about to speak when his icy voice cut through the air again, as if I’d committed so unforgivable sin against him.
"Evelyn, do you want my sons calling another man ’dad’?"
Before I could even reply, he’d already drawn his conclusion."Don’t even think about it!"
I stared at him in utter bewildernt. "I’ve never wanted them to call anyone else ’father.’ We may no longer be mates, but you are their father. That fact won’t change."
Calvin looked at with calculating eyes. "What if I said you could have custody of the children, but only if you reject your current mate? Could you do that?"
The sunlight ca through the window and shone on my skin. My calm eyes suddenly lit up with hope. "Do you an that?"
I jumped up from the sofa, taking two steps forward to look directly into his deep eyes. "If I reject him, you’ll give custody of both children?"
Calvin leaned back. "I was just saying ’what if.’"
"No need for hypotheticals! I’ll consider it!" I replied eagerly.
This was the first ti since our reunion that I truly studied his face, not wanting to miss even the slightest emotion. I needed to determine if he was toying with or genuinely willing to let go.
In that mont, I could already envision our future happy life with the children. Rowan had already opened his heart to . As for Rhys... well, he wasn’t impossible to teach.
I would give them the best education, a beautiful childhood, and a limitless future. It absolutely wouldn’t be inferior to anything Calvin could provide!
Calvin’s POV
Her eyes sparkled with joy,like a thousand stars lighting up the sky.
Bright. Dazzling.
And for a second, I forgot how to breathe.
She looked... happy. Hopeful. Like she actually believed I would say yes.
My gaze locked onto hers, but all I could think about was the man she was with now.
I forced my voice to stay cold.
"I was just speaking hypothetically," I said flatly. "Don’t take it seriously. I never agreed to give you custody."
The smile dropped from her face instantly and I won’t lie, a part of was satisfied.
"They’re my sons,"I said,."I can give them everything—comfort, protection, power. With , they’ll live better than with anyone else."
But deep down, I was watching her reaction.
She looked shaken. Not because of my words, but because I’d touched a nerve.
So... she’d actually considered walking away from her new mate for the boys?
She’d reject that man just to keep our sons?
Interesting.
Maybe she didn’t care about him as much as she wanted to believe.
But she was being naive again. Foolish.
She used to be Luna. She should know better than anyone how important Alpha heirs are to a pack.
Did she really think she could fight for custody and win?
Where did she get that confidence? That nerve?
Her father’s wolf pack had rged with mine years ago,whatever political support she once had was gone.
Unless...
Unless that man she’s with now, her so-called new mate, had a pack strong enough to fight against Bloodbane pack.At that thought, my eyes narrowed.
If she was counting on that...
She’d better be prepared to lose everything.
Evelyn’s ’s POV
I thought of Rowan’s tears. "But you just made Rowan upset because of Clara."
He stared at ."Stop trying to drag Clara into everything between us."
"Whether it’s Clara or soone else, Rowan pushed an adult without provocation. That’s simply wrong, regardless of his age. Being young isn’t an excuse for mistakes."
"They are MY sons," he repeated. "If they make mistakes, I’ll teach them myself."
I took a step back, accidentally hitting my calf against the corner of the coffee table. Calvin instinctively reached out to steady .
For a split second, his hand brushed against my arm—warm, familiar.
A strange heat surged through , traveling up my skin like lightning.
My heart skipped a beat.
I quickly pulled away before he could fully touch , forcing my body to ignore the way it reacted.
I wasn’t his mate anymore. Not in any way that mattered.
I steadied myself and took another step back, avoiding his eyes.
"Clara tried to pinch Alexis," I said bluntly. "Rowan was protecting his sister when he pushed Clara away."
Calvin hadn’t expected this. "I assud Clara wouldn’t harm a two-year-old child."
Each word cut like a blade. I frowned as I looked at the man before . After five years of mateship, he trusted Clara over ...
After so thought, I told him seriously, "Then we’ll see each other in the Alpha Council."
These discussions always ended the sa way –in deadlock. I would fight for custody of my children, no matter what it took.
Rowan and Rhys were the children I carried for seven months, enduring morning sickness, countless nights of leg cramps, and nearly dying during childbirth.
Before, I had wrongly directed my anger at the children, but now I was confident in my ability to raise them well. I didn’t want to give them up.
Even if I lost, I didn’t want my sons thinking I had abandoned them without reason. I loved them more than anyone else ever could.
Calvin’s POV
I abruptly stood up, irritated by her stubbornness.
"Fine," I said curtly.
I went to the bedroom to pick up Rowan and Rhys, one in each arm. Just as I was about to leave, I felt soone grab my right leg.
Looking down, I t Alexis’s tear-filled eyes.
The little girl was clutching my leg tightly, her tears falling one after another, soaking into my pants.
"Don’t bully my brother," she pleaded.
Alexis reached out to grab Rowan’s hand. "Brother good."
That indescribable feeling in my chest grew wildly as I watched the little one’s tears.
Alexis was undeniably Evelyn’s daughter.
I set my sons down and crouched to gently wipe away her tears with my fingertip. "Don’t cry. I’m not bullying your brother."
Alexis took out a piece of candy from her little candy bag,the sa one she had wanted to give during our video call.
"Candy for you. Make brother happy."
I’ve disliked sweets since childhood, yet sohow found myself opening my mouth. The pineapple-flavored candy was sweet to the core, leaving montarily bewildered.
Seeing accept her candy, Alexis’s eyes lit up with joy.
She pulled Rowan in front of and looked at expectantly.
...Hurry up and make my brother feel better.
Sohow, I understood exactly what the little one ant. Sighing, I said to Rowan, "I’m sorry. The way I spoke to you earlier was wrong. This was the first ti I saw you being impolite, but there was a reason. I apologize."
Rowan seed surprised by my words. "Ah... it’s... it’s fine."
I stroked my elder son’s hair. "From now on, I’ll speak to you properly. Do you forgive , Rowan?"
Rowan nodded, the gloom in his eyes instantly vanishing. He now wanted to give Alexis all his toys.She had managed to resolve the conflict between him and his father, and even got to eat sothing sweet!
Alexis was the best little sister in the whole world!
I picked her up. Though she looked chubby, she felt light in my arms – soft, fragrant, and difficult to put down.
As Evelyn entered the room, I handed the little one to her. "You’ve raised an amazing daughter," I said.
Evelyn’s response was cool. "I don’t need you to tell that. I know my daughter is wonderful."
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