“I tried to tell you,” Nora said, tears streaming now. “You threatened me. You said you’d destroy my reputation. That no one would believe me. So I disappeared.”
Margaret stood abruptly. “I need to see them. All of them.”
She moved to Nora, reaching for Emma with trembling hands. Nora let her take the baby, watching carefully.
Margaret studied Emma’s face, then Noah’s. Her tears fell freely.
“They have your eyes,” she told Adrian. “All three of them.”
Adrian felt the ground shift beneath him.
“My driver’s five minutes away,” he said quietly.
“I don’t want your money,” Nora shot back.
“It’s not charity. It’s child support. Five years late.”
Nora’s expression hardened. “You can’t just throw money at this and walk away feeling better.”
“I know.”
“You can’t fix this with one gesture—”
“I know.”
“Then what do you want?”
Adrian met her eyes. “To be their father.”
Nora laughed, broken and sharp. “You don’t get to decide that now.”
“You’re right. I don’t.” He adjusted Lily carefully. “But they deserve a father who shows up. And you deserve support. Real support.”
“I don’t trust you.”
“I don’t blame you.”