The next evening, I showed up at the hospital room door with a huge bouquet of white roses.
Luna was nursing Aiden. She looked up at the sound.
"You came," she said, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Of course I came." I walked in and arranged the flowers in the bedside vase. "How could I not come see my wife and son?"
"Julian..."
"I know," I sat on the edge of the bed, my gaze falling on Aiden in her arms. "He's not my son. We're not really married. But Luna..."
I looked up, meeting her eyes.
"I want to make it real."
Her body went rigid.
"I mean it," my voice was more serious than it had ever been. "These past few months, I kept asking myself why I was helping you. At first, I thought it was to get back at Kirill and Genevie. Then I thought it was because I liked reshaping you like a work of art. But now I understand..."
I took a deep breath.
"I've fallen in love with you, Luna."
Luna didn't speak, just looked at me quietly.
"I know you still have that man in your heart," I continued. "I know you might never love me the way you loved him. But I don't care. I just want... I just want to be by your side. Protect you, protect Aiden. Give you both a completehome."
"Julian..."
"You don't have to answer now." I stood up. "Take your time. As long as you need. Whatever your answer is, I'll respect it. But Luna—"
I bent down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"I'll wait for you. Until the day you're ready."
Luna's eyes reddened.
After a long moment, she spoke softly. "Julian, I... I need some time."
"I know." I smiled. "Time I've got plenty of."
I turned and left the room, stopping only when I reached the end of the hallway.
Some time.
She'd said "some time," not "impossible."
Didn't that mean I still had a chance?
I leaned against the wall, looking up at the stark white ceiling, and suddenly laughed.
Julian Dante, anxious over a woman.
If my people saw this, they'd think I'd lost my mind.
Maybe I really had.
I pulled out my phone and looked at the message notification on the screen.
