His eyes flash to mine in an instant when I cut him off and I start to explain.
“When you guys saved me from Maddox, I was tested for everything including pregnancy for some time after and luckily, everything was fine.”
His brows pinch and he shakes his head once.
“So, who’s?”
A tear drops down my cheek and I gesture with my hand toward the phone.
“Can’t you tell?”
His eyes drift back to the screen before he absorbs her photo, and then, with a quiet acknowledgment of realization, his head bows slightly, a mixture of emotions crossing his features.
“She’s Chaos’s daughter.”
He rises from the bed and begins to pace, his movements confusing me, and I nervously fiddle with my hands, unsure of how to take his reaction.
“Please say something, Reign.”
I observe as he wipes his wet eyes with the back of his hand and inhales a sniff, showing the depth of his emotions.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Charley?”
“I was scared, I thought something might happen to her. I thought they would take her from me. I was just—”
He shakes his head from side to side as our eyes connect, and then he walks toward me. My back straightens instinctively and when he halts in front of me, he lifts my chin gently with his finger, his expression serious, his eyes piercing mine with intensity.
“Nothing and I mean nothing would ever fucking happen to her. You should have just told me.”
My eyes ease and I whisper.
“I know that now.”
“Is that why you left?”
He drops his hand and I sniffle, giving a small nod, placing my palms on his bare chest.
“When Chaos’s mom made that threat, I knew I couldn’t stay. I wasn’t just thinking about myself anymore, Reign. I was thinking about Stormy as well.”
“Stormy?”
I smile ever so slightly before responding.
“I named her after my time at the beach with Chaos when she was conceived.”
He lowers his head, lost in thought until he finally speaks.
“He would have loved her name.”
“I found out I was pregnant the week he died, and I didn’t know what to do, I’m so sorry, Reign. I was just so confused at the time and was not thinking clearly.”
His eyes close, the pain in his heart laid bare and he rests his brow against mine.
“I can’t fucking believe this. He should be here. He should have met his daughter.”
Tears cascade down my cheeks as I blink, feeling my soul fracture within my chest. When he opens his eyes, I see the shimmer of tears mirrored in his gaze. We both search for something, and with a heavy heart, I voice the question that has been weighing on me.
“Does this change things between us?”
