His Ex-Girlfriend Came Back With Their Son — And Suddenly I Became His Backup Plan
Chapter 2
Our relationship became serious quickly.
Daniel never treated me like a secret when we were alone.
He cooked for me.
He drove across town just to bring me medicine when I was sick.
He remembered that I hated thunderstorms.
He even started talking about the future.
Not marriage exactly.
But a house.
A garden.
Maybe another child someday.
I held onto every word.
There was only one problem.
I had never met his parents.
Whenever I asked, he gave me the same answer.
“There’s still something I need to sort out.”
“What?”
“My family situation.”
“Is it because of Olivia?”
“No.”
He always answered too quickly.
Then he’d kiss my forehead and change the subject.
I never pushed.
I was afraid.
Afraid that if I demanded too much, I might lose him.
So I kept our relationship from my father too.
I knew what he would say.
A man with a child.
An unresolved past.
A family that didn’t even know I existed.
My father would never approve.
And perhaps I knew that was exactly why I didn’t tell him.
I wanted Daniel to become my family before anyone could take him away.
One evening, while we were having dinner, Daniel looked at me seriously.
“I love you.”
My heart raced.
He rarely said it.
“I love you too.”
“I want you to trust me.”
“I do.”
He reached across the table.
“My past is complicated, but it’s over.”
I squeezed his hand.
“Then we don’t have to talk about it.”
He smiled.
At the time, I thought I was being understanding.
Years later, I would realize I had been teaching myself how to accept less.
