His Ex-Girlfriend Came Back With Their Son — And Suddenly I Became His Backup Plan
Chapter 3
The message came on a Sunday morning.
Daniel was sitting beside me when his phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
His entire expression changed.
“What happened?”
He didn’t answer.
“Daniel?”
He stood.
“I need to take this.”
He walked into the kitchen.
I watched him through the doorway.
His voice softened.
A tone I had never heard him use with anyone.
“No, of course.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow?”
He laughed.
It was a warm, genuine laugh.
When he returned, I smiled.
“Good news?”
“My son is coming home.”
I froze.
“Oh.”
“Just for the summer.”
“That’s wonderful.”
He looked relieved.
“You’re not upset?”
“Why would I be?”
“Because everything is going to change for a while.”
I tried to smile.
“He’s your son.”
Daniel kissed my forehead.
“Thank you.”
I wanted to be the woman who understood.
The woman who never made him choose.
The woman who accepted every complicated part of his life.
So I smiled.
And told myself everything would be fine.
Noah arrived three days later.
I didn’t meet him immediately.
Daniel spent the entire first day with him.
Then the second.
Then the third.
My messages went unanswered for hours.
When he finally called, his voice sounded distant.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
“I’ve just been busy.”
“I understand.”
“Can we talk tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
Tomorrow came.
He canceled.
The next day, he canceled again.
By the end of the week, I barely recognized the man I had fallen in love with.
He wasn’t cruel.
That would have been easier.
He was simply absent.
And somehow, being ignored by someone you love hurts more than being hated.
