“Daddy, is this right?” Leo furrowed his brow, his small hands gripping the baseball bat as he struck an awkward batting stance.

Ethan crouched down, patiently adjusting Leo’s hand position. “Almost there, but raise your elbows a bit higher. Yes, just like that. Now, keep your eyes on the ball.”


I sat on a bench in Brooklyn Park, watching them practice in the morning light. Three weeks had passed, and the relationship between Ethan and Leo had developed at an astonishing pace. Their morning baseball practice had become a fixed ritual, regardless of the weather or how late Ethan had worked the night before.

“He’s really patient,” Sophie sat down beside me, handing me a cup of coffee. “I never imagined that the aggressive Morgan from the boardroom would be such a gentle father.”

I smiled as I took the coffee. “I didn’t expect it either. But he seems to naturally know how to connect with Leo.”


“So, what about you two?” Sophie asked directly. “Living under the same roof, yet still maintaining a ‘just friends’ relationship?”

I sighed. “It’s complicated, Sophie.”


“Complicated?” She raised an eyebrow. “What I see is a man who gave up everything for redemption, who gets up at five every morning just to practice baseball with his son before work, and who helps with math homework when he comes home. That doesn’t look complicated at all.”

Her words warmed my heart but also stirred deep-seated fears within me. I looked at Ethan and Leo in the distance, now sitting on the grass with their heads together, studying something. That intimate scene made me feel both reassured and worried.

“You don’t understand,” I said softly. “The problems between us aren’t just because of William. We both made choices—I chose to hide Leo’s existence, and he chose to believe his father rather than directly confirming with me. These hurts won’t disappear just because we’ve lived together for a few weeks.”

“But you could at least try,” Sophie insisted, “instead of living cautiously under the same roof like two strangers.”

“I am trying,” I admitted. “But every time I feel I can trust him again, the fear returns. What if he leaves again? What if all this is just because of Leo?”

“Do you really believe that’s his only reason for staying?” Sophie asked, her gaze turning toward Ethan and Leo in the distance.

I didn’t answer, but deep down, I knew the truth. Whenever Ethan looked at me, the tenderness and longing in his eyes couldn’t be fake. Whenever we accidentally touched, that electric feeling couldn’t be one-sided. But acknowledging this meant taking a risk, meant opening my heart again, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

In the distance, Leo successfully hit the ball Ethan had pitched, jumping up excitedly. Ethan immediately rushed forward, lifting him high, their laughter echoing through the morning park.

“Look at them,” Sophie said softly. “That child needs a complete family, and Ethan has proven he’s willing to be part of that family.”

I didn’t respond, but Sophie’s words stirred ripples in my heart.

—

“I don’t understand why this is so difficult.” Ethan frowned, staring at the pile of ingredients on the kitchen counter, his expression confused and frustrated. “The recipe is very clear.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Because cooking isn’t just following instructions—it also requires a certain feel.”

Today was Saturday, and Ethan insisted on making a “special breakfast” for Leo, but clearly, the CEO of a financial empire was a complete novice in the kitchen. Flour was scattered everywhere, eggshells littered the counter, and a failed batter looked more like the product of some scientific experiment.

“Maybe I should hire a chef,” he said dejectedly, looking at the failed batter, his fingers helplessly running through his hair, leaving a streak of flour.

“No,” I walked to his side, amused by his frustrated expression. “Leo will prefer something you made yourself, even if it looks like a failed science experiment. Here, let me show you.”

I stood behind him, guiding his hands to properly mix the batter. This was our first such intimate contact since moving in, and I could feel the warmth of his body, smell the faint scent of his aftershave mingled with flour and butter. His back pressed against my chest, and that intimacy made my heart race.

“Like this,” I said softly. “The movement should be gentle but firm.”

Ethan turned his head, and our faces were suddenly very close, close enough that I could see every shade of blue in his eyes. I could feel his breath brushing my cheek. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, the air filled with an indescribable tension. His gaze fell on my lips, then back to my eyes, filled with longing and hesitation.

“Mom! Dad! I’m hungry!” Leo’s voice came from the living room, breaking the spell of the moment.

I quickly stepped back, feeling my cheeks flush. “I’ll… I’ll go check on Leo.”

After escaping the kitchen, I leaned against the hallway wall, my heart pounding. This feeling was so familiar—that racing heart, that difficulty breathing, just like eight years ago when our eyes first met in the Princeton library.

But we were no longer those two naive college students. We now had Leo, responsibilities, and too much complicated history to face.