Chapter 0589
“I wish I could tell my mother that, but I don’t know how. For now, I think I should stay quiet. Still, when I think about my dad not being home, it hurts, and I feel awful,” Serenity said, her voice heavy with emotion.
“I’ve always wanted a sibling,” Alden admitted. “But knowing my father, that was never going to happen. When I met you, I was so excited I thought you were my sister. Sering Maximus’s kids makes me envious. They were or are–four siblings. Now it’s just three, but you can tell they’ve built a strong bond. They’ve even started to consider you part of the family.”
“Yeah, I noticed that today,” Serenity said with a small smile.
“And how did you feel about it?” Alden asked, glancing at her briefly as he drove.
“Strange, honestly. But it made me happy that they see me that way.”
“I can imagine…”
“Alden, talking to you has been so helpful. Can we do this more often? Sometimes I just need someone grounded to talk to. At university, everyone’s always rushing around, and now my home life is a mess. Chatting with you calms me down.”
“Anytime you want,” Alden replied warmly. “I enjoy talking to you too. Believe me, I have some tough days Ethan was so used to my father being around that stepping into his shoes isn’t going to be easy.”
“You’ll win your son’s heart–little by little,” Serenity said reassuringly.
ahead.
“It’s funny. When my father’s around, Ethan looks for me, and we have fun together. But now that he’s i Ethan doesn’t even want me telling him what to do.”
s gone,
“Try to understand him. It can’t be easy for him to see his grandfather gone,” Serenity said softly.
“I’m trying, but today was hard. Believe me, having kids isn’t easy. Can you imagine a mini–you running around? “Alden teased.
Serenity laughed and thought for a moment. “She’d probably give my dad two or three more gray hairs.”
“Probably,” Alden agreed, chuckling.
“Ethan’s outgoing, fun, and such a good kid, but when he wants to act like a little rascal–trust me, he knows how to do that too. I think he’s a mini version of me.”
“Wow! That’s quite the statement,” Serenity said with a grin.
Alden smiled and said, “I think Palmers are known for that trait.”
“You don’t seem like that,” Serenity remarked. “Well, maybe you do, but I see you through a brotherly lens. I guess your ex–wife would have a different perspective.”
“She probably would,” Alden said, smirking.
“Did
ld you two split because of that?”
“That and other things. Our age was definitely a big factor, Alden admitted.
“I can’t imagine you married,” Serenity said thoughtfully.
“I was young and inexperienced. I thought life was easy and that dating would stay the same forever. But once we got married, reality hit–responsibilities came in, like taking care of my wife and son. It kept me up at night, even though Peter was always there to help. But as a man, the weight of responsibility felt much heavier.”
Chapter 0589
“Do
you regret getting married so young?” Serenity asked.
No, not at all! I love the mother of my child, but not in the way you love a partner. I love her like a sister. I know that sounds strange, but over time, we’ve learned to see each other that way. In fact, she has a boyfriend now, and he seems like a good guy. I’m happy for her.”
“Is that even possible?” Serenity asked, intrigued.
“Of course it is! With time, you gain wisdom. Maybe it’s because I had to grow up fast, but now I see things differently,” Alden said with a shrug.
Alden glanced at his watch and realized how late it had gotten. Turning to Serenity, he said, “I think we’ve lost track of time–it’s 10:00 p.m. I should take you home. Otherwise, your mother will worry.”
“I don’t feel like going home,” Serenity admitted. “But you’re right. With my mom in her current state, I shouldn’t give her more problems than she already has.
Alden nodded and drove Serenity home. He waited at the door until she went inside and closed it before heading back to his own pla
When Alden arrived home, he went straight to Ethan’s room. His son was fast asleep, his little face peaceful in the dim light. Alden lay down beside him, taking comfort in his son’s steady breathing. He hoped that the time they spent alone together wouldn’t create distance between them, but instead bring them closer.
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