Page 43 of A Sinful Gravity

Other people's kids. Those words slammed into me hard. Had she had a child with someone else these past years?

My stomach churned. My wife, my Luna—she really didn't care about me anymore.

My head spun. I stepped back, then looked up to see the little girl hiding behind Chloe, tilting her head to look at me.

No! It couldn't be! This child looked so much like me, appeared to be four or five—what if... no, she had to be mine!

I desperately tried to convince myself.

"Luna, where's Laila? I just parked the car." Before I could make my next move, a man walked over.

Dark-haired, looked European, wearing an infuriating smile, deep blue eyes reflecting Luna's image.

Then he casually took her bag and patted her shoulder—a gesture intimate and glaring, like claiming ownership.

I watched the child run to him, watched him lift her like a father would—far more practiced than I'd been.

Who the fuck was this bastard!

Why was he near my Luna!

Was he Luna's new partner? The child's father?

No. Impossible. I could barely stand.

As he moved to lead Luna away, I couldn't hold back anymore. I grabbed her arm. The force surprised even me.

"Luna." Ignoring the man, I spoke urgently. "Where have you been all these years? Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"

My voice grew louder, wanting to spill everything I'd held back. "What happened before was my fault. Listen to me, it was a misunderstanding."

"Cassian! That's all in the past."

She frowned, trying to pull away. But I didn't let go.

Right now, I didn't care about manners. The fear that she might disappear again gripped my heart.

Suddenly, a childish voice spoke. "Mommy, who is this man? Have I met him before?"

Laila? Was that her name? So sweet.

She looked at me curiously, eyes clear.

That gaze made me loosen my grip, and Luna yanked free. She handed Laila to Chloe, telling them to get in the car first.

After watching them leave, Luna turned back, anger in her eyes. "Mr. King. I'm doing fine now. Please don't disrupt my life."

What did that mean? Was she cutting me off completely? Impossible!

My breathing grew more rapid, I could feel my heartbeat, my voice getting more urgent and hoarse, needing to confirm one answer. "Whose child is that? Your child? Is she... our child?"

The moment I said it, I held my breath. Huge hope rose from deep inside. If she really was our child...

But Luna just looked at me coldly. "No. Don't fantasize."

Her voice was ice. A voice I hadn't heard in six years, yet it could instantly freeze me.

"Please have some boundaries." She said it and stepped back twice, the disgust in her eyes nearly shattering me.