Chapter 41

Haley’s POV: Some wounds didn’t just need time. They needed space. I needed silence and a breathing room. I once believed time could fix anything. That if you loved someone hard enough, long enough, it would be enough. But love wasn’t always the glue—it could also be the knife. Sebastian would always be a good father. I never doubted that. Even when I doubted everything else, even when I doubted myself… that part was clear. But it wasn’t enough anymore. Every morning, while I packed Lily’s lunch, I made a second box. Simple stuff—cut-up fruits, cheese sticks, his favorite peanut butter sandwich with no crusts. “Give this to Jordan, okay?” I would tell Lily, tucking the extra lunch into her bag. She always nodded seriously. “Yes, Aunt Haley. I give it to him at snack time.” One morning, I paused, watching her zip up her pink backpack. “Does he like it?” Lily’s eyes sparkled. “He eats all of it! Every bite!” I felt something tight ease in my chest. “That’s good.” She grinned and hopped o