Chapter 25

"After I told her it was over, I spent the following four fucking months trying to feel anything with another woman. Even just an inkling of the same connection I had with her, but there was nothing," I continued, "I failed every goddamn time, dad. It was the worst four months of my life. And as fucked up as it sounds, I don't just love this kid because it's my own, but also because it's given me a reason to have her back in my life and to keep her tied to me for the rest of our lives no matter how big of an inconsiderate prick I am," I husked out with a single shake of my head. He remained silent as I sat there in my self-loathing. "You want to know the worst part?" I pushed on, unable to stop myself once I'd started. It felt good to finally get it all off my chest and out of my head. I was so sick and tired of denying it - even denying it to myself. "I was going to propose. I'd purchased the ring, I had everything set up, and then when I'd realized how deep I'd gotten my