When Her "Death" Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel)

Wren's arms suddenly felt weightless, and he froze where he stood.

"Luke, Gabe, I'm Grandpa."

Reaching toward Gabriel, he found the boy darting away, unwilling to be held.

Elena's voice turned icy and mocking. "You barely spared them a glance all these years, and now you think you can just pick them up? To them, you're a stranger."

Crouching, Wren found himself unable to refute a single word.

He clenched his fists. "I'm a man. How was I supposed to look after two toddlers?"

"Oh, so a woman automatically should?" Elena's cold laugh cut the air. "You refused to care for the children, but did you ever fulfill a father's duty? Nathaniel and Nicholas—who raised them? And the Rainsworth Group-if I hadn't juggled the crises, it would have gone under long ago."

Seeing the quarrel spiraling, Wren hurried to change the subject.

"Enough. Let's stop." He heaved a long, weary sigh. "I'll call the children home myself. If you want to join us, fine."

With that, Wren turned and walked away.

Elena, no longer angry, decided to drop everything and let Wren handle the mess on his own.

quarters,

in ages and barely spoke to his father. Wren

quickly. Nicholas sounded

been ages since the family gathered. Do you

matters to handle over

on New Year's Day?" Wren's

home and leave work

in a windowless room, tightened his

busy. I'm

say more, but the

he had no choice

refuse. "Dad, we can come for one meal.

mom isn't well; we need

the day

right, that's only

settling the details with Nathaniel, Wren summoned the household staff

a proper New Year's

to let Elena know that Nathaniel will be home for the holiday." "Yes,

sat alone in the living