“I love you, Jen.”
I took a long breath.
“I believe you.”
He looked up, surprised.
“But love isn’t the problem.”
I glanced at Dakota.
She looked exhausted.
“I don’t expect you to become Lily’s mother,” she said quietly. “I only want her to have a father who will be there for her.”
I nodded.
“She deserves that.”
Tony looked at me hopefully.
“We can work through this together.”
I shook my head.
“No, Tony. You need to work out how you’re going to be a father to Lily. And I need time to decide what this means for our marriage.”
He reached for my hand.
I gently moved it away.
“Lily didn’t create this situation,” I continued. “She’s a little girl who has already lost her mother. She deserves honesty, stability, and someone who shows up when they promise to.”
Tony nodded.
“I can be that person.”
