36~ A Sincere Apology

~King~

I couldn't sleep the previous night as the images of how Avery tucked the kids into bed kept replaying in my mind. I had leaned against each of their doors, unnoticed, as she put them to bed. The sight stirred a mixture of emotions within me—it warmed my heart yet ignited a storm of fury. But despite this turmoil, my spirits lifted with the comforting knowledge that my children now recognized me as their true father. I swear to the goddess, I would spoil them silly.

I chose not to sleep in my room with Avery. Part of me knew she would resist the closeness, and I, too, was wary of another bitter argument. Also, I couldn't shake the fury that consumed me just at the sight of her. I kept going back and forth between hating her for what she did, understanding it, and wanting her to forgive me for how I had been acting. Mostly, I was furious and wanted her to feel the brunt of the pain I was experiencing. I couldn't comprehend how she could do that to me.

By the break of dawn, I