Chapter 3 3

Olivia's POV

I watched as Marcus processed what I had just revealed to him. His shock was palpable, the disbelief in his eyes obvious, but there was something else- a flicker of guilt, perhaps a hint of longing, that began to take shape in his gaze. The man I had once loved and the man sitting across from me now were two different people, but in this moment, I could see the connection between us hadn't completely faded.

His voice broke the silence, almost a whisper. "Max is... my son?" The words seemed to struggle to leave his lips, like he couldn't quite believe them.

I nodded, forcing myself to meet his gaze, even though every part of me wanted to look away. "Yes. He's yours. He's been yours all along, Marcus. I just never had the chance to tell you."

The truth had been a long time coming. I had kept it from him, from everyone, for so many years. The pain of losing him, of doing it all on my own, had been overwhelming. But in that pain, I had made a decision. I had built a life for Max without him, because I had to. It was easier than facing the truth about why he had left, why he had never even tried to come back.

Marcus's hand trembled slightly as he placed it on the table, his eyes still locked on mine. "But why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you come to me when you found out?"

The question struck a nerve, and I could feel the anger and hurt bubbling up again. It wasn't a simple answer. It wasn't just about the betrayal, or the pain of losing him. It was everything-the way he had left without a word, the way he had just walked away from everything we had built. "You made that choice, Marcus," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "You walked away from me. You didn't even look back."

The room felt smaller now, the walls closing in as I relived the painful memories. I had tried so hard to forget the way he had left, the way he had refused to listen to my plea for him to stay. The abandonment had left me shattered, but I had pulled myself together. For Max. For me.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair, his eyes distant. "I never knew, Olivia. I never knew about Max. If I had known-"

"You didn't," I cut him off, my voice firm. "You didn't know. And that's because you chose not to. You chose your career, your life, over me and the family we could have had. I couldn't-" My throat tightened, the words choking me. "I couldn't wait around for you to change your mind. I had to move on."

A long silence followed. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. The anger was still there, simmering beneath the surface, but it was mixed with something else-a sadness, a longing for what could have been.

"I was wrong," Marcus finally said, his voice quiet but resolute. "I shouldn't have left. I should've stayed. I should've been there for you... for Max."

I glanced up at him then, meeting his eyes. The sincerity in his words was undeniable. But I wasn't sure if it was too late to fix what had been broken. "It doesn't matter now, Marcus," I said, my voice soft. "I've made my peace with everything. Max and I, we're fine. We don't need you to fix anything."

"Olivia, I want to be part of his life. I want to be part of yours," Marcus insisted, his eyes pleading. "I can't undo what I've done, but I want to make it right. Please, just give me a chance."

The words hung between us, and I felt the pull of them. Part of me wanted to believe him, to let him back into our lives, to give Max the father he deserved. But another part of me-one that had been hurt too many times before-held me back. I couldn't just let him back in without knowing he was really committed this time.

"I don't know if I can," I said honestly. "It's been so long. So much has happened."

Marcus's face fell, the desperation clear in his expression. "I understand if you don't trust me. I know I've lost that right. But I'm not asking for your forgiveness. I'm asking for a chance. A chance to be the man I should've been. A chance to know my son."

His words echoed in my mind, and I felt torn. Could I really let him back into our lives? Could I risk opening up again, only to have him leave like he did before?

"I'll think about it," I said, the words tasting bitter in my mouth. I didn't want to give him hope, but I didn't want to shut him out completely either. "But it's not just about me. It's about Max. He's not going to just accept you because you're his father. He needs to see that you're here to stay."

Marcus nodded, his face a mixture of relief and apprehension. "I'll do whatever it takes, Olivia. I'm not going anywhere."

I wasn't sure I believed him, but I didn't have the strength to argue further. I needed time to process everything. The years of pain, the years of pretending I didn't care, and now, the chance of a new beginning. It was overwhelming.

Marcus's POV

I had spent so many years convincing myself that what I had done was for the best. I had told myself that I was doing the right thing by leaving, by focusing on my career, my ambitions. I had buried my regrets, hidden them away, and allowed myself to move on. But now, sitting across from Olivia, hearing her words, I realized how wrong I had been.

The reality of it hit me like a punch to the gut. How could I have missed out on so much? I had chosen everything else over my family, and now I was paying the price. Olivia had done an incredible job raising him on her own, and from the way she spoke, she had built a life without me in it. I didn't deserve a place in that life, but I wasn't going to give up. Not without a fight.

"I should've known, Olivia," I said, my voice filled with remorse. "I should've fought harder for you. For us."

"You left," she said, her voice flat, emotionless. "You left me when I needed you the most."

The words stung, but they were the truth. I had no excuse. I had abandoned her, and now I had to live with the consequences of my actions.

"You don't have to forgive me," I continued, my voice shaky. "But I want to try. I want to make up for all the lost time."

She didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked away, her gaze distant, lost in thought. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the battle between wanting to protect herself and wanting to give me a chance.

"I don't know what I want," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can trust you again."

It hurt to hear those words, but I couldn't blame her. I had earned her distrust. But I wasn't going to give up. I would prove myself, no matter how long it took.

"I'll show you," I said, my voice firm. "I'll show you that I'm not the man I was. I'm not the man who left you. I'm the man who wants to be there for you now. For both of you."

Olivia didn't answer, but the way her eyes softened, even if just a little, gave me hope. It wasn't much, but it was a start. And that was all I needed.

Olivia's POV

I didn't know what the future held, but one thing was certain: nothing would ever be the same. Marcus was back in my life, and Max's, whether I was ready or not. I had no idea if I could ever forgive him, if I could ever trust him again, but I knew that I couldn't let the past define us forever.

I had a responsibility to Max, and that meant figuring out what was best for him. If that meant giving Marcus a chance, then I would. But it would take time. And trust, which was something that couldn't be rebuilt overnight.