The tension at the door was palpable, but Alessia could feel the curious stares of her family and friends from inside the house. She didn’t want to make a scene—not today, not at Avery’s party. Letting out a quiet sigh, she looked at Christian, who stood rigid, his jaw clenched.
“Fine,” she said softly. “Come in. But keep it civil, Christian.”
Christian’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and he gave a curt nod. “Thank you.”
Theo looked like he wanted to protest, but Alessia shot him a quick glance, silently pleading for patience. He relented, stepping aside to let Christian enter. The air in the room shifted as Christian walked in, his gaze immediately falling on Avery, who was cradled in Pamela’s arms.
Pamela froze when she saw Christian, her eyes darting to Alessia for guidance. Alessia gave her a small, reassuring nod.
Christian walked over, his expression softening as he looked at the tiny baby swaddled in pink. “She’s so small,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Babies usually are,” Pamela quipped, trying to break the tension. She carefully handed Avery over to Alessia, who held her protectively.
“Everyone, this is Christian,” Alessia said, her voice calm but clipped. “Avery’s father.”
The room was silent for a beat before Victoria stepped forward, her smile tight but polite. “Christian. Nice to see you again.”
“Mrs. Kane,” Christian replied, his tone neutral. “Thank you for taking such good care of her.”
Victoria nodded, clearly holding back more pointed remarks. Zane, leaning casually against the fireplace, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though his eyes flicked to Theo, who stood silently by Alessia’s side.
“Well,” Pamela said, breaking the awkwardness, “how about some cake?”
Everyone agreed, the group slowly dispersing to the dining area. Alessia handed Avery back to her mother, who cooed at her granddaughter before sitting down on the couch. Christian lingered near Alessia and Theo, his eyes darting between them.
Theo stepped closer to Alessia, his hand resting lightly on her lower back, a silent show of support. Christian noticed but didn’t comment, his expression unreadable.
“I didn’t mean to cause a scene,” Christian said quietly, addressing Alessia. “I just… I didn’t know this was happening today. I would’ve liked to have been part of it.”
Alessia sighed, keeping her tone steady. “This wasn’t meant to exclude you, Christian. It was a welcome-home party, not a formal event. Things have been… complicated.”
Christian nodded, though his jaw tightened. “I get that. But I want to be part of her life, Alessia. I don’t want to miss everything.”
Before Alessia could respond, Pamela called out from the other side of the room. “Alessia, aren’t you cutting the cake?”
She looked at Christian, then back at the group. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, it’s Avery’s day.”
Christian nodded reluctantly. “Alright.”
The party went on with a semblance of normalcy. Alessia cut the cake, a delicate vanilla creation with Avery’s name written in elegant icing. Laughter and chatter filled the room again, and Christian made an effort to blend in. He complimented the decorations, made polite small talk with Zane, and even thanked Victoria for organizing such a beautiful celebration.
Theo, however, kept a watchful eye on him, his protective instincts on high alert.
“You’re quiet,” Zane muttered to Theo as they stood by the drinks table. “I thought you’d say something.”
Theo shook his head, his gaze fixed on Christian, who was now chatting with Victoria. “It’s not the time. Alessia doesn’t want drama today, and I respect that.”
Zane smirked. “You’ve got more patience than me. I’d have kicked him out by now.”
Theo chuckled dryly. “Believe me, it’s taking everything I’ve got.”
As the party wound down, Christian approached Alessia, who was sitting on the couch, rocking a now-sleepy Avery in her arms. Theo sat beside her, his arm draped protectively over the back of the couch.
“Can we talk now?” Christian asked, his tone low but firm.
Alessia hesitated, glancing at Theo, who nodded slightly. She turned back to Christian. “Fine. Let’s step outside.”
The three of them moved to the porch, the cool evening air a welcome relief from the warmth of the crowded house. Christian stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking at Avery through the glass door for a moment before speaking.
“I want to have regular visits,” he said, his voice steady. “I want to be involved in her life, Alessia. I don’t want to miss out on being her father.”
Alessia looked at him carefully, weighing his words. “Christian, I’m not trying to keep you away. But things have to be on Avery’s terms. She comes first. Always.”
“I know,” he said quickly. “I’m not asking to take her away or disrupt anything. I just… I want to see her. To be there for her.”
Theo’s voice was calm but firm. “If you’re serious about this, it means showing up consistently and respecting boundaries. No more surprises.”
Christian’s eyes flicked to Theo, then back to Alessia. “I can do that. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Alessia sighed, her exhaustion evident. “Okay. We’ll work out a schedule. But Christian, if you disappear again or make things harder, I won’t hesitate to step in.”
“I won’t,” he promised, his voice earnest. “Thank you.”