The party was in full swing, the backyard glowing with twinkling lights and filled with the happy sounds of laughter and conversation. Alessia was standing near the dessert table, cutting a piece of Avery’s gorgeous pastel cake for one of the children, when she heard a commotion near the entrance.
She turned her head and froze. Christian had arrived—late and looking disheveled. His tie was loosened, his shirt half-untucked, and even from a distance, Alessia could tell he’d been drinking. He stumbled slightly as he approached the gathering, holding a poorly wrapped gift in one hand and a half-empty bottle of whiskey in the other.
“Seriously?” Alessia muttered under her breath, setting the cake plate down and handing it to Pamela. “Keep an eye on Avery for me,” she said quickly before heading toward Christian.
As Alessia reached him, the smell of alcohol hit her like a wave. Christian’s eyes were glassy, and his smile was lopsided. “Hey!” he said, his voice too loud for the occasion. “I made it. Where’s my girl?”
“Christian,” Alessia said, keeping her voice low but firm, “what are you doing? You’re late, and you’re drunk.”
He frowned, swaying slightly. “I’m not drunk,” he slurred, though his words betrayed him. “I just… had a few drinks. It’s my daughter’s birthday. I came to celebrate.”
Alessia glanced over her shoulder, noticing some of the guests watching the scene unfold. She stepped closer, lowering her voice even more. “This is not the place for this, Christian. Go home.”
Christian’s face twisted, a mix of frustration and sadness flashing across it. “I’m not leaving,” he said stubbornly. “I have every right to be here. She’s my daughter too.”
“She’s also a baby, Christian,” Alessia shot back, her patience wearing thin. “She doesn’t need to see her father like this.”
At that moment, Theo approached, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding. “Is there a problem here?” he asked, standing slightly in front of Alessia.
Christian’s eyes flicked to Theo, narrowing. “Of course you’re here,” he said bitterly, his words dripping with venom. “Playing the perfect family man.”
“Theo is part of our family,” Alessia said sharply. “And right now, you’re ruining your chance to be part of Avery’s day.”
Christian laughed humorlessly, pointing at Theo with the whiskey bottle. “You think you’ve won, don’t you? Taking everything from me. Alessia. Avery.”
“That’s enough,” Theo said, his tone calm but firm. “You’re not doing this here, not at her party.”
But Christian wasn’t done. He turned back to Alessia, his voice rising. “I still love you, Alessia. Don’t you see that? I made mistakes, but I’ve been trying. I’ve been trying so hard, and you just… replaced me.”
Alessia’s breath caught in her throat, but she quickly composed herself. “Christian, this isn’t about us. This is about Avery. And right now, you’re not thinking about what’s best for her.”
“She’s my family,” Christian insisted, his voice cracking. “You’re my family.”