The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 49

Chapter 43: The Offer

Caleb POV

I’d been sitting in the conference room for twenty minutes, my hands clasped on the table to keep them from shaking. Every time the door opened, my heart jumped, but it was just another associate bringing water or documents I didn’t need.

“She’ll be here,” my attorney James said from across the table. “Her lawyer confirmed it thirty minutes ago.”

“And if she doesn’t show?” I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.

“Then we proceed with the court petition,” James said calmly. “But Caleb, I think she’ll show. She’s smart enough to know that working this out privately is better for everyone, especially the child.”

The child. My son. Tom.

I’d barely slept since seeing him at the aquarium, his grey eyes so much like mine, his smile lighting up his whole face when he talked about penguins. He’d stood so close to me, completely trusting, asking innocent questions while I fought not to break down and tell him I was his father.

“Mr. Black, you need to prepare yourself,” James said, his tone gentler now. “Ms. Hart is going to be hostile. She’s going to have conditions, boundaries, restrictions. This isn’t going to be easy.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “She can hate me forever if she wants. I just need to know my son.”

“The court evaluator will want to see genuine remorse,” James warned. “Not just words. They’ll be looking for evidence that you’ve changed, that you’re capable of putting the child’s needs first.”

“I have changed.” I looked at him directly. “years ago, I threw away my wife and unborn child because I was too proud to question lies. I let my father’s poison run so deep that I became him, cold and cruel and incapable of trust. But James, when I thought I’d lost them forever, when I realized what I’d done, something broke in me. I’m not that man anymore.”

“Then prove it today,” James said. “Show Bella Hart that you’re worthy of being Tom’s father. Because if you can’t convince her, you’ll never convince a judge.”

The door opened, and my heart stopped. Bella walked in like she was going to war, dressed in a sharp black suit that screamed power and control. Her amber eyes were cold, her expression carefully blank. Behind her, Jennifer trailed with a briefcase and a grim set to her mouth.

I stood immediately, my chair scraping against the floor. “Bella.”

“Mr. Black.” Her voice was pure cold. She didn’t even look at me, just moved to the opposite side of the table and sat with her back perfectly straight. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Thank you for coming,” I said, and meant it. “I know this isn’t easy.”

“You don’t know anything about what’s easy for me,” she interrupted, her eyes finally meeting mine. “So let’s skip the pleasantries and get to whatever proposal you think will convince me to let you near my son.”

My son. Not our son. The distinction was a knife to the chest, but I’d earned it.

13

Chapter 43 e Alter

“Of course.” I nodded to James, who pulled out a document.

+25 Points

“We’ve prepared a proposed parenting plan,” James said, sliding copies across the table. “It’s designed to introduce Mr. Black to Tom gradually, with the child’s comfort as the primary consideration.”

Bella didn’t touch the document. “Summarize it.”

Jennifer reached for it, scanning quickly and I watched her expression shift from suspicious to thoughtful.

“Phase one,” James began. “Supervised visits, one hour per session, twice weekly. These would occur at a neutral location of Ms. Hart’s choosing, with a supervisor of her choosing present at all times. Mr. Black would not be introduced as Tom’s father at this stage, just as a friend of the family.”

“How long is phase one?” Bella asked, her voice still cold.

“As long as you feel necessary,” I said, speaking before James could. “A month, six months, a year. I’m not putting a timeline on this, Bella. I’ll move at whatever pace makes Tòm comfortable.”

She finally looked at the document, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned pages. “And phase two?”

“Unsupervised visits,” James continued. “Short outings, parks, museums, activities that allow them to bond without the pressure of supervision. Duration increases gradually based on Tom’s comfort level.”

“And phase three?” Her voice was tighter now.

“Overnight visits,” James said carefully. “But again, only when Tom is ready. This could be a year down the line, maybe more. We’re not rushing anything.”

“You want my three-year-old to sleep at your house,” Bella said flatly. “A house he’s never seen, with a man he doesn’t know.”

“I want my son to feel comfortable enough with me that sleepovers feel natural,” I corrected gently. “And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Child psychologist consultations, parenting classes, whatever you or the court requires.”

Bella stared at me for a long moment, searching my face for something. Lies, probably. Manipulation. The man I used to be.

“Why?” she finally asked. “Why now? You had years to feel guilty, years to come find us,,Why are you suddenly father of the year?”

“I looked for you every single day,” I said, my voice breaking slightly. “I hired investigators in five states, filed missing persons reports, contacted every shelter and clinic I could find. Bella, I’ve been searching for you since the morning after you left, when I realized what I’d done.”

“Convenient,” she said, but there was less conviction in her voice.

“It’s documented.” James pushed forward another folder. “Every invoice, every report, every dead end. Mr. Black spent over two million dollars trying to locate you.”

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