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She rolled her eyes. “I think I’ve had enough of your rebellious streak in this lifetime. So tell me? How have you and Katy been? I haven’t seen my darling girl in a long time.”

“She’s good, Lara.” My voice softened at the mention of her. “More than good.”

Both Lara and my mom adored Katy. My entire family did well except for the one person we all gathered here for today. Serena. She and Katy never became friends, which only caused Ser and me to drift apart. We were still close but not as close as we used to be. But I still wouldn’t miss her first debut solo with a major orchestra.

In minutes, the concert started with the hum of strings bleeding into the air. It was odd how the sound of the symphony was the sound of my past. I still loved to play my classical pieces in private. But I have grown into rock music so much so that it was how I identified myself. It was raw, guttural, and real, and that was me now.

I watched Ser give the performance of her life, her music so poignant and brilliant with clear emotions. I was so proud of her for making all her dreams come true.

“Ser,” I called out, grinning just as she exited the backstage area after the show.

When her eyes met mine, she matched my grin before pulling me into a hug. “Lan, so good to see you,” she muttered. “I didn’t think you would make it.”

She was a mini-Lara, with her same caramel hair and light brown eyes, wearing a glittery shift dress.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” I said as I handed her a bouquet of wildflowers. Her favorite. “Congratulations, cousin.”

She pinned me with a glare. “Thanks, but I am not your cousin.”

“To me, you are.” I lifted a shoulder. As much as I loved Ser, I felt the need to assert my boundaries every time with her. I didn’t want her to get any hopeless feelings about me. I was a taken man and was going to remain that way forever.

Thankfully, Lara and Owen swooped in to congratulate their daughter, saving me from Ser’s insistent need to make everything awkward between us.

It was almost close to midnight when I made it back to my hotel room. I’d been riding since the early hours of the morning, and I was exhausted.

I flicked my phone to the nightstand and saw it lighting up with a notification. Frowning, I thumbed through it to see a missed call from Katy.

Not even thinking about the time, I pressed Call.

“You called?”

“Lan?” Her sweet voice spilled through the line. “Umm, I’m called you because Naomi, that’s Luka’s social worker by the way, spoke to me earlier today. She said she would be coming to meet us this Friday. Will you be here by then?”

“I’ll be there,” I replied.

“Umm, okay,” she mumbled. “Did you eat?”

I smiled before I could stop myself but kept my voice flat. “Yes.

“Ah, okay. I’ll see you on Friday then.”

“See you.”

My smile widened as the call ended. Fuck, I can’t wait to play family with my girl and Luka and watch her squirm as I avoid her.

But in all seriousness, I couldn’t wait to start a family with her. It was all she ever wanted, and now, I had the rare opportunity to make every last one of her wishes come true.

And to make her happy was my biggest wish.

Two days later

“That went well,” I said, leaning back against the couch as I stretched my arms over my head. We had just finished an hour-long meeting with Naomi. She was ecstatic that she got to meet a famous person. But turned serious as soon as she started discussing all the important details.

She explained how since Luka’s earlier days weren’t the easiest, they usually allowed the kids like him to stay with their potential parents for an initial trial period, at the end of which they would decide if we were a right fit.

She said it shouldn’t be a problem; this protocol was normal and assured Luka would be ours by the end of it.

“Just well?” Katy slid me a glance. “I think it went more than well. She seemed to love us.”