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CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

I watch the tension in my fiancée as my parents greet her in the hallway of their home. I expected my mother to give her the usual air kisses that never actually land—but instead, she opens her arms wide and embraces both my bride-to-be and our son in one sweeping hug.

The accident that killed Jodie and the child my parents still believe was my heir . . . it changed them.

"Welcome to the family, Alexis! And you, my little prince, I don’t even know you yet, but just know you’ve already got a blank check from Grandma for anything you want."

My mother's joking words instantly help Alexis relax. Much like Marla is with her, my fiancée is fiercely protective of our son. The saying "anyone who is kind to my child wins my heart" could fit Alexis like a glove.

My father greets her as well, then they both turn to me. Alexis sets Sedric down, and when he stands firm on his little feet—just like he did back at the apartment—my parents cheer. Proud as ever, Sedric smiles and then stretches his tiny hand toward my father.

I see the old man’s eyes fill with tears as he grips his grandson’s hand.

"Three generations," my mother says, and I know that despite all her flaws, she means it.

"I think I passed the first test," Alexis jokes softly, relieved, as we watch my parents each take one of Sedric’s hands and walk off with him.

"They’re not the best people in the world, but they’re far from the worst," I tell her.

"As long as they love my son and treat him well, I’ll do everything I can to make this work."

As if life wants to test that resolution immediately, Lois appears.

"Good evening, LJ," she says as she approaches, her face pale, dark circles under her eyes. "Alexis, I’m Lois Seymour," she continues, as if they’ve never met, and extends her hand—only to be ignored by the mother of my child.

Lois drops her hand and avoids my gaze. "Alexis, would you mind coming with me for a moment? I’d like to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say to you in private, Lois. If you want to talk, do it in front of your brother."

"Okay. I just wanted to apologize for?—"

"No."

"But you didn’t even let me finish."

"Because it won’t make a difference. Try again in a few years—after I’ve seen you treat my son with the love and respect an aunt should give. Maybe then I’ll forgive you. Right now, I can’t."

"You have to understand how much I was hurting. I lost my best friend and my nephew."

Alexis is kind enough not to correct her on that last part—but I fully intend to have that conversation with my family later tonight.

"I get that. And I sympathize. But I can’t forgive you for lying to me. You deceived me. You broke my heart when you said your brother had cheated on his ‘fiancée’ with me. You made me feel dirty. Worthless. You made me hate him. You played God, Lois."

"My God, Alexis.. ." My sister breaks down into loud sobs, but neither of us flinches.

"I’m not done, sister-in-law . Despite all that, I might have forgiven you—eventually.

But it will take years, maybe a lifetime, to forgive you for refusing to help when I reached out through Instagram.

I was pregnant with your nephew, Lois. My mom was facing criminal charges for a crime she didn’t commit.

And I believed I was about to raise a child fathered by a horrible man," she says, tightening her grip on my hand as if silently apologizing for having believed that about me.

"But even then, I wanted to do the right thing. I wanted to give LJ the right to be in his child’s life. "

"I’m sorry," Lois whispers.

Alexis ignores her. "I’m not placing all the blame on you for LJ only meeting Sedric now.

I made my share of mistakes too. But you played God, this time with an innocent child.

It had been months—way past any grieving period.

What you did was pure cruelty. And that’s something I will never forgive. "

Lois crumbles, burying her face in her hands.

"You want to leave?" I ask Alexis quietly.

"No. Your parents don’t deserve that. I’m fine.

There’s just one more thing I need to say to your sister.

" She turns. "Don’t get in my way again, Lois.

I may not be a Seymour—" She pauses, bringing my hand to her lips and kissing it. "I may not be a Seymour yet . But I was born in pain. I’ve lived with it since I was a child. Try standing in our way again, and I swear, you’ll regret it. "

Alexis

After saying everything I needed to say to Lois, I laced my fingers through LJ’s and walked past her like she was nothing.

I sat with my fiancé in the living room, and he didn’t say a word about the scene I’d just caused—as if it were nothing at all.

Maybe to him it was nothing, but I’m still shaking. I’m used to bottling things up, not letting them out. And honestly? It felt liberating to direct my anger where it belonged.

While I listen to LJ chat with his parents, I watch Sedric showing off—doing his drunken astronaut walk around the room. My father-in-law looks like he’s in the presence of a god, utterly smitten.

"Mom, Alexis agreed to be my wife," LJ says out of nowhere—right as Seth walks in without his girlfriend.

According to LJ, she’s already out of the picture. Shame. I liked her. She was so nice!

"Wait, what? Are we celebrating something?" Seth asks.

" What !" Sedric repeats, copying him, and everyone bursts into laughter.

"We should throw a dinner to celebrate the engagement," my soon-to-be mother-in-law suggests. "LJ told me your stepdad is sick, Alexis. I’m so sorry, dear."

"Thank you."

"What do you think about hosting an engagement dinner here?"

"Sounds great!" I say at the same time LJ does, already imagining Badger—with his wild hair and full tattoos—among the Seymours. "But why don’t we switch things around and host it at my mom’s boyfriend’s restaurant instead?"

"I prefer that idea," LJ agrees, and I know it’s not just about the food—he gets my drift.

"Congratulations to you both," Lois says, stepping back into the room. She still has puffy eyes, but she’s all made up again, like she wasn’t crying her eyes out thirty minutes ago.

After what happened, I didn’t think she’d come back down.

I watch her, this girl who’s probably my age, and wonder how the hell she composed herself so fast. Then I remember what LJ told me about his family—they’re trained to fake it. To mask their emotions.

Even though I don’t want to, I feel a stab of pity for her.

And to top it off, Sedric suddenly runs toward her—something he’s only ever done with his father—wrapping his arms around her legs.

Lois looks stunned. The mask falls right off her face as she stares at me, silently asking for permission to pick him up.

I give her a slight nod. She bends down, and Sedric throws his arms around her neck, planting a big, drooly kiss on her cheek.

"Hi there, little man. I’m your auntie. And by the looks of it, we’re gonna get along just fine," she says.