Chapter 5

After that day, Edward became a regular presence at Claire's apartment.

Promptly at six every evening, he showed up at Unit 301 with his hands full. Sometimes groceries, sometimes toys, or new clothes for Leo.

Resistance at first turned to resignation, and now Claire could not even name the quiet warmth that had settled between them.

"Mr. Sterling!" Leo's favorite part of each day was six o'clock. He would drag a small stool to the door, ears pricked for footsteps in the hallway.

At the sound of steady, firm strides, he would jump up, yank the door open, and launch himself like a little cannonball. "Mr. Sterling! What did you bring today?"

"Take a guess," Edward said, a playful glint in his eye.

"Is it a drawing book?" Leo's eyes lit up.

"Nope," Edward replied.

"Is it blocks?" Leo tried again.

"Still not it."

"Then what is it?" Leo asked eagerly.

Edward pulled a small box from his bag.

Leo's eyes went wide with wonder. "It's an ant farm! The one where you watch ants dig tunnels!"

"Do you like it?" Edward asked.

"I love it! So much!" Leo spun in circles with the box clutched to his chest, then froze and tilted his head up. "Mr. Sterling, why do you come see us every day?"

Edward blinked, caught off guard for a second.

"Your mom cooks way too salty. I have to keep an eye on her," he said with a grin.

Leo gave it some thought, then nodded. "Yeah, it's kind of salty."

From the kitchen, Claire's voice carried over. "I heard that."

A soft smile tugged at Edward's lips.

It was the first time Claire had seen him smile.

It was not a polite social grin, not a sharp smirk from the boardroom, but a genuine, gentle one.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She spun back to the stove at once, pretending to focus on the pan, but the tips of her ears burned pink.

Dinner consisted of three dishes: a classic salad, seared salmon with dill, and braised beef.

Claire was normally an excellent cook, but the beef had come out saltier than usual that night because her mind had been far too distracted.

"Mom, Mr. Sterling said your food is too salty," Leo blurted out without holding back.

Claire shot Edward a glare.

He took a bite of beef without flinching, chewed slowly, and said calmly, "It's fine."

"But Mr. Sterling, didn't you just say my mom's cooking was—" Leo protested, a little indignant.

"Leo, no talking while eating," Edward interrupted.

Leo pouted, too annoyed to argue but too small to talk back.

Claire stared down at her plate, fighting a smile that threatened to break free.

Once dinner was finished, Leo dragged Edward over to show off his ant farm.

"Mr. Sterling, look! The biggest one is the queen! She's super tough, digging tunnels nonstop!"

"I see," Edward responded.

"And this little one is super lazy. It's always sleeping, so I named it Sleepyhead," Leo said.

"Good one," Edward responded.

"Mr. Sterling, do you think ants dream?" Leo asked, tilting his head.

"I don't know," Edward said with a shrug.

"I think they do. If I were an ant, I'd dream. I'd dream about a huge piece of candy, then carry it home for Mom," Leo said, grinning.

Edward looked down at the tiny boy, and a softness he had never known flooded his chest.

At four years old, Leo lived in a low-income apartment, wore clearance kids' clothes from the store, and had no toy cars, no Lego sets, no action figures.

Yet he had the brightest eyes in the world, and the warmest little heart.

Edward called out gently, "Leo."

"Yeah?" Leo responded, looking up at him.

"Would you like to have a dad?" Edward asked.

Leo went completely still. He lifted his head, his big eyes solemn and focused. "Mr. Sterling, are you gonna be my dad?"

Edward was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

"I don't have a dad. The kids at school called me a bastard because I didn't have one. I fought them and made their noses bleed," Leo mumbled, picking at the edge of the ant farm.

Edward's gaze darkened. "What happened then?"

Leo's voice dropped to a whisper. "Mom had to go to the school. She apologized to the teacher and the other kids' parents, over and over.

"She cried on the way home. She said she was sorry, that it was her fault I didn't have a dad."

He looked up, teary-eyed. "But it's not Mom's fault, Mr. Sterling. I don't need a dad. I just need Mom. But..."

He hesitated. "If someone like you wanted to be my dad... I'd be really happy."

Edward fell silent for a long moment.

Then he lifted Leo into his arms and settled him on his lap. "Leo, what if I told you I am your dad?"

Leo froze at Edward's words.

His mouth fell open, confusion written all over his face. "But... Mom said Dad went really far away..."

"I did. I went far away because I didn't know you existed. If I had, I never would have left."

Tears spilled down Leo's cheeks, silent at first, his small shoulders shaking. "A-Are you really my dad?"

"I am," Edward said.

"Then why are you only here now?" Leo murmured.

Edward held him tighter. "I'm sorry. Daddy came too late."

Leo finally burst into loud sobs, burying his face in Edward's neck and crying until he could barely breathe.

Standing in the kitchen doorway with a mug of milk, Claire watched silently, tears rolling down her cheeks.

She had heard every word.