She paused briefly, her eyes locked onto his.

“And this forgiveness… isn’t because of the baby.

It’s for me. For the woman I am choosing to be.”

Arthur held her face in both hands.

“I promise you, beautiful. I will never hide anything from you again,” he said, staring straight into her eyes as tears streamed freely down his face. “Betraying your trust… hiding the truth… and, above all, betraying you the way I did… was the greatest mistake of my life.”

He paused, his voice thick but steady.

“I l