I didn’t know what to expect the first time I saw Sophia. It sure as hell wasn’t supposed to be flashbacks of the last time I saw her.

I’d relived that day enough to turn it into a novel. I didn’t need another run-through, but it was exactly what my heart felt. I saw her dark hair and dark eyes and I felt nothing but pain.

I balled my hands at my fists. This woman had ruined me. And it ended today.

“Corbin?” Surprise turned to fear.

“I’d like to come in, Sophia.”

She spotted the agents next to me. She folded without much of a fight, opening the door wide enough for the three of us to walk inside.

The townhouse was quaint, fitting for the location. A crystal chandelier hung over a round antique table. The small hallway was tiled with black and white checked marble. It somehow felt classic and modern.

“What are you doing here? What’s this about?”

She had pivoted to the dining room, but I turned in the opposite direction.

“Corbin!” she screeched.

I didn’t hear her anymore. There was a travel crib at the edge of the living room. There was soft music playing and the blinds were drawn, but I knew that was daughter sleeping. I walked toward her. The inches felt like miles. Something in my chest welled. I didn’t know if it was pride or love, but as soon as my eyes fell on her sleeping face I almost sobbed.

I looked at the angel before me. I touched her cheek gently, careful not to wake her. I shoved my hands back in my pockets and returned to Sophia. I nodded to the agents to leave us. They exited the house.

Sophia buried her face in her hands and started to cry.

“Don’t take her. Please don’t take her from me. You can’t, Corbin. You can’t.”

I glowered at the woman who I used to love. “What’s her name?” I asked.

She sniffed, and wiped her cheeks with the palms of her hands. “Adaline,” she answered. “I named her after my grandmother.”

“I see.” I pulled the chair away from the table and sat.

“I won’t let you take her.” Her eyes had turned as dark as coal.

“Let’s start with why you’re even in this situation, Sophia.” I turned to catch another glimpse of my daughter.

“I don’t have to do this. We’ve been over for a long time.”

I nodded. “We have. But you lied. And you kept my daughter from me. So, unless you want the wrath of the Marquis family crown, I’d start with some kind of explanation. You owe me that,” I hissed.

“You were there. You know how terrible it was at the end.”

“What I remember is you hated the headlines. You hated the paparazzi. They attacked you. I know all of that, Soph. They backed you into a corner and painted you as some kind of bitch. You seem to forget I offered to step down.” I grimaced, thinking of what I was willing to sacrifice back then. “But instead, you gave up. You took off. And that was the end.” I curled my fist on the table. “You never told me you were pregnant.”

“She has a normal life, Corbin. She doesn’t know anything about you or the palace. She doesn’t know what a curtsy is or how to speak five languages. She babbles and plays. She loves puppies and the color blue. She loves bananas and hates grapes. She gets dirty in the park across the street and plays on the swings. She doesn’t have a security detail. There aren’t reporters hiding in the bushes. We live a normal quiet life. And I’m going to do everything I can to keep it that.” She clenched her teeth. “You aren’t going to destroy the happiness she has.”

I heard a tiny coo and moved from my seat. She was moving in the small crib.

“Corbin, don’t,” Sophia pleaded, but she couldn’t keep me from my daughter.

I walked toward the crib and watched as the tiny figure sat up, rubbing her eyes.

“Bonjour, mi amour,” I purred. I reached forward, taking her chubby body between my hands. I lifted her and she stared at me still sleepy. “I’m your papa, princess. A little princess and you don’t even know it.” I brought her to my chest and inhaled her baby scent. This was my child. My blood. My flesh.

“Corbin.” Sophia sobbed.

I squeezed the baby gently again before I handed her to her mother.

She held her across her chest, kissing her rapidly. “Please don’t take her. This is all she knows. She’s happy and safe. No one knows who she is. She’s safe here”

“I want to know my daughter.” I swallowed. “I didn’t deserve what you did. I did nothing but love you Sophia. That love is gone now. But I never would have hurt you like you hurt me. I wouldn’t have hidden our baby. I wouldn’t have cut you out of her life.”

She closed her eyes, damp with tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

I ran my hands through my hair. “I need you to know something.” I stared out the window. I could see the long black car where Elena was waiting.

I pulled the letter from my jacket. “A nurse in France sent me this.” I handed it to her. After she read it, I continued. “I was in a terrible place when I got this letter. I started drinking after you left. I figured if you and I couldn’t make it, then what was the point of pretending I was having any fun? I drank more at parties. I boozed until the booze was gone. And then I got this.”

I sat in a large striped chair. “The letter is what made me turn my life around. I got help. I’m sober. And I’m here. Because I want to be Adaline’s father. I love her and I don’t even know her. But I know I have to be in her life.” I cleared my throat. “But I don’t know the nurse who wrote the letter. I know she violated your trust. And there could be others that know as well. You can’t be naïve enough to think people don’t know about Adaline. You can’t protect her like I can, Sophia. I have the crown. What do you have?”

She froze. “I’ll move. I’ll keep moving.”

I shook my head. “It shouldn’t be like that. You don’t have to live on the run, waiting for someone to show up at your door. And are you going to constantly determine security threats to Galona? Are you going to ask Alaric to give you clearance so you know who is currently targeting the family? Because, I’ll tell you, love. It changes daily.”

“She’s just a baby. She shouldn’t have to have security guards.”

“You’re right. She shouldn’t. But she’s a Marquis. And she’s an heir to the throne. You have to be realistic.”

“I’ve only tried to keep her safe,” she whispered. Adaline was laughing as she grasped at Sophia’s necklace. “I almost lost her during the pregnancy. That’s when I moved,” she explained. “The doctor said I had to stay away from stress. I couldn’t do that in Europe, so I came here. I thought it was far enough away.”

“You have kept her safe. You have. But it’s time I take over. I can protect her. I can protect you both from threats you don’t even know exist.”

“Are you going to take her from me?”

“Soph, before I walked through that door, I wanted to, but I love her. And I promise to keep you both safe. I’m not going to break your heart a second time.”

I rose from the chair. I cupped Adaline’s head, ruffling her unruly curls.

“Then what are you going to do?” she asked.

“Can I come by tomorrow?” I asked. “I’d like to see her. You and I can talk. And I’ll bring Elena.”

She nodded. “If Elena’s coming, I’ll have my attorney here.”

I laughed. “Elena isn’t representing my legal interests. She’s no longer my royal manager.”

“She’s not? Then why is she here?”

I put my hand on the door. “We’re together.” I kissed Adaline on the cheek, ignoring the shocked expression on Sophia’s face.

“And I’m leaving one of my men here tonight at the house.” I warned her with a glare not to protest. “Skip the attorney. I’m sure we can figure this out. I agree with you on one thing. Our daughter deserves only happiness.”

I walked out, closing the door behind me. That was hard enough without telling her more. The timing was off. I had to ease into it with Sophia. I had to keep her from running away with my child.