“You told me there was nothing unfinished,” she said, her voice breaking. “You said your past was behind you.”
Daniel tried to step closer, but I raised a hand.
“Let her speak. You created this.”
Claire turned back to me, tense.
“What do you want?” she asked. “Money? To ruin my wedding?”
I let out a tired breath.
“I want peace. And responsibility. While you were picking out flowers, I was giving birth. Whether you get married or not—that’s not my fight. My fight is making sure my son has a present father and a clear agreement.”
Silence filled the room.
Claire looked down. For a moment, she seemed more hurt than angry.
“I didn’t know,” she whispered. “No one told me.”
“I know,” I said. “And you didn’t deserve to find out this way.”
Daniel spoke quietly, almost to himself.
“I was scared. I thought you’d leave me.”
Claire let out a bitter laugh.
“And lying was supposed to fix that?”
She shook her head slowly.
“I don’t even know if I want to get married anymore.”
I sat down carefully, exhaustion catching up with me.
“You figure out your relationship,” I said. “But today, we’re deciding how co-parenting works. Visits. Financial support. No disappearing and reappearing when it suits you.”
Daniel went still.
Then, finally, something shifted in his face.
Reality.
He pulled out his phone, voice unsteady.
“I’ll meet with a mediator tomorrow morning,” he said. “And I’ll transfer money today for initial expenses. I don’t want Ethan growing up thinking I abandoned him.”
I studied him.
Months of silence don’t disappear in one sentence.
“Everything in writing,” I said. “And if you fail, don’t show up unannounced again.”
Claire, sitting across from us, lifted her head.
“I’m not getting married this Saturday,” she said quietly. “Not like this. Daniel, you need to fix your life. And I need to figure out who you really are.”
Then she looked at me.
