Chapter 434
Chapter 440
Alexander
“Ethan’s been exploring for a while,” she observed. “Should we check on him p>
“He’s fine. The penthouse is childproofed. Mostly p>
“Mostly p>
“There aren’t any sharp edges or exposed outlets.” I dried my hands on a towel. “And the balcony doors lock automatically p>
“Reassuring p>
I caught the edge in her voice. Not quite sarcasm, but close. “You don’t trust me to keep him safe p>
“I didn’t say that p>
“You didn’t have to p>
Madison’s jaw tightened. “I just met you a few days ago as his father, Alexander. Forgive me for being
cautious p>
Fair point. I’d walked back into her life after five years’ absence and expected instant trust. That wasn’t
reasonable.
“You’re right,” I said quietly. “I’m sorry p>
Her eyebrows rose. “Did Alexander Knight just apologize p>
“It happens occasionally. When I’m wrong p>
“How often is that p>
“Not often enough, apparently p>
Her lips twitched. Almost a smile.
Ethan’s voice carried down the hallway, singing something with no rhythm whatsoever
“He’s having fun,” Madison said, her expression softening.
“He is p>
We moved toward the sound together, finding Ethan in my office. He’d somehow managed to spin my desk chair in circles, his arms spread wide like an airplane
“I’m flying!” he announced “Look how fast I’m going!
Madison moved to stop him, but I caught her wrist gently
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“Let him spin p>
“He’ll get dizzy p>
“Probably. But he’s happy p>
She pulled her hand free but didn’t intervene. We stood together in the doorway, watching Ethan spin himself into oblivion.
“I’m gonna throw up!” he declared cheerfully.
“Then you should probably stop,” Madison suggested.
Ethan immediately planted his feet, the chair grinding to a halt. He swayed slightly, giggling. “That was
awesome p>
“Come here, baby.” Madison held out her arms. “Let’s get you away from expensive furniture before you actually get sick p>
Ethan stumbled toward her, still laughing. She caught him, steadying his small body with practiced ease.
“You okay?” she asked, smoothing his hair.
“I’m perfect! Can I spin again p>
“Absolutely not p>
“But Mom p>
“No spinning. We’re guests here p>
Ethan’s face fell. “Oh. Sorry, King Alexander. I didn’t mean to mess up your chair p>
“You didn’t mess up anything,” I assured him. “The chair’s meant to spin p>
“Really?” His eyes lit up. “So I can do it again p>
“Ethan,” Madison warned.
“Maybe later,” I said, shooting Madison a glance. “After we do something else p>
“Like what p>
Good question What did people do with four-year-olds in penthouses?
“How about we go out in the evening?” I suggested “Somewhere fun
“Where?” Ethan bounced on his toes, his dizziness apparently forgotten
“It’s a surprise”
“I love surprises!” He grabbed both our hands, swinging them between us
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Madison looked at me, her expression skeptical. “What kind of surprise p>
“The kind that involves dinner and possibly dessert p>
“That’s vague p>
“That’s the point of a surprise p>
She studied my face, searching for ulterior motives. Whatever she found must have been acceptable because she sighed.
“Fine. But nothing too fancy. He’s four p>
“I’m aware of how old he is p>
“Just making sure p>
Ethan pulled away from both of us, racing toward the living room. “Can I watch TV p>
“For a little while,” Madison called after him.
We followed at a more reasonable pace. Ethan had already grabbed the remote, flipping through channels with surprising speed. He settled on some cartoon about talking animals running a rescue service. Dogs in uniforms driving vehicles, solving problems with teamwork and friendship.
Ethan sprawled across the couch, completely absorbed within seconds.
Madison moved to the windows, staring out at the city sprawl below. The afternoon light caught her profile, highlighting the exhaustion she tried to hide.
I stood beside her, close enough that our reflections overlapped in the glass.
“Don’t you have office work?” She didn’t look at me. “You can work if you need to. Don’t let us keep you.
“I can work later p>
“Are
you
sure? I know how you get when deadlines pile up p>
“Everything can wait.” I leaned against the window frame. “Spending time with you and Ethan matters more than reviewing contracts p>
She glanced at me sideways, surprise flickering across her face. “That’s very un CEO of you
“Maybe I’m learning p>
“Or maybe you’re procrastinating”
“Can’t it be both p>
Her lips twitched Almost a smile
We stood there in comfortable silence, watching Ethan giggle at the cartoon dogs He pointed at the
1.3
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screen, explaining the plot to himself in whispered commentary.
“He does that a lot,” Madison said quietly. “Narrates everything. Movies, books, life in general p>
“He’s processing. Making sense of things p>
“Sounds like someone else I know p>
I caught her eye. “Are you comparing me to a four-year-old p>
“If the shoe fits p>
This time I smiled. Actually smiled. “Fair point p>
Ethan’s show ended with a triumphant musical number about friendship. He bounced off the couch, racing over to us.
“That was the best episode ever! Did you see how they saved the baby ducks? With the ladder truck and the net and everything p>
“Very impressive rescue,” I agreed.
“They work together because that’s what teams do! Miss Daisy says teamwork makes the dream work!” He grabbed both our hands and swung them. “Can we go somewhere? Please p>
Madison looked at me. I looked at Madison.
“Where do you want to go, prince?” I asked.
“The movies! I wanna see a movie in a big theater with popcorn!” His eyes went enormous. “Please p>
“What movie?” Madison asked cautiously.
“The one with the penguins! Everyone at school saw it except me p>
Madison’s expression shifted. “Baby, that movie might be too loud for you p>
“I’m brave now! I can handle loud p>
“Last time we went to the theater, you got scared during the previews p>
“That was when I was little! I’m big now p>
I bit back a laugh. The kid’s logic was flawless
Madison met my eyes, clearly torn “Alexander, you don’t have to
“I want to” The words came out before I’d fully thought them through ‘Let’s go see the penguin movie
“YES! Ethan pumped his fist
“If he gets scared, we’re leaving. Madison warned
“Deal p>
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