Chapter 548
There was no small talk and no buildup. Winter went straight to the point.
Chris knew that approach well. It was the kind of opening used by someone who intended to control the conversation.
He was usually the one in that position.
This time, though, he was not.
“Okay,” he said.
His gaze never left Winter’s face.
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The main house was unusually quiet for such an early hour. Anyone with enough sense had already gone upstairs and made themselves scarce.
Mr. White had probably returned to his room too.
Even General had been dragged away by Gavin.
At last, it was just the two of them.
Chris had so many things he wanted to ask her that he didn’t know where to begin.
Every question seemed to crowd forward at once.
But when he looked at her clear, bright eyes, her healthy complexion, and the little bit of weight she had gained, none of those questions seemed quite as important anymore.
He pushed a glass of warm water toward her.
“Have some water p>
“Thanks p>
Winter picked up the glass.
The temperature was just right.
But Chris hadn’t left the sofa once since she came downstairs.
That meant he had poured it before she came down.
Judging by the temperature, he had even timed it almost perfectly.
Winter had always known Chris was calculating.
She just hadn’t realized he could be this precise about something so small.
As if he had read the surprise on her face, Chris explained, “He skipped his nap. He never makes it past eight when that happens p>
Winter understood immediately.
She took a sip of water.
If anything, it showed just how involved Chris had been in every part of Richie’s daily life.
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He knew Richie’s routine inside and out.
O the way home, Winter had looked through some older news stories online.
Apparently, Chris took Richie to the office with him on most workdays.
At one point, a drone had accidentally flown past the Xander Corporation building and captured footage of a giant pink Poppy Pig sticker on the floor-to-ceiling window of the chairman’s office.
A giant pink cartoon pig.
A few years ago, no one would have believed Chris Xander would ever allow something like that anywhere near his office.
Winter took another sip of water.
The cold winter air had left her throat dry.
Then she set the glass back on the coffee table.
He leaned back against the sofa, resting one elbow on the armrest as he looked at her.
His gaze was intense, almost hungry, yet he still seemed to be holding himself back.
“Is this about custody p>
Dominic had once asked him the same thing.
If Winter got better, came home, and asked for Richie, would Chris let her take him?
His answer had been yes.
Whatever she wanted, he would give her.
Richie was the child she had carried for eight months, the child she had nearly lost and fought so hard to get back.
Chris had no right to keep him from her.
“You’re a good father,” Winter said.
The moment the words left her mouth, she paused.
It sounded a little too much like the kind of thing someone said before turning a man down.
Still, she meant it.
Chris really was a good father.
He caught the tiny change in her expression, and the familiarity of it made something in his chest tighten.
He lowered his eyes.
“You’re a good mother too p>
Winter knew she still had a long way to go.
“I’ll do my best p>
There was so much she still wanted to do for Richie.
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Chapter 548
They had years ahead of them, and she wanted to be there for all of it.
She wanted to become the mother he deserved and give him all the love she could.
“I’m not going to take Richie away from you,” Winter said.
She had thought about it carefully.
Whatever happened between her and Chris, Richie shouldn’t have to pay the price for it.
Taking him away from Chris wouldn’t be fair to Richie.
And it wouldn’t be fair to Chris either.
So she had made up her mind.
“I want us to raise Richie together p>
“You want us to raise Richie together p>
They spoke at the same time.
P
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Sara Lili
Sara is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.