His father turned his attention towards him once more.

“Because this is the day we are officially going to become family. Because this is the day that you’ve been missing for so long. Because we need to start celebrating the birth of our own child, Axel. Because this is something that I would never be able to do without you. So, Axel,” he looked at him with determination, “will you agree to spend the rest of your life with me? Will you be mine, completely and forever, and will you be willing to spend the rest of eternity with me?”

He was stunned. Completely and utterly stunned by what his...