Isabella stood for a moment, watching her young daughter who wouldn't stop insisting on being taken to see her father. After all, she had accepted him as such, and Christian had assumed that role, she thought.

"All right, I promise I'll take you to see Dad as soon as I can," Isabella conceded, causing Christian's heart to race. "Now, give me the phone. Hello, is that you, Christian? If it is, why aren't we talking? Christian...?"

However, he didn't answer, just listening to her for a moment until he felt the call end. He wiped away a tear that had rolled down his cheek. His mother, who had been listening...