“I apologize. I know that words can’t describe everything. But I do all of these things for you and for our daughter. You can call me whatever you want: jerk, coward, whatever. But please, all I’ve ever wanted is to be with you. I know I shouldn’t hide things, but things are getting hard. I don’t want you and Hela to get in the middle of my battle.”

What he said took Zoe by surprise. She isn’t ready for it. She is at a loss for words.

She chuckled.

No. Not this time. She thought that she was ready. But she’s not. She thought it was easy. And she wasn’t...