Chapter Seventeen

Gustin Pov

Gustin stood outside the door, his hand lingering on the knob, his mind still racing from his confrontation with Leilani.

His ultimatum had been clear—she needed to meet him to discuss their children.

He scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to shake off shame, of course he was railroading her but he was desperate.

Ever since finding out that the children were his, he had hoped to find her and talk so yes a confrontation outside the apartment he was buying was not how it was supposed to go.

But it had happened, he’d told her they needed to talk, especially about the kids. He needed to see them, to fix this mess, she wasn’t making it easy.

But then again, neither was he.

He had left her with little room to refuse, a part in his children's lives was not negotiable.

With a sigh he pushed open the door and stepped inside, the familiar scent of Bellamy’s perfume lingering in the air. As he walked through the foyer, the sound of plastic blocks clattering together reached his ears.

He followed the noise to the living room, where he found Thomas sitting on the floor, his small hands expertly stacking colorful blocks. He seemed very happy there at least he liked the space, which was more than he could say for the boys mother. She was the reason he was even doing this in the first place,she didn't like her old place wanted something better to raise the baby but Gustin knew she wanted a way to monitor him from his office.

His eyes scanned the room looking for her, he found Bellamy sitting on the edge of the couch scanning her phone or pretending to do so anyway.

ts walls were bare, the echo of their earlier hopes still clinging to the empty rooms. The spaciousness was meant for a fresh start, a place to create new memories. But now, it felt cold, devoid of the warmth he had envisioned.

Gustin looked to his son and smiled his heart softening as he took in the scene. He always loved these small, quiet moments with his son, where Thomas’s world was as simple as the towers he built.

Without a word, Gustin crossed the room and scooped Thomas into his arms. The boy let out a shrill squeal,

“Daddy!” Thomas cheered, dropping his blocks, his chubby hands reaching up to hold his father’s face.

“Hey, champ, I missed you” Gustin murmured, pressing a kiss to Thomas’s cheek, feeling the small weight of him against his chest.

" Missed you too daddy," he pulled the boy away looking into eyes that looked exactly like his

" Did you, "

" Uh huh"

" I missed you bunches," he muttered, Gustin pressed a kiss to his cheek

" I missed you a million" he shook his head vehemently

" No no daddy, I missed you a ,a " he stuttered and Gustin laughed spinning him

" I know buddy, what were you making" he asked

" Castle" Thomas mumbled

He could feel the way Bellamy’s gaze shifted toward him, she wanted to say something, he was surprised she had managed to stay so quiet for so long in the first place.

“You’ve been gone a while,” she finally said, her voice laced with accusation.

Gustin set Thomas back down with a distracted nod and he crawled over to the blocks and continued playing immediately absorbed into the game.

“Yeah, I had to take care of some things.”

Bellamy stood, her arms still crossed, and walked toward him, her face twisted in a scowl

“What things, Gustin? What exactly could you have to discuss with your ex"

He didn’t respond immediately,

" It's my business Bellamy, not yours. I don't know why you think you have the right to ask me those questions " he muttered and she hissed

" What do you mean not my business, I'm the mother of your son,I deserve to know your business "

He sighed heavily, stepping away from her, but Bellamy stepped close, crossing her arms.

" How long have you known she was back in London" she hissed and he ran his hands through his hair.

She scoffed when he didn't reply

" She's been back that long, or was your last business trip when you left your engagement with our son to go see her " she asked her voice breaking

" Have you been cheating on me that long"

"I'm not cheating on you," he said firmly, trying to keep his tone measured.

Bellamy scoffed, shaking her head.

“That’s rich, coming from you. You cheated on your first wife. " She muttered and he laughed

. “You’re right,” he said, his tone softening just slightly.

“I wasn’t perfect. I made mistakes. But you knew what you were getting into, Bellamy. We both did.”

" This isn't the life I wanted,and it definitely isn’t what I signed up for? "

" You keep running to her every chance you get "

Gustin’s patience was wearing thin.

" I'm not cheating on you Bellamy, because you are not my wife, and you're nothing to me " he hissed she swallowed, her face flushed red from rage.

Bellamy’s eyes darkened, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of her lips

" I was wondering when you would throw that in my face " she mumbled and he shrugged

"That’s funny, Bell, that you needed my reminding. Real funny. I cheated on Leilani and I'll never forget my wrong but if I remember correctly, you were the woman I cheated with in the first place."

Bellamy’s eyes flared with cold anger

"So, what are you saying that I should just accept it? That you’ll always have one foot in our lives, that you'll always run back to your ex-wife whenever it suits you? " She asked

" Because that’s what it feels like, Gustin, no matter how hard I try you’re always half here it doesn't matter if Leilani is in London or in America, you're never here"

Her words stung, deeper than he’d anticipated. He stepped closer to her, lowering his voice,

"I’m will do my best to be here for Thomas, he's my son"

" What about me" she asked

" You're his mother" he replied simply

" So you and Leilani" she asked her hands falling to her side

"Whatever you think is going on between me and Leilani— is none of your business. I don't know if we'll ever be more" he paused and she nodded

" but I have children with her and I won't abandon them" she froze, her face turning white as blood rushed down her face

" What!"