Chapter 144

• Ava’s POV
• He promised to be a father, a normal man trying to change for his daughter. A part of me screamed it was a lie, a beautiful fantasy that would burn down around us. But the part of me that saw the genuine awe in his eyes when he looked at Aria’s tiny hands decided to take the risk. I accepted him back into my life—for Aria’s sake.
• The next morning, the reality of that decision felt heavy and strange. Nancy arrived, her eyes widening slightly when she saw Fabio sitting awkwardly on the sofa, a book about baby sleep schedules held upside down in his hands. I pulled her into the kitchen, keeping my voice low.