Suddenly it was her fault? The insatiable demons of distrust leaped inside her, brandishing pitchforks. She pulled back fast. “This is on you, Nick. Not me! You chose feeling good for a few minutes over our marriage. You took something wonderful, turned it inside out and ripped it to shreds so it’s no longer recognizable. I wish you’d never told me!”

“Believe me, ignorance isn’t bliss,” he said bitterly. “I owed you the truth about Leo.”

“A truth you hid for so long I don’t know how to trust you anymore.”

“I’m sorry!” His entire body pleaded with her. “I’m so, so sorry. I promise you, I’ve told you everything now. There’s nothing else. Please trust me.”

“Never lie to someone who trusts you and never trust someone who lies to you,” she muttered the quote she’d found on the internet.

Bewilderment spun around him. “But I’ve given you access to my phone and email. I’ve put up with being treated like a child, reporting in and meeting curfew. I’ve done everything you’ve asked and more. I don’t know what else I can do to make you understand that I love you. That I love the girls and our family. I know I hurt you, but honest to God, Libby, it’s time to let it go. We have to get on with our lives.”

Her heart beat so hard she heard the echo in her ears. “Let it go? Our lives aren’t a Disney song!”

His shoulders slumped and his chin fell into his chest. “Then what more do you want me to do to prove that I love you?”

“Do you miss her?”

His jaw worked as if he was grinding his teeth. “I don’t miss her at all.”

“Really? You saw a lot of her.”

“Not by choice.” His rich brown eyes sought hers, their gaze wary. “I’d be happy if I never saw her again.”

“Good.”

“But that isn’t going to be possible, is it?”

The softness of his tone sent a whoosh of prickling sensation streaking through her. “Why?”

“Because of Leo.”

A silent scream filled her head as it did whenever she thought about the child and her hands clenched. “What about Leo?”

“He’s the innocent in all of this mess.”

“You’re meeting your financial responsibilities.”

“That’s not enough. I’m his father. Despite what his mother did and how he came into existence, he deserves to know me.”

“No!”

Nick’s mouth tightened. “I get that you’re hell-bent on punishing me, but you can’t punish Leo.”

“You’ve lost the right to tell me what I can and cannot do. Let’s get our priorities straight and make things perfectly clear: the girls and I are your family. That child is hers. He’s nothing to do with us.”

“Libby, that’s not fair.”