Page 41 of Taken By My Guardian's Fangs

Laura slowly shook her head. "If I had never met Antonio, I would never have risked letting Callum meet you and have you take him away. But when Antonio and I fell in love, I knew, because you and Antonio moved in the same circles...I knew it was only a matter of time before you'd find out the truth, and that was why I came to tonight's party. I was hoping to talk to you and tell you the truth about our son..."

Laura's voice caught, and his ex-wife started to cry again. "If not for your ward, I would have lost him, and I just..." Another sob rocked Laura's form. "I'm not a bad mother, I promise. He was just there one second, and then he was gone, so please, Gaël...please don't take him away—-"

"I won't."

Laura stared at her ex-husband, terrified to let herself hope. Gaël had always been honorable, but...this was his son. Could she really let herself believe that he meant to keep his promise?

"If you had come to me with this a few weeks ago, I might have done that. But I've...changed."

His ex-wife started crying again. "Do you truly mean that?"

"You have my word. All I want is to know him, and for my son to know me. I will never take him away from you, Laura. I promise you that, too."

Laura could only cry harder, with how her reunion with Gaël was turning out to be so much better than she had ever allowed herself to dream of. "Thank you," she choked out in a sob. "Thank you, Gaël. Thank you." And because Gaël was not the only one she owed Callum's life to—-

Gaël saw Laura's gaze drift to the door of Juliette's room. "Perhaps next time," he said quietly.

Laura hadn't trouble reading between the lines, and she nodded in understanding. None of the Bellecourts would want to see her, and it would stay this way until she had the chance to explain to them what had truly happened.

After several beats, Gaël said slowly, "You can visit her at home, too."

Laura looked at him uncertainly. "What does she know about me?"

"I'm not talking about Juliette."

Laura froze.

"We built a gazebo next to her resting place. Juliette also brings pink roses to her grave every day. I'm sure our daughter will love to see you again." His chest tightened as Laura's body shook at the strength of her weeping.

"What changed you?" Laura sobbed out. "I never thought you'd let her see me..."

Gaël squeezed his eyes shut at the question. "I fell in love again...and lost her like I lost you—-"

"You never did."

His head jerked up, and when his eyes flew open, the first thing he saw was Juliette, her frail body rocked by silent sobs, while the rest of their family stood behind her.

"Do you really love me?" she demanded brokenly.

He saw no point in lying, and so he said simply. "Yes."

"And it's truly love, and not guilt?"

"Yes."

His ward threw herself in his arms. "I love you, too. Always have—-"

Gaël stiffened. "No, Juliette. You don't need to lie—-"

Juliette's arms tightened around his neck. "I'm not."

Gaël's jaw clenched. "I don't need your pity—-"

Juliette pulled back to shakily place a finger over her guardian's lips. "I have always loved you, Gaël. But I also knew Emilia Moretti was your near-perfect match—-"

Gaël cursed under his breath. He knew right away what those words meant, and Gaël didn't know whether to strangle or kiss his ward for always wanting the best for him...even if it meant sacrificing her own happiness.

"There is nothing going on between Emilia and me, and there never will be," he said tautly. "And do you know why?"

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