Page 39 of Silent Night Temptation

I can’t stop the tears from welling up again, but I keep going, the words spilling out before I can stop them. "But now… now he’s mad at me because I didn’t tell him about the baby, and I feel like I’ve lost him. Like we might never speak again, and I don’t know how to fix that. I don’t know how to fix any of this."

Coco reaches out and squeezes my hand again, her grip warm and firm. "You didn’t tell him because you were keeping my secret," she says gently. "And for that, I’m grateful, Nyree. You didn’t betray me, even though you love him. You did what you thought was right, and I can’t blame you for that."

Her words bring some comfort, but the ache in my chest doesn’t ease. I’m still terrified that I’ve lost Marcus forever, thathe won’t forgive me for keeping this from him. But Coco’s hand in mine is a lifeline, reminding me that maybe, just maybe, things aren’t as irreparable as they feel.

"I’ll talk to him," she says suddenly, her voice filled with resolve. "We’ll talk to him together. I’ll explain everything. It’s not fair for him to be angry at you when you were just trying to protect me."

I look at her, surprised by the strength in her words. "You don’t have to do that," I say, though part of me is relieved by the offer.

"I do," she insists. "He needs to hear the truth from both of us. It’s the only way any of this is going to get better."

We sit there in silence for a while longer, the wear of the last twenty four hours pressing down on us both. But now, there’s a tiny glimmer of hope where there was only dread before. Maybe there’s a way through this after all.

Coco stands up, and I follow her. My legs feel shaky as I push myself off the bed. We walk to the door together, a strange sense of solidarity settling between us.

As we step into the hallway, the house feels eerily quiet, as if it’s waiting for whatever comes next. I glance at Coco, and she gives me a small, determined nod.

As we descend the stairs together, my heart beats wildly in my chest. Coco is tense beside me, and I can feel the nervous energy buzzing like a live wire. My fingers still tremble slightly from earlier, but I’ve managed to hold it together…for now.

We reach the bottom of the stairs and move toward the living room. Just as we round the corner, the front door swings open, and Marcus steps in. His broad frame casts a shadow into the house. He’s holding an axe, his breath visible in the cold morning air. For a second, my heart stops. There’s something fierce about the image, his strong hands gripping the handle, thefrost clinging to his jacket. But then he speaks, and the intensity of the moment breaks slightly.

"I’ve been chopping wood," he explains as if to calm us. His voice is a little breathless from the cold outside. He wipes a trickle of sweat from his brow then leans the axe against the wall by the door and looks us over. His focus lands on me for a moment longer than I expect. I feel that familiar tension settle in my chest again, but I force myself to stay composed, even as the silence continues.

Coco takes a step forward, her fingers curling at her sides as if she’s steeling herself. "Dad, we need to talk."

Marcus straightens, his eyes softening as he looks at her. "I know," he replies quietly, his voice gentler now. "I need to talk to you too."

Before either of us can respond, the door to the kitchen swings open, and Ethan walks in. He looks at Coco immediately and moves toward her, slipping his hand into hers with a quiet, comforting gesture. Coco’s eyes widen, surprised to see him there, but it’s Marcus who speaks first.

"It’s alright, Coco," Marcus says, his gaze shifting between her and Ethan. "We’ve already spoken."

The surprise on Coco’s face intensifies. I’m shocked as well. "You… you talked?" she asks, looking at Ethan, confusion mingling with hope in her expression.

Ethan nods, squeezing her hand gently. "Yeah, we did. Man to man."

Marcus steps closer to his daughter, the heaviness in the air lifting slightly, replaced with something warmer and softer. "I’m sorry, Coco," he begins, his voice thick with emotion. "I know I can be overbearing, and sometimes it probably feels like I’m not listening to you. I just… I love you so much. You’re my only daughter. I’ve always felt this need to protect you from the world, to make sure you’re safe, and sometimes that means Idon’t stop to think about what you need, what you want." He pauses. "But if you love Ethan, I won’t stand in your way. I trust that you know what’s right for your own happiness."

Coco’s face softens, her eyes filling with tears as she steps forward to embrace her father. "Thank you, Dad," she whispers. "I love him. I really do."

Marcus pulls her close, holding her tightly, and for a moment, everything feels suspended in the warmth of that embrace. The heartache, the misunderstandings, it all feels like it’s starting to heal.

Ethan steps forward, nodding respectfully at Marcus. "I promised him I would take care of you, Coco. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I love you. I’m going to be there for you and the baby. I just want you to be happy."

Coco’s hand tightens around his, and she gives him a small, grateful smile. The connection between them feels real, and I can see how much Ethan wants to be part of her life, part of their future. And though I never thought I’d see the day, Marcus seems to accept it. He’s still cautious and protective, but the walls that had been built between himself and Ethan seem to have softened.

Then Coco turns, her focus falling on me. "Dad," she says quietly, stepping out of his embrace. "There’s something else we need to talk about. It’s about Nyree."

My heart clenches in my chest, my breath catching. I’m not sure I’m ready for whatever comes next.

Coco continues, her voice gentle. "You can’t blame her for not telling you about the baby. She didn’t betray you. She was protecting my secret. She was being a good friend to me, and you shouldn’t hold that against her."

Marcus looks toward me, and I feel my stomach twist in knots. For a second, I can’t tell what he’s thinking, but then he speaks, and his voice is low. "I know," he says. "Ethan helped me see thatshe was just trying to protect you, Coco. And that… that’s what friends do."

The relief that floods through me is immediate, and I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Marcus takes a step toward me, his eyes searching mine. "Nyree," he says quietly, reaching for my hand. His touch is gentle, almost hesitant, but it sends a surge of emotion through me. "I’m sorry for how I reacted. I’ve always been so protective of everyone I care about, sometimes to the point where I let that protectiveness turn into distrust. But I trust you. I know you kept Coco’s secret because you care about her, just like you care about me."

My vision blurs with tears again, and I can’t hold them back this time. The weight of everything…the pain, the fear, the love…all hits me at the same time, and I’m overwhelmed by the relief that maybe things are going to be okay.

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