Page 44 of Caleb

“Is the wine not any good?” Caleb asked, his voice low and hesitant.

She blinked, startled by the question, then glanced at the glass in front of her. “No, it’s fine,” she said quickly, wrapping her fingers around the stem. “I’m just... thinking.”

His lips quirked into a faint smile, though his eyes remained serious. “About what?”

“About a lot of things,” she admitted, her voice soft. She took a small sip of the wine, hoping it would steady her. “Mostly Liam. And how we’re going to navigate all of this.”

What could she honestly expect from Caleb? The man came from a family surrounded by whispers of wealth—rumored to be billionaires. She didn’t know the full truth, but the idea of that kind of money and influence terrified her.

Her biggest fear was that Caleb or his family would decide to take her to court, using their resources to try to get custody of Liam. She’d fought too hard and sacrificed too much to let anyone take her son away from her.

So far, Caleb hadn’t said anything to suggest that was on his mind, but the worry gnawed at her anyway. She had to trust—hope—that Caleb understood what was best for Liam. A child needed their mother, and no amount of wealth or privilege would change that.

And he had to know if he even hinted at trying to take Liam from her, it would be the end of whatever fragile bond they were rebuilding. It wouldn’t just destroy any chance they had of a future together—it would completely shatter her trust in him.

Liam was her son, her life, and she’d do what was necessary to keep him with her.

Caleb nodded, his expression sobering. “I’ve been thinking about that too. A lot.”

He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled a folded piece of paper, sliding it across the table to her. Taylor hesitated before picking it up, unfolding it to reveal a handwritten list.

“I started jotting things down,” Caleb said, his voice quiet. “Custody arrangements, legal stuff, child support—things I thought we needed to discuss.”

Taylor stared at the paper, the realization that Caleb was taking this seriously. The sight of his careful handwriting, the deliberate effort he’d put into organizing his thoughts, tugged at something deep inside her.

“If you don’t mind,” Caleb began, his tone steady but determined. “I’d like to contact my lawyer. Draw up a will, set up a college fund—make sure that if anything happens to me, Liam will be taken care of.”

Taylor’s breath caught, her hand tightening slightly around her glass. Caleb’s gaze was unwavering, his seriousness unmistakable.

“I’m taking his protection very seriously,” he continued, leaning forward slightly. “He’s a Burnett. And while I’m not certain you fully understand what that means, I do. It comes with privileges, yes, but also risks. I want to make certain he’s protected in every way possible.”

For a moment, Taylor couldn’t speak. The intensity of his words, the fierce protectiveness in his tone, left her momentarily stunned. Finally, she set her glass down carefully and met his gaze.

“Caleb,” she said softly, her voice measured, “that’s... a lot to take in. But I think it’s a good idea.”

He exhaled slightly as though her agreement eased some of the tension inside him. “Thank you. I—he’s my son, Taylor. I need to know he’s safe, no matter what.”

Her heart twisted at the sincerity in his voice. For all her doubts and fears, in this moment, she could see how deeply he cared—not just for Liam, but for the responsibility he now carried. It was both daunting and oddly reassuring.

“Child support,” she echoed, glancing up at him.

Caleb nodded firmly. “It’s non-negotiable. I want to provide for Liam—financially, emotionally, in every way I can.”

"Your family," Taylor said, her voice quiet but edged with uncertainty, "will they accept him?"

While Taylor believed Caleb genuinely cared about Liam—she could see it in how he looked at him and the effort he was already making—her worry didn’t stop there.

His family.

How would they feel about her son? Would they welcome him with open arms or see him as an inconvenience, a complication?

Taylor couldn’t shake the fear that the Burnetts, with all their wealth and status, might not fully accept her son. And if they didn’t... well, that was a deal breaker. No amount of charm or promises from Caleb could make up for her son being treated as less.

Liam deserved to be loved and embraced, not judged or excluded. And if Caleb’s family couldn’t give him that, then this—whatever “this” was between her and Caleb—would have to end.

Caleb’s expression shifted, a shadow of something she couldn’t quite name passing over his face. He leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening briefly before he met her gaze.

“They’ll accept him,” he said firmly. “He’s a Burnett, Taylor. That means something to my family.”

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