Page 53 of Faking It With the Single Dad

“Youwerehis father,” she says, her voice shaking but gaining strength with every word. “You abandoned him. Abandonedus. And I had to pick up the pieces alone. I don’t know what you’re looking for, but it’s not here.”

Caleb takes a step forward, and I immediately move to block him. “That’s enough,” I say coldly. “You’re not welcome here. If you have anything to say, you can do it through a lawyer. But don’t think for a second that you can waltz in here and disrupt the life Bella and Luke have built without you.”

“Caleb, we’ve moved on.” Bella’s voice shakes slightly, but she lifts her chin, standing firm.

Caleb ignores her for a moment, his gaze fixed on me. “Ryan,” he says slowly, like my name tastes bitter on his tongue. “I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

I step forward and cross my arms over my chest. “And I didn’t think you’d have the audacity to show your face here after everything you’ve done.”

Caleb’s jaw tightens and he steps closer, his posture stiff. “I made mistakes. I’m not denying that. But I’m still Luke’s father.”

“Being a father isn’t about biology,” I retort. “It’s about showing up. It’s about being there when it matters. You lost the right to call yourself his father the day you walked away.”

Bella takes a shaky breath, her hands clutching the edge of the table. “What do you want, Caleb? Why now?”

He glances at her, his expression softening slightly, though I know better than to trust it. “I’ve been thinking about my choices; about the life I left behind. I know I can’t undo the past, Bella, but I’d like to try to make things right.”

“Make things right?” Bella’s voice rises, anger and disbelief coloring her tone. “You think you can just waltz in here and somehow undo years of pain? That’s not how this works.”

Caleb flinches, but his resolve doesn’t waver. “I know I hurt you, Bella. I know I wasn’t there when you needed me most. But I’ve changed. I’m not the same man I was back then.”

I take another step forward, positioning myself between him and Bella. “Convenient timing, don’t you think? Bella and I are getting married, and suddenly you want to be part of her life again?”

Caleb glares at me, his eyes narrowing. “You think you know everything, don’t you, Ryan? Always the golden boy, always the one who had it all figured out.”

“This isn’t about me,” I say coldly. “This is about you and the mess you left behind. Let’s be clear—you’re not welcome here.”

Caleb’s smirk falters, replaced by something darker and more vulnerable. “You don’t understand. You’ve never understood. Doyou have any idea what it was like to live in your shadow, Ryan? To watch you succeed while I floundered?”

“This isn’t about you feeling sorry for yourself,” I snap. “This is about Bella and Luke. They deserved better than you, and they still do.”

Bella steps forward then, her voice trembling but steady. “You think you can come back after all these years and expect us to just forgive and forget? I’ve spent years putting myself back together, Caleb. Years building a life for me and Luke without you. And now, because you’re feeling guilty, you think you can insert yourself back into our lives?”

“I just want a chance,” Caleb says, his voice cracking. “A chance to prove I’m not the man I was.”

“You had your chance,” I say firmly, “and you blew it. Bella doesn’t owe you anything, and neither does Luke. If you really cared about them, you’d walk away and let them have the peace they’ve earned.”

Caleb’s gaze shifts to Bella, desperation flickering in his eyes. “Bella, please. I’m trying. Doesn’t that count for something?”

She stares at him for a long moment, her hands trembling. “Trying isn’t enough, Caleb, not after everything you’ve done. You don’t get to come back now and pretend like you care. It’s too late.”

Her words hit him like a physical blow. For a moment, he looks like he’s about to argue, but then he glances at Luke, who stands by the counter, watching the interaction with wary eyes. Caleb’s shoulders slump and he exhales heavily.

“I’m sorry,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper. “For everything.”

“It’s not enough,” Bella says quietly, her voice breaking. “And it never will be.”

Caleb looks at her, then at me, his expression hardening once more. “You think you’ve won, don’t you?” he says, his voice dripping with bitterness. “You’ve always had a way of taking what doesn’t belong to you.”

I step closer, my voice calm but edged with steel. “The only thing I’ve done is step up where you failed. Bella and Luke deserve someone who will fight for them, who will love them unconditionally. That’s not you, Caleb. And it never will be.”

For a moment, I think he’s going to argue, but then he steps back, his gaze flickering between Bella and me. “You’ll regret this,” he mutters before turning and walking out the door.

As the door slams shut behind him, the tension in the room dissipates, leaving a heavy silence in its wake.

I turn to Bella, who’s still standing by the table, her hands clenched into fists. Luke looks shaken, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. Alice tugs at my sleeve, her eyes wide.

I kneel beside her. “It’s okay, sweetie,” I say softly. “Everything’s okay now.”

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