Page 49 of King of My Heart

“Good.” I smiled back and leaned down to kiss her lips.

All my life, women had only ever been a pastime. Not only because I didn’t want anything serious but also because women saw me as a price. I had the money, the fame, the reputation. I had it all, and the women wanted me to share it. But being usedlike that didn’t give me the satisfaction I needed. Even quick fucks started to become boring.

But now—now that I was getting damn old—I had changed my mind.

And all because of Darwynn.

“I had a weird dream,” she told me when I broke the kiss.

“Tell me about it.” I leaned back against the headboard and pulled her to me. She rested her had on my chest and placed one hand on my stomach.

“It was about Julian. He came here to Hilton Beach to visit us.” She stopped, and I saw a deep frown between her brows when I looked down at her. “Which is something he definitely would never do.”

Because he didn’t want to see me.

I stayed quiet, caressing her back and waiting for her to continue telling me about her dream.

“He was…mad. Upset that I broke up with him. And then he screamed at me. And…then he called you an asshole.”

“Of course.” I took a deep breath and tightened my arms around her. “Sounds like him.”

Darwynn turned her head to look up at me. I hated the hint of pain in her eyes. Sure, it was just a dream, but my son had been like that for years. Towards me, at least.

“I really want to know what happened between you two. I only know his side of the story,” she said, her eyes searching mine. “He said…he said that you never cared about him. That you only ever cared about your career.”

Darwynn’s voice was hesitant as if she wasn’t sure she wanted to say it out loud.

I let out a slow breath, pressing my lips together. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard those words but hearing them from Darwynn—hearing that they were still being spoken, even after all these years—stung me more than I wanted to admit.

Darwynn studied my face, looking for something. Maybe the truth. Maybe a reaction.

“I don’t know why he kept saying that,” she murmured. “I mean, I’m sure you were busy…but I can’t imagine you never even tried to call him.”

I took another breath. I wanted to tell her the truth. Tell her how things really were, but I wasn’t sure she could handle it.

“And I know you’re not a bad man. I mean, you didn’t push me away. You were grumpy, yes, but you still let me stay. You could’ve ignored me when I showed up, but you didn’t.”

I reached for her hand, running my thumb over her knuckles. “My son has always had his version of things. But the truth isn’t as simple as that.”

She sat up slightly, her expression sharpening. “Then tell me.”

I hesitated. The truth wasn’t something I’d ever planned on forcing on anyone. Especially not on her, not now that she meant something to me. But she was here, asking for it, and maybe it was time to tell someone.

Tellher.

I kept holding her hand while running the other through my hair. I took a deep breath, meeting her gaze again. “I was always there for Julian,” I finally said, my voice quieter than I intended. “I never abandoned him. Never chose my career over him. I was there, Darwynn. I tried. Over and over again.”

She frowned, her fingers tightening around mine. “Then why does he think you weren’t?”

I let out a humorless chuckle. “Because he never wanted to see it. He convinced himself that I didn’t care, and nothing I did could change his mind.”

Darwynn stayed quiet, watching me intently. I could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she wanted to believe me butalso didn’t want to dismiss Julian’s side. That was fair. But she needed to know the full truth.

“I called him,” I continued, my voice growing rough. “I called him on his birthday. I called him on holidays. I called him just because I missed him. And when he didn’t answer, I left messages.”

Darwynn’s eyes softened, but I wasn’t done.

“And every time he did respond, it was with anger. He’d write back with words so sharp, so filled with hate, that I wondered if he even remembered who I was to him. He told me I was a selfish bastard. That I only reached out when it was convenient for me. That I didn’t deserve to be his father.”

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