âHe is quite sincere.â
Wade had also taken into account the deep bond that Adrian and Joelle shared with the children, so he had suggested that once he took Ryland, he would ensure the child remained in contact with the Miller family. In simple terms, Ryland would gain a new home and a loving uncle.
After hearing this, Joelle couldnât find any fault.
At that moment, she wished Wade were unreasonable and domineering. At least then, she would have had a clear and compelling reason to refuse to give Ryland up. But Wade was a man of impeccable character, his actions motivated by a deep sense of responsibility.
Wadeâs sense of kindness and compassion left Joelle and Adrian with little room for criticism, forcing them to reconsider their position.
Thus, they quickly arranged a second formal meeting.
Joelle was direct and to the point.
âMr. Potter, I canât hand Ryland over to you. Iâve raised him since he was a child, and now that Iâm his mother, I wonât allow him to be abandoned again.â
Wade was impeccably dressed, his formal suit a testament to the importance he placed on the outcome.
âMs. Watson, Iâm not asking you to abandon him. I just hope he can come back to me.â
Joelle maintained her composure.
âI understand youâre hurting from losing your brother, but you canât see Ryland as a replacement for him.â
âNo!â Wade denied. âThatâs not what I meant. I just want to honor my brotherâs legacy.â
The atmosphere grew subtly quiet for a moment. Adrian and Joelle exchanged a glance. They both knew, as they had suspected the day before, that this was a matter that would not be easily resolved.
They knew they couldnât sever Rylandâs ties to the Potter family. Even if it went to court, Wade had the ability to fight for custody.
But none of them wanted the matter to escalate to that point.
Adrian, who had been quiet until now, finally broke his silence.
âRylandâs been with us for so long. Even if we sent him back, would he even know how to fit in? It might not feel like home to him anymore.â
Wadeâs lips curled into a bitter smile.
âBy the time I realized all this, the damage was already done. My brother, when he had Ryland, was barely more than a boy himselfâjust come of age, not thinking straight. His first instinct was to keep it all a secret from the family. But the moment I found out about Ryland, all I could think about was how to bring him back where he belongs. No matter what issues the adults are dealing with, a child should never be the one to carry that weight.â
Joelle and Adrian exchanged glances but held back any judgment. Wadeâs demeanor alone made it hard to say anything harsh.
When he mentioned Chris, his brother, his voice falteredâit was clear he was weighed down by guilt and regret. Wadeâs love for his brother made it hard to believe he wouldnât do right by his nephew.
Joelleâs heart tugged in different directions.
.
.
.