My Bestie's Dad Likes Me Wet-Chapter 112: VOWS

GRANT POV

I got back to the estate at dawn, two hours before anyone else was awake.

Bianca was dead.

Not by my hand directly—I wasn’t that reckless—but by my order. Luca’s people had made it look like an accident. Carbon monoxide leaked in her hotel room. Her body had been found by housekeeping and there were no signs of foul play or any connections to me.

It was clean like I’d promised and somehow I should have felt something like maybe relief, vindication or even victory.

But instead, I just felt tired.

I’d watched from across the street as the ambulance arrived, watched them wheel out the body bag and the police come and go, marking it down as a tragic accident.

Bianca Elena Sonnie, the Mother of my disowned daughter and the woman I’d once loved enough to marry was Dead at forty-eight.

And all I felt was empty.

Ivin met me in the foyer. "Welcome back, sir. Everything was quiet here. No incidents."

"The boys?"

"Still struggling. Phoenix had another nightmare about Sam but Nova stayed up with him most of the night."

Guilt twisted in my gut. "And Nova?" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"She had a visitor yesterday, a woman named Katie, a friend and roommate from college."

I tensed. "What did they talk about?"

"Nothing concerning. She brought gifts for the boys. They talked for a few hours, then she left. Our surveillance didn’t pick up anything suspicious."

Of course I had surveillance, Of course Nova didn’t know about it.

"Good. Make sure Katie Brown’s background check is on my desk in an hour."

"Already done, sir." Ivin handed me a folder. "She’s clean. Runs a consulting firm in Boston. No connections to Bianca or Lena. Appears to have stayed in touch with Nova over the years."

I flipped through the file. Katie had done well for herself. Built a legitimate business, made good money, stayed out of trouble.

"Keep an eye on her anyway."

"Yes, sir."

I went upstairs, past the boys’ room where I could hear Nova’s voice reading them a story. Past my own room to the shower where I stood under scalding water and tried to wash away the feeling of Bianca’s death.

I’d killed people before or rather, had them killed. From Rivals who threatened my business to Men who’d crossed lines and it came with the territory of building an empire in industries that weren’t entirely legal.

But this was different somehow, This was the mother of my child. The woman I’d once shared a life with.

And I’d had her killed to protect my new family.

The water ran cold before I finally got out. Today was my wedding day and by tomorrow, Nova will be my wife. The boys would legally be Calloway heirs, this means that everything I’d wanted for six years would be finally mine.

So why did it feel like I’d lost something essential in getting it?

I dressed in a suit—not a tux, Nova had refused anything formal—and went down to breakfast. The boys were already at the table, Nova between them. All three of them looked exhausted.

"Good morning," I said, pouring coffee.

"You’re back." Nova’s voice was flat. "How was Chicago?"

"Productive." I met her eyes, saw the question there. Later, I mouthed.

Phoenix pushed his eggs around his plate. Asher drew pictures on his napkin with a marker. Neither acknowledged my presence.

"Boys, I thought we could do something special today," I tried. "Before the wedding tomorrow. Whatever you want. The zoo? An amusement park? A movie?"

"We want to go home," Phoenix said, not looking up.

"This is home now—"

"It’s not home! Home is with Dad!" Phoenix threw his fork down. "I hate it here! I hate you! I hate that Mama’s marrying you! I want Dad!"

"Phoenix—" Nova started.

"No!" He stood up, tears streaming down his face. "I don’t want a new dad! I want my real dad! The one who loves us and doesn’t make Mama cry all the time!"

"Phoenix, that’s enough," I said, my voice harder than I intended. "You need to understand that Sam is not—"

"Don’t talk about Dad!" Phoenix screamed. "You’re mean and scary and you took us away and I hate you! I HATE YOU!"

He ran from the room, Asher chasing after him. Nova stood slowly. "I need to go to them."

"Nova—"

"Not now, Grant. Please. Just... not now."

She left, and I sat alone at the breakfast table in my mansion, surrounded by everything I’d built, everything I’d fought for.

And I’d never felt more alone in my life.

I spent the morning in my office, finalizing security arrangements for the wedding. It would be small with us, the boys, a judge, Ivin as witness, and Katie, who Nova had insisted on inviting.

No press or any major announcement. It would be a private ceremony binding Nova to me legally and making my sons officially mine.

Luca called at noon. "It’s done. Confirmed and officially ruled as accidental death.No investigation" a brief pause Meaning, "You’re clear."

"Good."

"You don’t sound happy about it."

"Bianca’s dead. My sons hate me. Nova looks at me like I’m a monster. What’s there to be happy about?"

"You got what you wanted. Your family is safe. Your ex-wife can’t hurt anyone anymore. That’s a win, Calloway."

"It doesn’t feel like a win."

Luca was quiet for a moment. "You know what your problem is? You think you can control everything. Force everything to go your way. But feelings don’t work like that. Love doesn’t work like that."

"I didn’t ask for a psychology lesson Vittelio."

"Well, you’re getting one anyway. Those boys are grieving because your selfish ass took away the only father they’ve ever known and expect them to just accept you. That’s not how kids work."

"Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t bring Sam back—"

"Can’t you?" Luca cut me off. "You’re Grant Calloway. You can do whatever the hell you want. So what if Sam stays in their lives? What if you swallow your pride and let them have both fathers?"

"That’s not—"

"What, not fair? Not what you want? Grow up, Calloway. Being a father isn’t about what you want. It’s about what your kids need."

He hung up before I could respond but I sat there, staring at my phone, hating that he was right.

At five p.m., the judge arrived. A woman in her sixties who owed me several favors. The ceremony was set for six.

I went upstairs to check on Nova and the boys. She was in her room, staring at the wedding dress I’d had delivered. It was simple, elegant and cream-colored. "It’s beautiful," she said without turning around. "You have good taste."

"I remembered what you liked. Simple and classy." I stepped into the room. "Nova—"

"Did you kill her?" She turned to face me. "Bianca. Is she dead?"

"Yes."

"Did you do it yourself?"

"No. But I gave the order." There was no point lying. "It’s done. She can’t hurt us anymore."

Nova nodded slowly, like she’d expected that answer. "And how do you feel about that? About killing the mother of your child?"

"I feel like I did what I had to do to protect my family." I walked closer. "I won’t apologize for that."

"I’m not asking you to apologize. I’m asking if you feel anything at all." She searched my face. "Because I’m about to marry you, Grant. I’m about to tie my life to yours. And I need to know... are you capable of feeling anything other than control and possession?"

The question hit harder than it should have prolly because I didn’t see it coming.

"I feel everything," I said quietly. "Too much. I feel the terror of almost losing you for six years. I feel the rage at Sam being called Dad by my sons. I feel the guilt every time Phoenix tells me he hates me. I feel—" I stopped, throat tight. "I feel love, Nova. For you. For them. So much love it terrifies me. Because I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be a father or a husband or anything other than a man who takes what he wants and forces it to work."

Nova’s eyes filled with tears. "That’s the most honest thing you’ve said since you found us."

"I’m trying," I said. "I’m trying to be better. To be what they need. But I don’t know how."

She walked over, took my hand. "Then let me help you. Stop trying to control everything. Stop trying to force them to love you. Just... be patient, present and be willing to fail and try again."

"What if they never love me?"

"Then you keep showing up anyway. That’s what love is, Grant. It’s showing up even when it’s hard. Even when you’re not getting what you want." She squeezed my hand. "Can you do that?"

Could I? Could I be the kind of man who loved without conditions, who gave without expecting returns?

I didn’t know. But I wanted to try.

"Yes," I said. "I can do that."

"Good." She let go of my hand. "Now get out. I need to get ready. And Grant?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for protecting us. Even if your methods are terrifying." A small smile. "I know you think you’re a monster. But monsters don’t feel guilty about what they’ve done."

She closed the door, leaving me in the hallway.

At six p.m., we gathered in the library. Nova wore the dress I’d chosen, simple and beautiful. The boys wore matching suits, looking miserable while Katie stood off to the side, smiling encouragingly. Ivin stood as witness. The judge waited with her papers.

"We’re gathered here today to join Grant Calloway and Nova Hart in matrimony," the judge began. The ceremony was quick and basic. There were no love poems or personal mushy stories, we stuck to the basic cliche vows.

"Do you, Grant Calloway, take Nova Hart to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"Do you, Nova Hart, take Grant Calloway to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

There was a pause, I looked at her and realized she was looking at me; I saw everything in her eyes, from fear to love, resignation like she’s giving up and flickers of Hope. Then She opened her mouth to answer.

"I do."

"By the power vested in me by the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I leaned in, pressed my lips to Nova’s in a chaste kiss despite the strong urge to take her face in my hands and kiss her till the whole world blurs behind us.

When I pulled back, Phoenix was crying silently but tears were running down his face.

"Phoenix?" Nova crouched down. "Baby, what’s wrong?"

"You married him," Phoenix whispered. "You really married the bad man. Now Dad Sam can never come home."

Nova pulled him into her arms, and Asher joined them. All three of them crying while I stood there, a brand new husband and father, completely helpless and a villain in his own story.

Katie caught my eye, shook her head slightly, she didn’t bother to mask her disgust and a look that says ’This is what you’ve done.’

Soon after everyone left, it was just me and my new family in my library where everyone was crying except me. I didn’t know it was possible to feel guilty for doing the right thing until now.

"Come here," I said quietly, kneeling down to their level.

The boys pressed closer to Nova, but I continued anyway.

"I know you’re sad. I know you miss Sam. And I know you think I’m the bad man who took you away from him." I swallowed hard. "And maybe I am. Maybe I made mistakes. But I want you to know something."

Phoenix peeked at me through his tears.

"I’m your father. And that’s never going to change. But Sam—" the name tasted bitter, but I forced it out, "—Sam loves you too. And maybe... maybe there’s room for both of us in your lives."

Nova’s head snapped up. "Grant, what are you saying?"

"I’m saying I was wrong. I was so focused on claiming what was mine that I didn’t think about what you needed." I looked at the boys. "If you want to see Sam again, if you want him to be part of your life, then we’ll figure it out. Because being a father means putting your kids first. Even when it hurts."

"Really?" Asher’s voice was small, hopeful. "We can see Dad Sam?"

"Really." The word physically hurt. But I meant it. "We’ll call him. Set up visits. Whatever you need to be happy."

Phoenix launched himself at me, wrapping his little arms around my neck. "Thank you! Thank you! I promise I’ll be good! I promise I’ll try to like you if we can see Dad!"

Asher followed, hugging me from the other side.

Nova stared at me, tears streaming down her face. "Grant—"

"It’s the right thing to do," I said, my voice rough. I held my sons—my sons—and felt something in my chest crack open. "I want them to be happy. Even if it means sharing them."

Later, after the boys were asleep, Nova came to my room. I’d given her space, let her have her own room despite being married now.

"That was a big thing you did today," she said, standing in the doorway. "Telling them they could see Sam."

"It was the right thing."

"It was a sacrifice." She walked in, closed the door. "You hate the idea of sharing them with him."

"I do." No point lying. "But I hate seeing them miserable more."

She crossed the room, stood in front of me. "Maybe there’s hope for you yet, Grant Calloway."

"Maybe."