Kyra’s POV

Nathan came back with a cake box. I couldn’t help but smile as he cut a slice and put it on a plate for me. Having him here made the hospital room feel less cold, but something was off about him today. He kept staring at me with this intense look that made me squirm a little. He’d been doing it a lot lately, so I didn’t say anything. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

He fumbled with the plastic fork, clearly nervous about something. When he gave me the plate, I could see how tense he was.

"Everything okay?" I asked, taking the dessert. "You seem distracted."

"Kyra..." he started, then stopped.

"What?" I took a sip of the water he’d poured for me.

He hesitated, running a hand through his hair before taking a deep breath. "I saw Kieran Carver."

My chewing slowed until it completely stopped. The cake suddenly tasted like cardboard. I looked up at him, searching for any sign that he’d been hurt.

"Are you alright?" I asked, worry flooding my voice. "Did he threaten you? What happened?"

Nathan shook his head and held out his hand. A small black flash drive sat on his palm. "He wanted me to give you this."

I stared at the thing, confused and suspicious. "What is it?"

"Something about your father," he explained, placing it in my hand gently. "I’ll have someone bring my laptop here so you can look at it."

I nodded slowly, examining the flash drive before looking into Nathan’s eyes again. "What did he want? Did he say anything else?"

Nathan took my hand. "Don’t worry. He didn’t come looking for a fight. He actually seemed worried about you."

I blinked several times, processing this. "Do you think he really regrets what he did?"

"What do you think?" Nathan asked carefully. "Do you believe he’s changed?"

I bit my bottom lip, thinking about his question. "I honestly don’t know. Part of me wants to believe him, but..." I trailed off.

"But it’s hard to trust him again?"

"Yeah." I set down my fork. "I mean, you hurt me too, but I forgave you pretty easily. Why can’t I do the same for him?"

Nathan’s expression grew thoughtful. "Maybe because the hurt was different?"

His words hit something deep inside me. He was right. Both men had hurt me, but the pain felt completely different.

"I need to be honest with you about something," Nathan said quietly. "About what happened back then. With Sophia."

I looked at him, waiting.

"I was confused and indecisive. I didn’t know my own heart, and because of that, I hurt you." His voice was steady but regretful. "I’m not making excuses for what I did. It was wrong. But my confusion, my failure to see what was right in front of me... it pushed you away. It made you vulnerable to someone else."

I felt tears gathering in my eyes. "That doesn’t excuse what Kieran did."

"No, it doesn’t," Nathan agreed. "But I played a part in how things happened. If I had been clear about my feelings for you from the start, if I hadn’t let Sophia mess with my head, maybe things would have been different."

I thought about what he was saying. The truth was complicated and painful.

"When I fell for Kieran," I said slowly, "I knew it was complicated. He was my stepbrother. I grew up with him watching over me. But I chose to cross that line anyway." I paused, the memories still raw. "I abandoned every moral boundary, every voice in my head that said it was wrong. I chose to fall for him completely, ready to build a life with him despite everything."

Nathan nodded, understanding in his eyes.

"And then he betrayed me in the worst possible way," I continued, my voice getting quieter. "With you, it was different. You were my teenage crush, then an arranged match that I hoped would grow into love. But with Kieran... I consciously chose to love him despite knowing it was forbidden. I threw away everything for him."

"That’s why his betrayal hurt more," Nathan said gently. "Because you gave him everything."

I wiped at a tear that had escaped. "I can forgive you because what we had was complicated from the start. But Kieran... I chose him over everything else, and he threw it all away."

"I understand," Nathan said. "But holding onto that pain is only hurting you now."

"So what are you saying? That I should forgive him?"

"I’m saying you should do whatever helps you move forward." He squeezed my hand. "If forgiving him gives you peace, then do it. But do it for yourself, not for him."

I studied his face. "Why are you even talking about this? Most guys wouldn’t want their wife thinking about her ex."

A small smile played at his lips. "Because I love you enough to want you to be free from that pain. And because I’m not threatened by him anymore."

"You’re not?"

"No." His voice was certain. "I know where your heart is now."

"What changed for you?" I asked. "With Sophia, I mean. You were so sure she was your fated mate."

"She was," he admitted. "But I’ve learned that choice matters more than fate. I choose you, Kyra. Not because some cosmic force tells me to, but because of who you are and who we are together."

His words settled something inside me that had been restless for so long.

"You and our baby are what matter most to me now," Nathan continued.

I looked at him, really looked at him, and saw a man who had grown beyond the confused person he used to be.

"I love you," I whispered. "Even when I tried not to, I never stopped."

He smiled, the kind that reached his eyes. "I love you too. More than I ever thought possible."

This is the first time Nathan and I have really opened up about the whole Kieran situation since we reconciled. We’re actually dealing with this together now.

"Forgiveness is up to you, Kyra. If your heart wants to give him the forgiveness he’s seeking and if it will make you feel better...then forgive him."

I stared into his beautiful brown eyes. He’s always so kind even to the people who don’t deserve his kindness.