Chapter 12 - A Secret in Central Park
The autumnal leaves painted Central Park in vivid shades of orange and dark red.
Emily agreed to let Ryan see the boys for one hour under strict supervision near the Bethesda Terrace.
Ryan arrived alone, wearing a simple black coat, looking far more exhausted than usual.
When Ethan and Noah saw him, they hesitated, hiding behind Emily’s dark blue coat.
Ryan slowly dropped to his knees on the stone path, reaching into his pocket to pull out two small wooden cars.
"I carved these for you guys... five years ago," Ryan said, his voice trembling with emotion.
Ethan took a tentative step forward, examining the intricate wooden craftsmanship.
"You made these?" Ethan asked, his large blue eyes wide with curiosity.
"Every single night when I missed your mother," Ryan admitted, looking up at Emily with unfiltered honesty.
Noah ran forward and hugged Ryan’s neck tightly, catching Ryan completely off guard.
Ryan broke down silently, burying his face in his son's shoulder as tears streamed down his cheeks.
May you like
Emily turned her face away, wiping a single rogue tear before anyone could see it.
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