Evelyn stood frozen, her breath catching in her throat as the weight of Zevian's revelation settled in. The truth lingered between them, thick and suffocating. She found herself staring at Kiana, her heart aching with the realization that the little girl she had grown to love wasn't his by blood. Yet, she was his in every other way. Every single way that mattered.
"But—" Evelyn's voice faltered, struggling to find the words. Her mind swirled in confusion and disbelief, trying to process the layers of pain that Zevian must have been carrying for so long. So Kiana wasn't his child? Her gaze darted back to Zevian, who was now sitting at the edge of the bed, his eyes glued to the floor, lost in thought. His strong, composed exterior seemed to crack slightly, and Evelyn's heart clenched at the sight of the unshed tears that glossed his eyes.