AMEND

James took a deep breath and walked out of the house, determined to find Liam and start the process of healing and rebuilding their relationship. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to do whatever it took to make things right.

After a few minutes of walking, James arrived at Liam's house. He took a deep breath, rang the doorbell, and waited.

The door opened, and Liam stood before him, his expression cold and unforgiving. "What do you want?" Liam asked gruffly.

James's heart sank as he saw the anger and hurt in Liam's eyes. He knew he had a long way to go to make things right.

But before James could say anything, Cherry appeared behind Liam, a calming presence. "Hey, Liam, it's okay," she said softly, placing a hand on Liam's arm.

Liam's expression softened slightly as he looked at Cherry, and James saw a glimmer of hope.

"What do you want, Dad?" Liam asked again, his voice still wary.

James took a deep breath and let it all out. "I want to apologize, Liam. I want to apologize for everything. For not being there for you, for not being the father I should have been. I was wrong, and I'm sorry."

Liam looked at him, his expression unreadable. But Cherry's presence seemed to calm him down, and he nodded slightly.

"Okay, ," Liam said. "I'll listen."

Liam's eyes narrowed as he thought about the past. He had always felt like he was living in the shadow of Alex, his father's favorite son. Every time he tried to get his father's attention, it seemed like Alex was always the one who received the praise and affection.

"I don't understand why you're just now trying to be a part of my life, Dad," Liam said, his voice laced with bitterness. "When I was growing up, it was always Alex this, Alex that. You and Rachel would fawn all over him, while I was just an afterthought."

James's face fell as he listened to Liam's words. He realized too late that he had been neglecting his own son, prioritizing his relationship with Alex instead.

"Liam, I...I'm so sorry," James stammered. "I didn't realize I was neglecting you. I was just trying to make up for lost time with Alex."

Liam's expression was skeptical. "Lost time?" he repeated. "You were never even there for me, Dad. But you had no problem being there for Alex, did you?"

James shook his head, feeling a deep sense of regret. "No, Liam, I didn't. I was wrong to prioritize Alex over you, and I'm truly sorry for that. Can you ever forgive me?"

Liam looked at his father, his eyes searching for sincerity. He saw the genuine remorse in James's eyes and nodded slowly.

"I want to forgive you, Dad," Liam said. "But it's going to take time. I need to know that you're committed to being a real father to me, not just someone who shows up when it's convenient."

James nodded vigorously. "I am committed, Liam. I promise to be there for you from now on, to support you and listen to you. I want to rebuild our relationship and make up for lost time."

Liam nodded, a small smile on his face. "Okay, Dad. Let's start fresh."

James's face lit up with hope and gratitude. "Thank you, Liam. Thank you for giving me a second chance."

Meanwhile, Rachel sat in her lawyer's office, a mixture of emotions swirling inside her. She had just signed the divorce papers, officially ending her marriage to James.

As she looked at the papers, Rachel felt a sense of finality wash over her. She had lost James, and she knew she had no one to blame but herself.

Her lawyer, a middle-aged woman with a kind face, looked at Rachel with a sympathetic expression. "Are you okay, Rachel?" she asked.

Rachel nodded, trying to hold back tears. "I'm fine," she said, her voice shaking. "I just didn't think it would end like this."

Her lawyer nodded. "Sometimes, Rachel, we don't realize what we have until it's gone. But you need to focus on yourself now. You need to take care of yourself and move forward."

Rachel took a deep breath and nodded. She knew her lawyer was right. She needed to focus on herself and start rebuilding her life. But as she looked at the divorce papers, she couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness and loss.