Her son''s cries finally awakened Ste''s maternal instincts.


    She picked him up and walked over to the couch, cradling him gently. As she soothed her son, her voice trembled with tears. "Cedric, could you please leave?"


    "Star..."


    "Would you just go?" Ste kept her head down. "Please, I''m begging you."


    Cedric looked at her, utterly helpless. He knew there was nothing else he could do right now.


    "You haven''t had dinner yet. Is there anything you want? I can make you something."


    Ste stayed silent. With a sigh, Cedric opened the door and stepped out.


    As soon as the door closed, Ste''s tears fell again.


    She wiped them away, frustrated by how easily she''d been crying these days. She hated this version of herself-so fragile, so quick to tears.


    But then she looked down at her son, his tiny face warm and soft against her chest, and her heart melted all over again.


    Half an hourter, Aster was sound asleep.


    Ste was just about to put him down in his crib when the door creaked open.


    Cedric peeked in, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is he asleep, love?" Ste shot him a look and ignored him, holding their son as she stood up. Cedric tiptoed inside and gently closed the door behind him.


    "Here—let me." He came over and, with practiced hands, took Aster from her


    arms.


    Aster, once full and content, could sleep through anything. He didn''t stir at all as Cedric tucked him into the crib, covering him with a tiny nket.


    Without a word, Ste turned and went into the bathroom.


    She''d cried too much today; now her eyes were puffy and sore.


    She turned on the tap, but just as the water started to run, the bathroom door opened.


    Looking up, Ste saw Cedric''s reflection in the mirror as he stepped inside.


    After four years of marriage, they''d be so close that one look was enough to read each other''s minds.


    Ste knew Cèdric wanted to talk, to


    set things right. But she just couldn''t. Not tonight. Everything inside her felt tangled and raw, like a knot she couldn''t undo, words piling up in her chest with no idea where to start.


    "Star," Cedric said softly, moving closer as if to hug her. Ste quickly sidestepped him.


    "I need a few days," she said, turning to face him. "I know this isn''t all your fault. I have my part in how things turned out. But I really need some space to process it all."


    Cedric''s heart pounded with anxiety as he heard her say this.


    "You haven''t forgotten everything we''ve been through these four years, have you?"


    "No. I haven''t."


    "Then you must remember-you were the one who made the first move."


    Ste fell silent.


    Cedric looked at her, putting on an innocent face. "I struggled with it at first too, you know."


    She just stared at him.


    "You didn''t ask for my permission, or your parents''. You grabbed my hand and told everyone I was your boyfriend. You announced it to the world."


    Ste''s lips parted, then closed again.


    "And our first kiss? You made the first move on that too," Cedric continued, sounding more and more aggrieved. "Even the first time we slept together-it was you. I was going to wait until our wedding night..."


    "Cedric rke!"


    Ste couldn''t take it anymore. She lunged at him, hands going straight for his neck. "Shut up! If you didn''t want to, would any of that have happened? Don''t act so innocent! You''re the real hypocrite here!"


    Cedric choked out augh, face reddening as she squeezed. "I did want to! I never said I didn''t..."


    "I swear, I''ll strangle you!" Ste growled through gritted teeth.


    Seizing the moment, Cedric pulled her into his arms. Even with her hands around


    his neck and his face turning red, he was grinning like a fool. "I''m never letting go, Star. You''re my one and only. I love you!"