I stood there, feeling the chill of the autumn breeze against my skin, watching Mark’s expression shift from shock to an unreadable blend of emotions. Emily, beside him, looked as radiant as ever, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes — uncertainty, perhaps, or a twinge of guilt. I wasn’t sure, and in that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to care.
“Claire,” Mark finally managed, his voice barely above a whisper, “who is this?”
I glanced down at Jacob, who was now looking up at me with his big, curious eyes. My heart swelled with the mix of love and protectiveness I felt for him. “This is Jacob,” I replied, my voice steady.
