Elena hesitated, caught off guard by the vulnerability in his request. A part of her wanted to reject him outright, to shield her children from any potential disappointment. But another part remembered the love they once shared and wondered if people could change.

“I don’t know,” she said finally, honesty lacing her words. “It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about them, their needs, their happiness.”

“Of course,” he agreed, his eyes earnest. “I would never want to disrupt their lives. I just… want a chance to know them. And maybe, in time, to earn your trust again.”

She looked down at her children, her heart tangled with emotions she hadn’t expected to feel. The decision wasn’t simple, wasn’t easy, but it was hers to make.