It was not uncommon for a man of Justin’s age to have been married before. Stella had never considered developing a relationship with him, so she hadn’t given it much thought until now.
His fingers drummed gently on the steering wheel as he spoke, his tone steady. “I have a child—a son. He’s in his teens. I have full custody of him, though he spends most of his time with my ex-wife. I’m busy with work, and as a man, I’m not as meticulous as she is when it comes to caring for him. I want to change that, though, and spend more time with him. And, of course, I’d like to establish a new family…”
Stella understood immediately. “So, you want me to get along with your son?”
He didn’t deny it. “That’s part of it, yes. I like you because your personality makes you great with children. Whether or not you two get along, I can tell from how you’ve tolerated me that you’re patient and understanding with kids. Plus, we’re alike in many ways. At my age, I’m not interested in the superficial stuff. You know what I mean?”
His words tugged at her heart. If he were only helping her because of his feelings for her, it would have been too much of a burden. But now, with him wanting something in return, it seemed like a fair deal. She had learned the hard way that unequal relationships were dangerous. Her marriage with Weston had been one such relationship—formed out of financial necessity when Roger was sick and needed money for surgery. No matter how Weston mistreated her, she could never speak up because of the debt she owed him.
Even when Weston’s feelings for Guinevere had made things unbearable, she had stayed silent, unwilling to ask for anything. And then, she lost their only child.
Taking a deep breath, Stella’s eyes flickered with emotion. After a long silence, she finally spoke. “There’s something I need to make clear first, Mr. Hall. I can’t have children.”
Justin’s eyes widened with surprise. His reaction was evident, and it made her uncomfortable. She quickly clenched her fist, trying to hold back her emotions, and forced a smile. “I have Rh-negative blood. People with this blood type can usually have only one child in their lifetime, and my first child… is gone.”
Her voice was steady, but the storm within her was undeniable. She saw that he noticed the pain hidden beneath her calm exterior, but she maintained the smile. “The doctor told me it’s almost impossible for me to conceive again, so I likely won’t have another child in this lifetime.”
Justin was silent for a moment, his expression changing from shock to contemplation. He seemed to absorb the weight of her words before meeting her gaze again, this time with a decisive look in his eyes.
“I’ve told you about my circumstances,” he said slowly. “And I don’t mind not having children. If you’re willing, you can treat my son as your own.”
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