The car ride was interesting, at least to Seraphina and Tim.
Seraphina, now in a considerably better spirit, thanks to the chocolates and Tim's presence, kept sneaking glances at him from her booster seat in the back.
Tim, sitting in the passenger seat beside Aurora, acted as if he didn't notice—but of course, he did.
Aurora, on the other hand, was gripping the steering wheel like it had personally wronged her. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her focus entirely on the road, refusing to acknowledge the man beside her.
Tim was perfectly relaxed, one arm resting casually against the window. He wasn't pushing, wasn't demanding anything. Just there. For the first time, he felt like he had everything in the world.
"Are you rich?" Seraphina suddenly asked, breaking the tough silence in the car.
Aurora let out a slow breath through her nose. "Seraphina. No questions,"
Tim, amused, turned his head slightly toward the little girl. "Why do you ask?"
Seraphina tilted her head, and smiled softly. "Because you dress like you are. And you drive a big car." Her smile widened. "You also smell rich,"
"Smell rich," Tim hummed. He smirked. "Do rich people always drive big cars?"
She hummed, thinking. "Not always. But you do."
Tim chuckled. "I guess that makes me rich, then."
Seraphina nodded solemnly, as if she had just solved a great mystery. "Do you want to know the other type of rich people?"
Tim nodded, he turned to her softly. "Yes, I do,"
Aurora groaned softly under her breath.
"My teacher said the other type of rich people are the ones with families who love them." She made a face, "She also said kids like Lola are very rich,"
Tim turned to her, not fully due to the seat but made sure to stare at her deeply for her to know that he was listening.
"Who's Lola?" He questioned.
"My classmate. She has two parents. A mum and a dad." her lips trembled as if to cry, and she bit her lower lip to show no reaction. "From that night on, I prayed for a dad,"
Aurora forcefully stepped on the car breaks. Her heart dropped, and Tim stilled, staring at Seraphina.
"Baby?" She met her daughter's eyes desperately through the review mirror. "You never told me this. Are you crying?"
Seraphina quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and shook her head stubbornly. "No. I'm not crying."
But her voice wobbled.
Aurora twisted around in her seat, her heart hammering. "Sweetheart, you can tell me anything, you know that, right?"
Seraphina sniffled but lifted her chin. "I know. I just… I didn't want to make you sad."
Aurora swallowed hard, guilt clawing at her chest. She reached out, brushing a stray curl from Seraphina's cheek. "Baby, you never have to hide your feelings from me. If something makes you sad, I want to know."
Seraphina hesitated, then whispered, "I just wanted a dad too."
The words were a quiet confession, but they struck Aurora like a blow.
Tim, who had been completely silent, tightened his grip on his knee. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes… those blue expressionless eyes burned with something heavy.
Slowly, carefully, he turned in his seat to fully face Seraphina.
"You know," he said, voice steady but gentle, "having a dad isn't just about having one. It's about having the right one."
Seraphina blinked up at him, her little brows furrowing. "The right one?"
Tim nodded. "The one who loves you more than anything. The one who will always be there for you. The one who will never, ever leave you behind."
Seraphina stared at him, absorbing his words. Then, after a short pause, she asked, "Are you the right one?"
Aurora sucked in a sharp breath.
Tim didn't flinch. He didn't move. He simply looked at her, his gaze steady. And for the first time in years, he felt completely exposed.
"I want to be," he admitted.
Seraphina studied him, as if weighing his words, before tilting her head. "Did you pray for me too?"
Tim's throat worked as he swallowed. He had never prayed in his life—not in the way she meant. But had he wanted her? Had he dreamed of her before he even knew she existed?
Yes.
Every damn day.
He let out a slow breath. "More than you know."
Seraphina considered this, then nodded, seemingly satisfied.
Aurora, on the other hand, was not satisfied. Her fingers dug into the steering wheel, her pulse pounding.
This was too much. Too soon.
She needed to shut it down.
Clearing her throat, she forced a smile and turned back to Seraphina. "Alright, baby. We should get going, or you'll be late."
Seraphina nodded, her mood lighter now, as if a weight had been lifted.
Aurora put the car in drive, but her hands were shaking.
Tim didn't push. He simply sat back in his seat, his gaze lingering on Seraphina for a moment longer before shifting to the road ahead.
Seraphina stared at Tim for a while, her little fingers tapping against the box of chocolates on her lap. Then, with the same solemnity she had before, she said, "Come sit with me."
Aurora's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Seraphina…"
Seraphina turned to her mother, blinking innocently. "What? I want him here." She patted the seat beside her. "Please?"
Tim's brows lifted slightly, but he didn't hesitate. He glanced at Aurora, silently asking for permission.
Aurora exhaled sharply through her nose. "Do whatever you want," she muttered, pretending to focus on the road.
Without another word, Tim unbuckled his seatbelt and smoothly moved to the back.
Seraphina immediately scooted closer, her tiny body pressing into his side. Then, to Aurora's absolute horror, she rested her head on his chest, sighing like she had just found the most comfortable place in the world.
Tim went completely still.
Aurora felt his silence more than she saw it. Through the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of his face—his jaw clenched, his lips slightly parted, his eyes fixed on Seraphina like he was afraid to even breathe.
Then, carefully, he adjusted his arm, allowing Seraphina to curl up properly against him. His large hand hovered over her back for a second before resting there, warm and steady.
Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat. If he had a little time to treat her this way, they wouldn't have been stuck in this situation.
Seraphina closed her eyes, utterly content. "You're warm," she murmured.
Tim exhaled softly, something unreadable crossing his face. "So are you."
Aurora's knuckles went white against the steering wheel. She wasn't sure if she wanted to scream, cry, or throw Tim out of the moving vehicle.
For the first time since he appeared at her door, her life has not been the same. He wants to change everything.
And there was no possessiveness, no sharp edge of control—only something raw, something painfully soft.
Something she wasn't ready to see.