Dangerous Desires

33

Arsenio listened intently to the older man's words, the truth in them settling upon him. He knew deep down that letting go was the right thing to do, for both his own well-being and for Indira's. "You're right," he agreed, his voice low. "I do want her to be happy, even if it's without me. And co-parenting isn't about trying to hold on to the past, it's about moving forward for Tenebroso's sake."

The older man nodded, seeing that Arsenio was beginning to accept the reality of the situation. "That's the right mindset to have," he praised. "Co-parenting will be a process of communication, compromise, and putting your child's needs first. And it might be tough, but it's doable if you're both dedicated to making it work."

Arsenio looked down at Tenebroso again, his son blissfully unaware of the complexities of the situation between him and Indira. "I'm willing to put in the effort for Tenebroso," he confessed. "I just hope Indira is too, and that she's open to working with me as co-parents."

"Well, that's good. However, when it's been a week for both of you to feel a little better. You guys need to sit down together and talk about how it's going to work. Because Tenebroso can't live with you full time, since it wasn't working whilst Indira was your wife at the time. He is going to be living with Indira, so you both have to figure out when you will be taking care of him. But remember, your son always comes first but you do have a business where your son or Indira could be targeted," the older man said slowly.

Arsenio nodded slowly, acknowledging the practicality of the situation. "You're right, we need to figure out a schedule for co-parenting that works for us both, and also keeps Tenebroso safe," he agreed. "It won't be easy, but we must work together and prioritise his well-being above all else."

He glanced at Tenebroso again, his son's innocent smile making his heart flutter. "I just want what's best for him," he mumbled. "And if that means making sacrifices and cooperating with Indira, then that's what I'll do."

"Tenebroso will grow up in a healthy and happy time, you and Indira weren't healthy, you guys were beautiful together but you need to remember a lot of relationships don't go well. It's not just you, remember the man from Italy who owns his business, he and his wife broke off. It was horrible but now they're Co-parenting and being happy just as friends," the older man spoke.

Arsenio sighed, his mind recalling the couple from Italy and the turmoil they had gone through. "Yeah, I remember that," he acknowledged. "But I just never thought I'd end up in the same situation... I guess sometimes life takes unexpected turns, and you have to find a way to keep moving forward."

"You cannot help controlling who you love and who you don't, but I know damn well how good as a father you are. I remember when she first fell pregnant, you were there worrying nonstop but you were there, you helped her through it all but sometimes your heart doesn't want that anymore," he paused for a moment before continuing.

"And that is okay, feelings are messy but it's worth it. Imagine if you keep going with this marriage, you will be out having hookups and cheating on her. I know you haven't in the past but that could've been the future. You must be happy that she spoke to you and broke things off before you hurt her too much," he said.

Arsenio nodded quietly, the older man's words echoing the truth of the situation. "You're right," he mumbled, his voice tinged with regret. "I never wanted to hurt her, and if we had stayed together, I probably would have ended up causing even more pain. Ending things was the right decision, even if it hurts like hell right now."

"Of course, it will because emotions are messy but in the future where you both have healed mentally you guys will be the best friends and raise this little one in a happy and healthy life. And when you move on and find a woman who you will love, Indira did say she will be there to support you. But never let the woman think she is the mother of Tenebroso, she never will be. Tenebroso would call her by her name. Because his real mother is Indira and that will never change," He said firmly.

Arsenio chuckled a bit, the thought of having a new woman in his life that didn't try to play mother to Tenebroso was oddly reassuring. "Yeah, I suppose you're right about that," he admitted. "Indira will always be Tenebroso's mother, and I wouldn't want him calling another woman 'mom'. That's her title and hers alone."

He paused, contemplating the future and the potential for new relationships. "It's going to be weird though, trying to start over again and finding someone new," he confessed. "But I guess one day, I'll be ready to open my heart to someone new, and I hope that they'll accept me and Tenebroso as a package deal."

"Or if you don't want a relationship, that is okay as well," he said.

Arsenio nodded, mulling over the idea of staying single for the foreseeable future. "Yeah, I suppose that's an option too," he murmured. "Maybe it's best to just focus on co-parenting and myself for now, and let the future take care of itself."

The older man smiled, appreciating Arsenio's openness to different possibilities. "That's a mature mindset to have," he commended. "And who knows, you might find that staying single is exactly what you need right now. But no matter what, the most important thing is to focus on being the best father you can be for Tenebroso."

Arsenio took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination settling within him. "You're right. No matter what happens, my top priority is always going to be Tenebroso. I want to make sure he grows up happy and healthy, and that means co-parenting with Indira in the best way possible."