~ Rewritten Fates ~

Chapter 7 - The Space Between Us

Henry wakes up in the balcony, the cool morning breeze brushing against his face. He looks down and sees Diana asleep in his lap, her small hand gripping his shirt tightly. Despite the discomfort of spending the night outside, her peaceful presence brings him a moment of calm amid all the chaos.

Henry carefully lifts Diana from his lap, cradling her in his arms as he walks back inside. He moves quietly lays her down on the bed. Tucking her in, he watches her for a moment, brushing a stand of hair from her face before silently stepping away.

"Papa..." Diana murmurs sleepily. Henry pauses at the door and turns around. "I'm so sorry for asking you, love," he says softly, his voice full of warmth and regret.

Diana climbs off the bed and rushes toward him. "I'm sorry, Papa! I will never hurt you again, I promise," she cries, her eyes brimming with tears. Henry smiles gently, lifting her into his arms. "You did nothing wrong, baby. I'm not hurt, trust me," he reassures her, his heart swelling with affection.

Henry kisses her cheeks and gently wipes away her tears. "I promise, Papa, if you don't like Dada, I'll never go to him again," Diana says earnestly. "I love you, Ana," Henry replies, hugging her tightly. His eyes glisten with tears, but his heart swells with joy, knowing that no one can ever take his daughter away from him.

"Alright, let's get you ready for school now," Henry says, kissing Diana's forehead. He takes her to the bathroom, where they brush their teeth together, laughing and splashing water playfully. The sound of their laughter fills the room, creating a warm, joyful atmosphere as they share these precious moments.

~~~~~~

Henry enters his office after dropping Diana off at school. A sense of relief washes over him knowing that his daughter is no longer angry or misunderstanding him. However, the fear of his ex-husband's return lingers in his mind, a constant shadow. Ethan's mocking laugh and threatening words echo in his thoughts. The weight of past struggles feels heavier, reminding him of the challenges that lie ahead.

Henry sighs and knocks on the door of Alex's cabin. "Yes, come in," Alex calls from inside.

Taking a deep breath, Henry gathers his courage. Facing Alex again will not be easy for him, especially with his heart still feeling shattered from their last encounter. As he pushes the door open, anxiety coils in his stomach.

"Oh Henry! I was about to call you," Alex says, looking up from his desk.

Henry's brain short circuits at the sight of Alex in glasses. He feels a sight blush creeping up as he takes in Alex's perfect boyfriend materiel outfit - black jeans, a white shirt with rolled sleeves, and those glasses.

For a moment, all of Henry's worries fade away, and he finds himself simply staring at Alex, captivated by his presence.

"Henry, are you okay!" Alex asks, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Huh? Yeah... yeah, I'm.. I'm fine," Henry stammers, nodding as he tries to hide the blush creeping up his cheeks. He clears his throat, forcing himself to focus, and looks back at Alex.

"I...h-how can I help you, Al... sir?" Henry manages to ask, his nerves still buzzing from the unexpected attraction.

Alex shakes his head and stands up. "You need sit down first," he insists, walking over to Henry and guiding him to the couch nearby. "Calm down first, Henry. Then we can talk," Alex says gently, his tone soothing as he takes a seat beside him.

Henry's heart races, feeling like it might burst from his chest as he stares at Alex so closely. He wants to scream, cry, and embrace the man beside him, but he holds back.

"Feeling better?" Alex asks, his voice warm and concerned. "Yeah.. thanks," Henry replies, managing a small smile as he tries to steady his emotions.

"Okay hear me out then." Alex paces the room, animatedly discussing his vision for the magazine photoshoot. He gestures enthusiastically, his ideas flowing as he describes the color schemes and layouts he envisions.