Possessive InLove

Chapter 43: A Fragile Peace

Chapter 43: A Fragile Peace

Filip’s POV

The silence in the house was unbearable. Rena’s coldness toward me lingered like a storm on the horizon, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. I had to try something different—something that would show them both that I wasn’t just the man who had chased them down. I was their father, her husband. I wanted to prove that I could change.

I sat in the living room, staring at the small box in my hands. Inside was a gift for Fil, something I had been saving for the right moment. Today had to be that moment.

I heard the soft sound of footsteps behind me. Fil peeked around the corner, his eyes wide and cautious. His hair was still a little messy from the chaos of the day, and my heart ached seeing him so unsure.

“Hey, buddy,” I said gently, trying to keep my voice calm. “Come here, I’ve got something for you.”

He hesitated, glancing back at the hallway where Rena was likely sitting in the next room. Then he slowly walked toward me, his small hands gripping the edge of his shirt nervously.

I smiled, opening the box to reveal a small model airplane—one that I had helped him build months ago. He had loved it then, his little hands working diligently to paint the wings. But I had kept the finished piece hidden, waiting for a special occasion to give it back to him.

His eyes lit up as he saw the plane. “You fixed it?”

“Yeah,” I said softly. “I fixed it for you. I know you worked hard on it, and I wanted to make sure it was perfect.”

He took the plane from the box, his fingers tracing the painted wings. For a moment, there was a flicker of joy in his eyes, but then he looked up at me, uncertainty clouding his expression. “Are we staying here now?”

The question hit me hard. I knew that all he wanted was stability, to feel safe. And I had taken that away with everything that had happened. I had to try to make this right.

“For now,” I said, kneeling to his level, “but wherever we are, I want you to know I’ll always be here for you. I’ll never leave you, Fil. I promise.”

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Rena’s POV

I watched from the doorway as Filip handed Fil the small airplane. The sight of our son smiling, even briefly, tugged at something deep inside me. I had seen this side of Filip before—the loving father, the man who could make Fil laugh with just a few words. But I knew better than to let that lull me into a false sense of security.

He was trying, I could see that. But it wasn’t enough to erase what had happened, the way he had used fear and control to keep us bound to him. Still, a part of me couldn’t deny that Fil needed his father, and moments like this, however fleeting, were important to him.

I stepped forward, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. “What are you doing, Filip?”

He looked up, startled by my voice. For a moment, I saw the familiar guilt flash in his eyes, but he quickly masked it. “I’m just… trying to make things right,” he said quietly, standing up. “For Fil.”

I stared at him, my guard still up. “You can’t buy back trust with gifts.”

“I know,” he said, his voice strained. “But it’s not just about the plane. I’m trying to show him—and you—that I’m willing to change.”

I didn’t respond immediately, my mind racing. Could he really change? Could he let go of the need to control every aspect of our lives? I wanted to believe that he could, for Fil’s sake, but the fear of being trapped again loomed too large.

Fil tugged at my hand, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Mom, look! Dad fixed it!” His eyes were shining with excitement, and for a second, I saw the innocent joy that I had worked so hard to protect.

I forced a smile. “That’s great, sweetie.”

But my gaze remained fixed on Filip. I wasn’t ready to forgive him, and he knew that. If he really wanted to prove he could be different, it wasn’t going to happen in one day. It was going to take more than a small gesture to earn back the trust he had shattered.

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Filip’s POV

I could feel the tension between us, thick and heavy, but I wasn’t going to push. I had to take this one step at a time. Rena’s eyes bore into me, full of doubt and pain, and I couldn’t blame her. She had every right to be angry, every right to be cautious.

But I couldn’t lose them again.

“Rena,” I began, my voice low. “I know you don’t trust me right now, and I understand that. But I’m not asking for forgiveness all at once. I just want to prove that I can be better for both of you.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t say anything. I took a deep breath, hoping she would give me a chance to explain.

“I’ve been selfish. I thought I was doing what was best for us, but I realize now that I was only thinking about what I wanted. I want to be better, for you and for Fil. I’m willing to work on that, but I need you to let me try.”

She looked away, her arms still crossed, but I saw the slightest shift in her posture. It wasn’t a victory, but it was something—a crack in the wall between us.

“Actions speak louder than words, Filip,” she said finally. “If you really mean what you’re saying, you’ll have to show it every day. And not just to me, but to Fil.”

“I will,” I promised, my voice steady. “I won’t let you down again.”

She nodded, though her expression remained guarded. “We’ll see.”

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Rena’s POV

I didn’t want to believe him. But I had to admit, something in his eyes felt different this time—like he truly understood the weight of his mistakes. Still, it wasn’t enough to lower my defenses. Trust wasn’t something you could rebuild overnight, and I wasn’t ready to let him in just because of one heartfelt plea.

But for Fil, I would give Filip the chance to prove himself. That didn’t mean I was staying. It just meant I would watch, wait, and see if he could follow through.

And if he didn’t, I would be ready to leave again, this time for good.

For now, though, I let Fil enjoy his moment with his father, watching as the two of them talked quietly about the plane. I would stay vigilant. This fragile peace was just the beginning.