CHAPTER 293: CHAPTER 293: APOLOGIES AND NEW BEGINNINGS

~Zayn’s POV~

I reached for the doorbell, but before my finger could touch the button, the massive front door swung open.

And there they were.

Two of Evric’s staff stepped out, stopping the moment they noticed me.

"Good evening, sir," they greeted in unison, polite and formal.

"Good evening," I returned with a small nod.

Stepping into Evric’s living room, the first thing that greeted me was the warm, effortless laughter of his siblings. Evric sat relaxed on the couch, deep in conversation with Evans and Chrisly, while Nuala perched nearby, her voice rising above the soft music playing in the background.

The moment Evric saw me in the doorway, the chatter fell silent.

"Babe!" he blurted out, surprise flashing across his face before it softened into that familiar, heart–melting look he reserved only for me. Without hesitation, he sprang to his feet and hurried toward me.

Liam, held securely in my arms, stared wide-eyed at the sea of unfamiliar faces and the luxurious space around us.

Evric reached me, but his focus wasn’t on me. The first thing he did was stare at Liam, his expression shifting from surprise to profound tenderness. He looked as if he were about to reach out and touch his face, but then his eyes flicked past me, catching sight of Meera. He immediately stopped himself, the eagerness in his gesture retracting, a flicker of guardedness replacing it.

"Please, have a seat," I murmured to Meera, motioning toward the nearest sofa. She and the nanny quietly settled down.

I scanned the room, making my way toward Evans and offering a brief, greeting, which he returned with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Chrisly and Nuala followed behind, their expressions equally puzzled. It was clear, they had no idea why I’d brought a baby and that woman into the house of my man. Even though Nuala had met Meera before, Liam’s presence was impossible to ignore. Curiosity won over caution, and she hesitantly stepped closer, smiling as she greeted my son.

Just then, Evric took my hand, his grip firm, and led me to a quieter corner of the living room. I could tell he wanted to ask why Meera was here, especially after our conversation this morning—but instead, his attention shifted to Liam, and he greeted him warmly. Taking a steadying breath, I quickly explained our purpose.

"I came because Meera said she wanted to meet you in person," I said quietly, my words rushing out.

Evric studied me, his brow knitting in a mix of doubt and concern.

"Trust me," I pleaded silently, holding his gaze.

He exhaled slowly and gave a small, reluctant nod. "Alright... let’s do this."

I turned and called softly, "Meera, could you come here for a moment?"

Meera stood up and walked toward us, her demeanor completely different from her usual combative self, she was humble and serious.

I held Liam tightly, my eyes on Meera as she faced Evric. The tension between them was palpable, heavy with the weight of their past conflicts.

"Evric," Meera began, her voice steady and serious. "I want to apologize sincerely. I was rude and disrespectful to both of you. I shouldn’t have called you names or let my prejudices interfere with your relationship. I was wrong, and I let my own bitterness get in the way." She made no excuses, her apology was complete and unreserved.

Evric listened quietly, his expression calm and measured. When she finished, he stepped forward, every movement radiating maturity and composure. "Meera, I understand," he said gently. "Change is difficult, especially when it challenges what we’re used to. I’m not angry. Thank you for coming here and offering that apology. I truly accept it."

With that, the heavy, suffocating tension that had lingered over my relationship with Evric—and over my past—finally lifted. Everything felt settled. The air seemed lighter. Liam shifted in my arms, nuzzling his head against my shoulder, blissfully unaware of the calm and peace he had just helped bring into our lives.

After Meera returned to her seat, I turned to Evric, noticing the faint tension still lingering in his eyes. "It seems like you haven’t told your siblings anything about Liam," I whispered.

Evric nodded, the movement slow and deliberate. "No. I was waiting for... you."

A soft warmth filled my chest, easing everything inside me. I smiled. "Then I guess it’s time I introduce him."

We walked back to the cluster of siblings. I took a deep breath, holding Liam a little higher so everyone could see his perfectly formed, little face. "Everyone," I announced, my voice clear and steady. "Meet my son. His name is Liam."

Chrisly gaped. "Your son?"

Nuala looked genuinely stunned, her jaw hanging open. But Evans, always the observant one, simply smiled. "I already suspected it," he said. "The resemblance is hard to miss."

Just as the murmurs began to ripple through the room, Liam chose that moment to make his feelings known. "Daddy!" he yelled, glaring up at me with a tiny, furious frown. He was clearly done with snacks and wanted real food now. Noticing the shift in his mood, Meera quickly stepped forward.

"I think the little man needs his meal," she said softly. She lifted Liam from my arms and headed toward the nanny. As they walked away, I caught the faintest whisper of conversation among the siblings behind me.

"Zayn has a kid?" Chrisly blurted out softly. "That’s... a plot twist."

Then Nuala said. "Wait, who is she? Isn’t that the one that came to—"

Evric interjected gently but firmly. "Nuala, that was before. She came to make things right, and she’s Liam’s mother."

Nuala immediately stood up, looking genuinely taken aback. "She’s Liam’s mom?"

As Liam was being settled into a high chair, Nuala walked over to Meera. The two of them spoke quietly for a moment, finally facing everything that had happened. Nuala apologized sincerely, admitting she was sorry for judging without understanding. Meera, too, offered her own apology for the past conflict.

It was a small exchange, but a huge step, and I stood there watching, amazed at how much maturity my son’s presence was already bringing out in everyone.

Once the commotion had settled and Liam was finally fed, Meera carried him again. But he immediately started squirming and shouting, reaching out for me. "Daddy! Daddy!"

I stepped forward to take him from her, and Meera leaned in, her voice low and gentle. "We should be heading out soon."

"Okay," I replied, holding Liam tightly.

It was then I heard Nuala make a high-risk joke. She wasn’t speaking loudly, but the words slipped out, unintended. She stared at Liam, smiled sweetly, and said to Chrisly, "Honestly, they could have made a great fami—"

Evans didn’t even let her finish the word. He clamped a hand over her mouth. Nuala immediately realized what had just slipped out and went silent, looking mortified. Evric...