The rain drizzled softly against the windows, the faint hum of traffic below filling the silence in the room. Kai stood by the window, cigarette in hand, his gaze fixed on the shimmering city lights, though his mind was miles away. His fingers trembled slightly as he took a drag, the smoke curling around him as if trying to shield him from the reality he could no longer avoid.

He heard her soft footsteps behind him but didn’t turn. Instead, he took a deep breath, exhaling slowly, feeling the weight of the situation settle heavily on his shoulders. For a moment, he closed his eyes, gathering the words he wasn’t sure he had the courage to say.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and strained. “I never meant for this to happen…” He paused, his hand tightening around the cigarette, “but I’m not going to run from it.” He turned to look at her then, his dark eyes reflecting a mix of guilt, determination, and something else—something he couldn’t quite put into words.

There was a long silence between them, filled only by the quiet sound of rain. He took a step closer, as if reaching out but stopping himself, his hand hovering in midair before he pulled it back. “I don’t know what kind of father I’ll be,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, “but I’ll do everything I can to protect you both.” His gaze softened, and for the first time, a flicker of vulnerability showed in his otherwise stoic expression.

Kai’s jaw clenched, as if wrestling with emotions he’d tried so hard to bury. He looked at her, truly looked at her, as if seeing her for the first time. "This isn’t how I imagined things… but I’ll take responsibility, for both of you." His words were a promise, an attempt to convey what he couldn’t fully express, hoping it was enough.