Chapter 34:
Pieces of You

"He looks so much like me," Harry whispered, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a genuine, unguarded spark of happiness in his voice - soft, quiet, and achingly pure.

He stepped closer to the bedside, his gaze drinking in every detail of the little boy sleeping peacefully beneath the hospital sheets. The moment he had walked through that door, all the tension, the anger, the exhaustion that had weighed on him for weeks seemed to soften into something tender and reverent. He stood there for a long moment in silence, as if he were afraid that even the slightest sound might disturb him, his eyes tracing the curve of Ethan's cheek, the shape of his eyebrows, the way his lashes rested softly against his skin.

"Yes," Kathalina said quietly, her throat feeling tight. "He really does. Every day I look at him and see you there."

"He's beautiful," Harry murmured, turning his head to look at her, and there it was - a real, bright smile, reaching all the way to his eyes. It was the first time she had seen him truly smile since everything had fallen apart, and it made her chest ache in the most bittersweet way. "Is he going to be all right? What exactly did the doctor say?" His gaze shifted to the IV line running into Ethan's small knuckle, and concern furrowed his brow. "I saw the nurses checking his blood pressure earlier. Is it serious?"

"He's doing much better now," Kathalina assured him gently. "His blood pressure stabilized this morning, and all his vitals are back within normal range. It was a little scary yesterday, but the doctors are confident he just needs rest, proper nutrition, and regular check‑ups from now on."

Harry nodded slowly, but his eyes never wandered far from Ethan's face. Standing beside him felt strangely familiar yet painfully different. It was the same man she had loved for most of her life - the same warmth in his presence, the same quiet kindness - yet there was a distance between them now, an invisible wall built of lost years and changed circumstances. Kathalina folded her arms tightly around herself, fighting the instinct to lean into him, to reach for his hand, to find comfort in the way she used to.

Because the truth hung heavy between them. He had built a life with someone else for five years. He had been someone's husband. And even though the lies had been uncovered, even though he had walked away... she couldn't be certain where his heart truly belonged. Maybe part of it would always be with Olivia. And that was a realization she had to learn to live with, no matter how much it stung. Yet selfish as it felt, a quiet part of her still hoped - hoped that in some small, sacred corner of his heart, she and Ethan would always hold a special place. Just as he would always hold the biggest part of hers. Even with Lucas, even with the future she was building, she knew deep down that no one would ever quite measure up to the man standing right in front of her.

"I still can't believe he's been here all this time," Harry said suddenly, his voice thick with regret. "Growing up. Learning to walk, to talk... and I wasn't there for any of it. It feels like someone stole a piece of my life I can never get back."

Kathalina looked down at her hands, blinking back the heat rising in her eyes. "It hasn't been easy," she admitted softly. "There were so many nights I sat right here or in our small apartment, wondering how I would manage on my own. Wondering if I was doing enough. If I would ever be enough for him. But I kept going - for him. And I am so, so sorry, Harry. I should have found a way to tell you sooner. I should have trusted you enough to explain everything. But I was terrified - terrified that once you knew, you'd want him with you, and I'd lose the one thing that kept me going. I know it was selfish, but I just... I couldn't bear the thought of being without him too."

Her voice cracked, and the tears finally spilled over, tracing warm paths down her cheeks.

"He was the only sunshine I had left," she whispered, wiping hurriedly at her face. "After you were gone... after my own mother disowned me and said I was bringing shame on the family... Ethan was the only thing that made the darkness feel bearable. Every smile, every little milestone - it kept me going. But I should have been braver. I should have trusted that you would have understood. I should have seen what was happening right in front of me."

She took a shaky breath, the guilt pressing down on her chest like a heavy weight.

"And it hurts me so deeply because... Olivia was my best friend. I knew how she felt about you - everyone did. She's loved you since high school, Harry. And I should have spoken to her, been honest with her from the very beginning. Maybe if I had, none of this would have happened. Maybe my silence made it easier for her to believe she had a chance. Maybe I share some of the blame for how broken everything is now."

Harry turned fully toward her then, his expression gentle but firm. He reached out slowly, hesitating just for a moment before resting his hands lightly on her shoulders - not pulling her close, just grounding her where she stood.

"Kathalina, look at me," he said softly but steadily. "Listen to me very carefully. You kept things quiet because you didn't want to hurt her. That wasn't deception - that was kindness. But being hurt doesn't give anyone the right to lie, to manipulate, to build an entire false reality and keep me from the people I loved most. That wasn't your fault. That wasn't your burden to carry. And you certainly don't have to apologize for loving me."

He paused, his voice growing quieter, heavier with emotion.

"No matter what her reasons were, no matter how much she thought she was doing the right thing - she had no right to decide what was best for me. She had no right to keep my son from me. And you don't have to carry her mistakes on your shoulders, Kathalina. You've done enough. You've been strong enough for all of us for far too long."