Chapter 192

Lake POV

“Sometimes people need space—”

“I don’t want space!” Ollie’s voice rose, attracting attention from nearby parents. “I want my papa! I want him to push me on the swings and catch me at the bottom of the slide and tell me I’m the best climber ever! I want—” His words dissolved into sobs.

I held him while he cried, feeling helpless and furious all at once. Furious at Ramon for doing this to Ollie. Furious at myself for not knowing how to fix it. Furious at the entire impossible situation that had brought us to this point.

Around us, other families continued their normal day. Kids played. Parents laughed. Life went on like nothing was wrong.

But everything was wrong. My son was falling apart. My mate was gone. And I had no idea how to make any of it better.

“I want to go home,” Ollie said when his sobs finally subsided. “Not Uncle Rhodes’s home. My real home. With Papa. Mama, please, can we just go home?”

“Not yet,” I said, my ow