Zade's Pov

The moment the line went dead, I stood there in silence. The phone felt heavy in my hand, but the weight pressing on my chest was worse. My eyes drifted to the small bed in the corner of the room.

Liam was there.

His little body curled up, pale, his chest rising and falling too fast. He was crying softly, his voice broken with exhaustion. And though I told myself again and again that this was necessary, my heart clenched.

He was still my son. My heir.

I ...