**Chapter 31: A Strained Heart** Rowan sat silently, his gaze locked onto the palms of his hands, the lifeless phone pressed against his ear. His mother’s voice emerged from the other end, gentle yet filled with concern. “I’m sorry, Ro, but he refuses to talk to you.” A wave of heartache washed over him, deeper than any pain he had felt before—even deeper than when Emma had walked away. Noah, his son, was angry and had turned his back to him, leaving Rowan to wrestle with the crushing weight of regret. Ava had been right; Noah needed to come first, and yet, here he was, having failed the one person who needed him most. He thought back to his decision to take Emma out on his yacht for some much-needed privacy—an attempt to mend their shattered bond. But the moment he had rushed to support Ava, abandoning their plans, he had forged a break in his relationship with Noah he had never anticipated. Time slipped through his fingers, and before he knew it, his phone was dead. Ava’s anger had taken him by surprise. He had seen a side of her he had never encountered; she had stood up for Noah and called him out for his reckless behavior. It was a proud moment, witnessing her backbone in action, but it was overshadowed by the looming dread of his son’s disappointment. “Rowan?” his mother called again, pulling him from his thoughts. “I’m going to hang up now.” “No, please, just… can you ask him to talk to me?” Rowan’s voice trembled as he pleaded, desperation creeping into his tone. Never had Noah refused him like this. It felt like a knife twisting in his gut. His mother let out a heavy sigh. “You hurt him, Rowan. He was so excited yesterday—looking forward to sharing his accomplishments with you. He cried after the meeting while talking to Ava. Noah doesn’t cry, Ro.” Words failed him as he stared blankly at the wall, consumed by guilt. He had no excuse. He had promised to be there for his son, yet had chosen to coax Emma’s forgiveness instead. "I know that..." He took a shaky breath. "I just—" “Do you truly understand?” Her voice sharpened, cutting through his fog of despair. “You’re not the one who had to witness him break down and then comfort him. I’m relieved Emma is back, and I get that you both are trying to fix things, but don’t neglect your responsibilities. Noah must always come first.” “You don’t have to tell me that,” Rowan spat back, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Ava already chewed me out yesterday.” “And she was right to do so,” his mother shot back. “We mothers would move mountains for our kids, even if it means confronting their fathers.” There was a moment of silence, the air thick with unexpected tension. Never had his mother taken Ava’s side before. The realization sank in—she had been steadfast against Ava since the beginning. “Can you just… try to convince him to talk to me?” he asked, his voice breaking slightly, a request he wasn’t used to making. After a moment filled with unspoken words, she reluctantly agreed. Rowan held the phone tightly, anxiety twisting his stomach. Minutes crawled by, feeling like hours, and just as he was about to surrender and hang up, a small, timid voice broke through. “Hello?” It was Noah. “Hey bud,” Rowan began, unsure of how to approach the topic. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. I got caught up and lost track of time. I was told that—” Noah cut him off, his voice sharper than before. “It’s because of her, isn’t it? Mommy’s sister? That’s why you didn’t come to my teacher’s meeting.” The accusation hit Rowan like a slap to the face, rising fury battling against his heartache. "Who told you this? Did your mother say something?" he pressed, attempting to clamp down on the boiling anger within him. “I’m eight, dad, not stupid. Mommy didn’t tell me anything.” There was a hint of defiance in Noah’s tone, followed by something more tempered. “I saw her at your house that day I called. What was she doing there at night if she’s not your girlfriend?” Rowan felt his heart race. It slipped his mind that Noah had seen Emma. He had hoped for a better moment to explain, a moment that seemed to slip further away. “Buddy—” “Just know that I don’t like her,” Noah stated with a fierceness that sent a jolt through Rowan. “I will never accept her if you marry her.” Panic surged within him. Why had he thought Noah would embrace Emma? Was his son's loyalty to Ava stronger than he had imagined? “Is it because she’s not your mother?” Rowan probed, desperate to understand his son’s feelings. Maybe Noah resented Emma for trying to fill a void that could never be replaced. “No! I just don’t like her. Plus, she’s mommy’s sister. That’s just wrong, Dad!” Noah's voice was firm, unwavering. A new wave of dread crashed over Rowan. Was it possible that Ava had been subtly turning Noah against Emma? The thought gnawed at him, fueling his own internal conflict. “Listen, Noah,” he said, searching for the right words. “I’m dating Emma, and I need you to treat her with respect. I might marry her one day. She will be your stepmother. You’ll have to get used to seeing her.” He had to quash this animosity before it took root in Noah. He needed his son to understand that Emma was here to stay. “No way,” Noah shouted defiantly, his voice echoing through the line. “Please, Noah…” “I don’t care. If you like her, then fine, but I will never accept her. She will never be any kind of mother to me!” His voice was raw with emotion as he slammed the phone down, cutting off any hope of reconciliation. Rowan stared at his phone in disbelief. He tried calling again, but it was switched off. The silence screamed back at him, a heavy blanket of confusion and resentment. Noah had never been hateful, yet here he was, harboring bitterness towards Emma without even knowing her. A sense of defeat flooded him as he realized the damage was done. He had pushed his son further away, while his heart ached for Emma, who was blissfully unaware of the storm brewing. Just then, the towering doors of his mansion swung open, and Emma stepped in, her smile like a beacon in the darkened room. He had given her a key a few weeks prior, hoping to solidify their relationship, yet it felt like a morass of complications had sprung up overnight. “Rowan?” she called softly. “What is it, Emma?” he replied, irritation creeping in, his thoughts still locked in troubled places. “Talk to me, Ro. You know I’m here for you.” The sincerity in her voice pulled him from his turmoil. Her eyes shimmered with concern, an almost palpable connection hanging in the air, but all he felt was the suffocating weight of unaddressed emotions. “I had a disagreement with Noah,” he finally confessed, the words escaping like a reluctant admission. Her frown deepened, concern etching itself across her stunning face. “Is it about yesterday?” “Partially. Mostly, it’s because he saw you here one day. He doesn’t like it, and apparently, he doesn’t like you. I don’t know how to handle this! I love you both, but how can I be with you if my son can’t stand the thought of you?” The bitter truth spilled from his lips, leaving him exposed as the man caught in an impossible situation. She fell silent, her blue gaze drifting off into the distance, and a heavy pause filled the room before she finally spoke again. “Is this why you’ve been so distant? I’ve been back for a couple of months now, and you haven’t even kissed me. Is Noah’s reluctance to accept me holding you back?” What could he even say? Every time he felt the pulse of longing to hold her close, something gripped him, and he found himself retreating, offering her fleeting pecks on her cheek or forehead, but never the warmth of a kiss on her lips he craved. “Yes,” he lied, swallowing the truth that threatened to choke him. There was no need to inflict more pain on her than he already had. Silence enveloped them once more, each lost in their thoughts, while Rowan battled his own demons, tangled in the chaos of family and love. The walls felt taller, their history etched in the air, and the knowledge that he stood at a crossroads weighed more heavily on him than the burdens he carried.