94. Don’t Kill Me

River stood at the edge of the reception, the low hum of music and laughter swirling around him, but his attention was fixated on the sight before him—Riley, his new bride, twirling Lucas in her arms. His six-year-old son’s face was lit up with pure joy, giggling as Riley danced with him, her smile as radiant as ever.

His chest tightened at the sight. It was a strange feeling, one he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in so long—happiness mixed with a deep ache he couldn’t quite name.

The way Riley fit so easily into this life, into his son’s world, was both comforting and terrifying. He wasn’t used to letting people in, not since Ellie.

Before he could lose himself in the thought, River felt a heavy hand land on his shoulder. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“Alexander,” River greeted, his voice a low rumble, eyes still fixed on Riley and Lucas.

Alexander stood beside him, his gaze following River’s to the dance floor. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, the only s