Dakota instinctively lowered her gaze. Without even thinking about it, she reached up and gently cupped Takoda's cheek, her thumb softly brushing across the little girl's face exactly as she had done countless times before. The movement was so natural, so familiar, that it happened without the slightest hesitation.
Neither Dakota nor Takoda noticed it.
Kade did.
He watched the quiet exchange in silence, his heart tightening as the truth unfolded before his eyes once again. The bond between them had never needed words, explanations, or even blood to reveal itself. It had always been there, quietly drawing mother and daughter together long before either of them knew who the other truly was.
Drawing a slow breath, he gently tightened his hold on Dakota's hand.
"I'm not asking you to believe me because I'm your husband," he said quietly. "I'm asking you to trust me because I would never lie to you about something like this."
