At first, Carlos’s presence was something Max tolerated because Kimi adored him. Their son’s laughter echoed through the apartment halls more often now—whether Carlos was teaching Kimi a Spanish phrase, showing him how to dribble a football, or just telling ridiculous stories about his own childhood.

Kimi would collapse into bed after these evenings, cheeks flushed with laughter, curling up in his blankets as though the world had suddenly become brighter. Max would tuck him in, grateful for the joy on his son’s face even if it meant enduring Carlos’s constant chatter and larger-than-life personality.