"I know that," Ethan said. "I'm not asking you to simply forgive everything and welcome me back into your life as though nothing happened. I'm asking for the chance to genuinely, patiently earn back whatever relationship with my daughters is still possible, built on complete honesty and demonstrated reliability rather than empty promises."
Hannah studied him for a long moment, her guarded expression not fully softening, though something in it shifted, cautiously, toward consideration.