Cynthia rambled on about something Gray didn't care about, but he smiled and nodded, his mind wandering. Fertility technology had advanced significantly during his incarceration. If he found a woman, fatherhood wouldn't be impossible.

However, the idea of someone bearing a child solely to fulfill his desire for a family wasn't appealing. He'd much prefer someone like Keeley Hale, who miraculously loved her cold husband, to fall into his lap. But that was practically impossible.

Even if a woman did fall for him, he'd have to keep his true nature secret forever. Did he really want that?

Gray had employed a charming, insincere tone since college. He'd worked hard to shed his Brooklyn accent, but it still surfaced when visiting his mother's grave. He couldn't predict a woman's reaction if she heard it.

He wished he could find someone like-minded. Could he advertise for an attractive female murderer online? No chance.

"Are you even listening?" Cynthia demanded.

Gray dropped the pretense. He didn't want to see her again. "No, you're too boring."

Infuriated, she splashed water on him before storming off. 'What a drama queen,' he thought, drying himself with a napkin.

Violet rose from her table, heading to the restroom, and paused near Gray's. She gave him an incredulous look, so much like her father's expressionless demeanor that he suppressed laughter.

"Hello, Violet. Fancy meeting you here."

"Why are you wet?" she asked bluntly.

Gray waved it off. "Oh, my date didn't go well. No matter. Plenty of fish in the sea."

He said it, but finding the right "subspecies" might be impossible. Bitterness filled him, but he smiled for Violet. He couldn't ask Aaron to set him up; he'd never pair one of his wife's friends with a murderer.

Violet's eyes narrowed. Another similarity to her father: distrust. Had Aaron told her the truth? Gray hadn't wanted his children knowing about their uncle.

[The promotional material "Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google" should be removed as it is irrelevant to the text and promotional.]

"Whoever your date was has no manners. Better luck next time," she said coolly.

Gray smirked. Talking to Violet was like talking to her father. He might try running into her more often, but Aaron might object. Appeasing him was difficult!

He had to follow Aaron's rules to remain involved in his family's life. He'd let her continue her date without causing trouble.

"Thank you," he replied graciously, waving her off.

Violet went to the restroom. She was definitely Aaron Hale's daughter. Gray's desire for a child intensified. If anyone could understand him, it would be his own child. His niece proved that.

"You ran into your uncle?" Noah asked, frowning, back in his car after dinner.

Violet nodded grimly. "He said he was on a date. Can you imagine dating a convicted murderer?"

"I couldn't imagine dating anyone other than you."

She rolled her eyes, smiling. He'd always been cheesy, but ten times worse since they started dating. Noah was more romantic than she thought.

They went to her place to watch TV. The Hales' TV and couch were much larger than the Singletons'.

They spooned under a blanket; it had been chilly. Violet was still adjusting to this closeness. Previous boyfriends hadn't lasted long enough.

It wasn't that she wasn't used to being around Noah. As children, they'd held hands and hugged. His arms around her felt familiar, just different. His embrace hadn't made her heart race until recently.

Aside from awkward attempts at acting like a couple, their relationship remained the same. Despite changes, Noah was still Noah. She felt comfortable, despite occasionally giggling at the strangeness of dating him.

He was incredibly patient. Even her father hadn't waited as long as Noah had. He just wanted to be around her, even if they'd never be more than friends.

Her heart swelled. Nobody valued her as Noah did. She'd always cherish that.

She wasn't in love yet—it was an adjustment thinking of him as her boyfriend, not her surrogate brother—but they weren't going anywhere. They had time.

[The final promotional material should be removed.]