His Knees, His Pleas, But Our Son's in Peace

52

I knelt down beside him, brushing his hair back from his face, trying to comfort him in the way only a mother can. "I know, love. Sometimes things come up, and people have to work. But we'll still have a fun day, okay? You and me. How about we go to the park later, or

maybe the library to pick out a new book?" I smiled at him, hoping to lift his spirits.

It took a moment, but slowly, his lips curved into a small smile. His resilience always amazed me. As I dressed him in his favorite little outfit-a pair of blue overalls and a yellow shirt that made him look like a ray of sunshine-his mood lifted, and soon his earlier disappointment seemed to melt away.

We headed out the door, and to my surprise, Carlos's sleek black car was parked in front of the house. His driver stood outside, waiting for us. Cyrus's eyes lit up instantly, his disappointment from earlier completely forgotten. "Carlos is here!" he shouted, his voice bubbling with excitement as he ran toward the car with pure joy.

He clambered into Carlos's arms the moment the car door opened, his excitement overflowing. The bond between them was clear, and I couldn't help but smile as I watched. For all of Carlos's distance and aloofness, he had a soft spot for Cyrus. I could see it in the way he held him, the way his stern expression softened just a little.

I followed behind, sliding into the seat next to them and offering Carlos a polite nod. "Thanks for picking us up."

Carlos was seated as usual, poised and distant, his eyes remaining on the piece of literature in his hands. He barely acknowledged me, only giving a brief nod in response. But I could tell his attention wasn't entirely on the words in front of him. Every now and then, I caught him sneaking glances at Cyrus, watching the boy's every move with a faint smile that he tried to hide.

He always played this game-distant and aloof on the outside, but I knew he cared

more than he wanted to show. Especially when it came to Cyrus.

As the car rolled to a stop in front of the kindergarten, I stepped out first, taking Cyrus by the hand. But today, something felt different. There was a crowd gathered outside the gates, more people than usual.

Dozens of them were holding up their phones, recording something just ahead. I could barely make out what was going on, but I caught snippets of conversation from the murmuring crowd.

A celebrity parent had come to drop off her child, and her fans were eagerly waiting for updates, hoping to catch a glimpse of the private moment. It always amazed me how some people thrived on turning the ordinary into a spectacle.

Carlos stayed behind in the car, probably relieved to avoid the chaos, while I held Cyrus's hand a little tighter, guiding him through the crowd. Once we were inside the building, the atmosphere quieted, the noise from outside fading into the background. It was then that I noticed Sienna storming out with her son, Asher.

Sienna looked furious, dragging Asher along by the hand. Her face was red with anger, and Asher, who was usually so full of himself, now looked unsure, trailing behind her with a confused expression.

Sienna's voice rang out as she reached the crowd. "This school isn't good enough for my Asher! It doesn't deserve him!" she shouted, her voice sharp and filled with venom. "We're leaving, and I'm finding him a better school. One that actually appreciates his potential." The crowd, ever eager for drama, murmured in response. Many were still recording her outburst, their phones trained on her as she made her dramatic exit. Sienna didn't seem to care. She was on a mission to make a scene, and she was succeeding.

As she turned to storm off, her eyes locked with mine. For a brief moment, I thought she might say something to me, but instead, she just gave me a cold,

twisted smile-a smile that sent a chill down my spine. There was something

unsettling in her expression, a silent message I couldn't quite decipher.

I hurried Cyrus inside, not wanting to be involved in whatever drama Sienna was

stirring up. Once Cyrus was settled with his teacher, I made my way back to the car, but Sienna's strange behavior lingered in my thoughts.

Just as I stepped out of the nursery, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw Ryan's name flashing. Something about the timing felt off-Ryan didn't usually call unless something important was happening. I answered quickly, my heart sinking as a sense of unease crept in. "Doris, I've got some bad news," Ryan said, his voice tense and direct, which only made the knot in my stomach grow tighter.

"What's going on?" I asked, trying to prepare myself for whatever was coming.

"Nathan's been looking for you," he continued. "It seems there's a problem with some of the paperwork from when we split three years ago."