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

I stared at the ring for a moment, memories of the past threatening to resurface. That ring had once meant something, a symbol of a future we had hoped to build together, but that future never came. I had moved on, and so had he, or so I thought.

"I still wear it," Nathan said, his voice full of quiet regret. "I kept it all these years, Doris, because it reminds me of the good times, of what we had before things went wrong."

For a fleeting second, I felt a pang of sympathy. His voice was gentle, almost tender, and for that moment, he looked like the man I once loved. But I couldn't allow myself to get lost in the past. I couldn't afford to be swayed by his carefully chosen words. "I know I made mistakes," Nathan said, taking a step closer. "I was wrong back then, but I want to make it up to you. To Cyrus." He looked at me with such sincerity that, for a heartbeat, I almost believed him.

But then I thought of Oliver-of his pale face in that hospital bed, his body broken after the accident. I thought of Sienna, pregnant with his child, and how different things might have been. That reminder grounded me, pulling me back from the edge of sympathy. I couldn't afford to let Nathan back in. Not for me, not for Cyrus.

"I'm sorry, Nathan," I said, my voice steady. "But you don't get to rewrite the past. Cyrus and I have moved on, and you should too."

Nathan's expression faltered, the regret deepening in his eyes. For a moment, I thought he might argue, but instead, he nodded slowly, as if accepting my words. "I just wanted to make it right," he murmured, more to himself than to me. Chapter 54

I didn't respond. Whatever Nathan and I had, it was over. I wasn't that person anymore, and he wasn't the man I once knew.

Without breaking eye contact, I reached over and rang the bell on my desk. The soft chime echoed through the room, and within seconds, the door opened as a bodyguard stepped inside, standing silently by the door.

Nathan glanced at the bodyguard, then back at me, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I guess I should have expected this."

"You can leave now," I said coolly.

To my surprise, Nathan didn't resist. He straightened his jacket, gave a nod, and walked toward the door. Just before stepping out, he paused and lifted his hand, showing me the wedding ring one last time. "Goodbye, Doris," he said softly.

I watched as he left, feeling a strange sense of closure settle over me. Years ago, his departure would have left me shattered, but now, it felt like the ending of a chapter I was ready to close.

Moments later, my assistant knocked on the door. "Your partner is here," she said.

I nodded, turning back toward my desk. "Send her in."

Within minutes, my second business partner walked in-tall, poised, and as elegant as always. Her dark hair was pulled back into a sleek bun, her presence commanding but calm.

"Doris," she greeted me warmly. "It's good to see you."

"You too," I replied, offering her a smile. "We have a lot to discuss."

As I sat back down and began preparing for our meeting, I felt the satisfaction of having moved past Nathan's grasp.

The meeting was going better than I could have hoped. Two alphas, both sharp,

confident, and driven, sat across from each other, steering the future of our

businesses like we had done countless times before.

My partner, always precise in her approach, nodded thoughtfully as we discussed

the latest deal. The atmosphere was one of focus and determination-until my

phone buzzed on the table, interrupting the flow of the conversation.

I glanced down and saw Cyrus's kindergarten teacher's number flash across the screen. A strange feeling stirred in my chest-instinct, maybe-but it sent a wave of anxiety through me. I held up my hand apologetically to my partner and picked up the phone. "Ms. Doris," the voice on the other end was anxious. "It's Ms. Hayley, from the kindergarten. There's been an incident with Cyrus. He took something that triggered his allergies, and now he's running a fever. We've moved him to the infirmary." My stomach dropped. "What do you mean?" I asked, struggling to keep my voice steady. "How bad is it?"

"He has a rash, and his fever is rising. We're trying to keep him comfortable, but I think you should come as quickly as you can."

My mind went blank for a moment as panic set in. I mumbled a quick "I'm on my way" before ending the call and hurriedly grabbing my things. My business partner gave me a concerned look, but I couldn't even explain-I had to get to my

son.

Tina, my inner wolf, growled softly within me, a steadying presence amidst my rising fear. Call Carlos, she urged gently. Tina's instincts were always sharp, and I knew she was right. Carlos needed to know, especially with his experience in handling medical emergencies. I fumbled for my phone as I rushed out of the building, my hands trembling slightly as I dialed his number. The moment he picked up, his familiar calm voice came through.