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

Nathan's eyes flickered with something-regret, sorrow, maybe both-but he knew, as I did, that there was no room for compromise here. He looked down, defeated, and nodded slightly, accepting my stance. There was no negotiation to be had. He turned to leave, his back straight, though his spirit was clearly broken. ek straight, though his spirit was clearly broken.

As he walked away, my eyes drifted to his hand. He was still wearing the wedding

ring we had once exchanged. Tl ring we had once exchanged. That tiny detail made my heart ache, but it didn't

change anything. Our past was behind us, and there was no going back.

The judge entered, and the courtroom fell silent. Sienna's fate was about to be decided. My pulse quickened as the judge began to speak, confirming her guilt. I held my breath as he passed the sentence: ten years in prison. Justice. It was done. Sienna, however, wasn't ready to accept her defeat. She shot up from her seat andCòntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

pointed at me, her face twisted in rage. pointed at me, her face twisted in rage. "You think I lost? No way! There's no way I

can lose to you, you ugly bitch!" Her voice was shrill, filled with venom, but it

didn't affect me.

I stood, calm and composed, and walked to the front of the audience. Looking directly into her eyes, I spoke clearly and coldly, "You've already lost. You'll be living in prison for the next ten years. By the time you get out, you'll have lost everything you care about." Sienna's bravado shattered as my words hit her. Her face crumpled, and she began to sob-ugly, gut-wrenching sobs that echoed through the courtroom. Her former fans, who had once adored her for her beauty and charisma, watched in horror. I could hear their whispers turn from adoration to disgust. They had believed in her, and now, as her lies and cruelty were laid bare, they turned on her. Some shouted insults, while others simply shook their heads in disbelief, ashamed to have ever supported her.

I watched silently as Sienna, once a celebrated figure, became nothing more than a criminal, disgraced and abandoned. The satisfaction I felt wasn't as sweet as I

had imagined, but it was justice nonetheless.

As the crowd began to disperse, I caught a glimpse of Carlos sitting in the far corner of the room, quietly observing. My heart skipped a beat, but before I could approach him, he stood and disappeared into the crowd. It was as if he had never

been there, a ghost slipping through the shadows.

The day was crisp and sunny, a perfect contrast to the heaviness that had weighed on me for so long. It had been a few days since the courtroom drama, and I was eager to get back into a routine that felt normal. As I arrived at the medical organization's kindergarten, I could hear the faint sound of children laughing and playing. This place had become a second home for Cyrus, and I found a sense of peace every time I came here.

As soon as I stepped inside, I was greeted by the sight of Vesta rushing toward me, her face lighting up with excitement. "Doris!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms around me in a warm hug. "We've missed you so much! The kids ask about you and Cyrus every day." Her warmth was infectious, and I found myself smiling in return. "We've missed you too. How have things been here?"

Vesta gave me a playful grin. "Oh, the usual chaos. You know how it is. But more importantly, how is Cyrus? We've all been worried sick."

"He's doing much better," I reassured her. "He's back to his old self. No more fevers, no more sleepless nights."

Vesta sighed in relief, patting me on the shoulder. "That's great news! You must be so relieved." Her expression shifted to something a little more mischievous. "And Sienna? Did they finally throw the book at her?"

I couldn't help but smirk. "Ten years. She's out of our lives for a long time."

Vesta's eyes widened with delight. "Ten years? That's amazing! You know what? I'm going to have a drink after work tonight to celebrate. You should come with

me."

I laughed at her enthusiasm. "Maybe I will. We could both use a night out."

As we chatted, the door to the kindergarten opened, and suddenly, the room was filled with the sound of children's excited voices. "Doctor! Doctor!" they cried, rushing toward the entrance. I didn't need to turn around to know who they were calling for. Carlos had arrived.

The children adored him, though he always kept his distance. They ran toward him, but his ever-present bodyguards gently kept them at bay. I noticed an older female colleague of mine standing nearby, shaking her head with a bemused expression.

"Those bodyguards," she muttered under her breath to me, "they have no sense of humor. As if these kids could ever hurt him!"

Vesta, overhearing, leaned closer to me and whispered, "Carlos doesn't like kids getting too close to him. It's just the way he is."

I found myself thinking back to how gently Carlos had held Cyrus during his illness, how patient he had been with him. It was hard to reconcile that image with the Carlos who now stood stiffly in front of the children, keeping his emotional distance. There was more to him than he let people see.