The elevator doors slid shut behind me with a soft, final sigh. I stepped out into the hall, the quiet hum of the building all around me. I straightened my cuff, a simple, ordinary motion. Then I looked up, and my heart jolted hard against my ribs, a painful, sudden drumbeat of pure alarm. Ayden. My son was standing right there, frozen like a statue in front of my office door. He was just… waiting. His eyes, wide and shocked, met mine. For a single second, I saw just my boy standing there. Then his gaze immediately darted down. Down to my legs. He saw it instantly. There was no slow realization. His eyes took in the whole picture in one terrible flash. No crutches leaning against the wall. No careful, painful limp. Just me, walking perfectly fine, standing tall. The big, bulky white cast on my leg looked ridiculous now, like a stupid joke, a clear lie against my unhurt skin. Shit. It was so easy to see the truth all over his face. It wasn't just about what he was seeing now. He’d
Last Updated : 2026-01-05 Read more