Chapter 442
The moment Zeke heard it was Ximena, he snapped, “Tell her to get lost!”
“Yes, sir,” the guard responded and stepped out to deliver the message. “I’m sorry, Ms. Harris, but Mr. Zeke doesn’t want to see you ge leave.”
The guard was still relatively polite, but Ximena had already heard Zeke’s angry voice through the door. He had told her to get lost
That one word hurt more than a knife to the heart. It left her breathless, but she still forced a weak smile and held back her fears. Alright, r leave… but I brought some food. Can you at least give this to him?”
“You can take it back with you. Mr. Zeke won’t touch it.”
They followed Zeke’s orders to the letter. No one would accept anything from Ximena.
Left with no choice, Ximena quietly turned away, the thermal container still in hand. As she walked away, tears slipped down her cheeks.
But she quickly wiped them dry.
Caitlin was right. If she wanted to reach her son, she had to show him with actions. If once wasn’t enough, then she’d come again–again and again–until he gave her a chance.
If he wouldn’t see her today, she’d return tomorrow.
“Giving up that easily?”
The gentle yet firm voice floated over from the hallway.
Ximena looked up and saw Caitlin walking toward her, graceful and calm.
“Caitlin, thank God you’re here! I… I can’t get in. He won’t see me.”
Running into Caitlin in the hallway was like a lost traveler suddenly finding the North Star.
Seeing her swollen red eyes, Caitlin could tell she’d been crying. She reached out her hand. “Give me the food. I’ll take it in.”
“Thank you, thank you so much.”
Ximena handed over the thermal container, her eyes filled with hope. Right now, Caitlin was the only person she could rely on.
Caitlin nodded, then carried the food to the room. The guards at the door instantly stood upright and greeted her respectfully, “Caitlin!”
Their voices were loud enough for Zeke to hear from inside. The second he heard her name, he perked up.
Caitlin?
She finally came!
Caitlin stepped into the room. Zeke tried to sit up, but she stopped him. “Don’t move too much. Lie back.”
“Caitlin…”
“How are you feeling?”
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“A little better.”
He leaned back into the pillows, eyes locked on her, afraid that if he blinked, she might vanish again.
She placed the container on the bedside table. “Hungry? Want to eat something?”
“Yes.”
He assumed she had cooked it herself and immediately nodded,
Caitlin raised the head of the bed and opened the container, laying out the dishes one by one, including a rich, fragrant chicken soup at the bottom. Just looking at it, she could tell Ximena had poured her heart into it.
The smell made Zeke’s stomach growl. “You made all this?”
Caitlin didn’t answer. Instead, she handed him a spoon. “Go ahead and eat. You need to rebuild your strength”
Zeke, thinking the food was from Caitlin, accepted it gratefully. Though part of him wished she would feed him, he knew better—his injuries
weren’t in his hands, after all.
He devoured the food, finishing every bite and polishing off the soup. He looked visibly better.
“It’s been so long since I’ve had your cooking. Thank you, Caitlin. It was delicious.”
That’s when Caitlin finally spoke the truth. “Zeke, I didn’t cook this. It was from Ximena.”
“What? Her?”
His instinct was to vomit everything he’d just eaten.
“There’s no need for that kind of reaction,” Caitlin said calmly. “Whether you hate her or resent her, this is just one small thing she owed you
Taking it doesn’t mean you forgive her–it just means she’s trying.”
“Why are you defending her?”
He stared at her with suspicion. He couldn’t understand why Caitlin was suddenly speaking on Ximena’s behalf.
“I’m not taking sides. I’m just asking you to consider this–what you think you know may not be the whole truth. Maybe you’ve misunderstood her. Maybe what you saw back then wasn’t the full picture.”
“Stop it. Don’t talk about her anymore! I don’t want to hear it!”
Zeke’s emotions flared, and Caitlin saw that the wounds between mother and son ran deeper than words could fix.
“Alright,” she sighed. “I’ll stop. Rest well.”
She began packing up to leave, but Zeke quickly reached out and grabbed her wrist. “Caitlin… I didn’t mean to snap at you. You’re not mad
at me, are you? You’ll still come see me?”
Caitlin smiled gently. “Of course. Even if we were just ordinary friends, I’d still come visit when you’re hurt. And you’re more than that. You’re
someone I care about.”
“Just… a friend?” His heart sank.
That was it then. Caitlin had just redefined him.
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Chapter 442
Zeke looked devastated it still gathered his course. “Can’t your por me i chart verkaferle you for live years. Don’t tell me that madhe marking
“Is your bond with Sebastian from jus
“He’d give his life for you. So would 1. He treats you w
“Is it because of Zorro? Because he’s my father? I’ve cut ties with
happiness, Caitlin–”
There was sadness in his voice, and his eyes were filled with pain, with a fragile, braban sart of kepa
Caitlin gently removed his hand and sat back down, her tone soft but firms.
“Zeke, I know how you feel. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I always will
“But even if Sebastian didn’t exist, I still couldn’t love you back. I won’t lead you on. I won’t string your string i
“If possible, I hope you can still be part of the kids‘ lives. Be their uncle. Try letting me go. Look beyond that’s meant for you.”
She stood, picked up the food container, and turned to leave. Then she paused.
“One more thing–make sure you’ve got good people watching your back. Don’t let your guard down around on
Zeke said nothing.
Caitlin let out a quiet sigh and left the room.
As she stepped into the hallway, she froze.
Just ahead, leaning casually against the wall, was Sebastian.
He looked like a man who had been waiting all day–for the woman he loved to find him there.
C
AD
