Chapter 0015
I felt the familiar weight settle on my chest, heavier now that the words had been spoken aloud. I nodded stiffly, my throat too tight to speak.
Daphne’s face contorted like she’d bitten into a lemon–equal parts disbelief and pity.
“Wait, you’re telling me you’re taking care of his kid? For this case?” She paused, her voice dripping with dramatic emphasis. “I mean, I guess it makes sense now, but seriously? How are you so calm?”
I swallowed hard, turning back to the sink to busy my hands, scrubbing at a pot that was already spotless.
“That’s because I’m not taking the sace. Not anymore. I cant do it, Daphne,” I said finally, my voice low and strained. “I can’t treat their child. Not after everything.”
Daphne tilted her head, her expression softening as she shifted her weight.
“I mean, I get it, I really do… but he’s just a kid,” she said, her voice dipping into that overly gentle tone people use when they’re trying to make a point without poking the bear.
“You’ve seen how attached he is to you. I mean, come on–aside from Abigail, you’re, like, the only person he seems to like. The kid barely reacts to anyone else. He chased you to a parking lot. He’s practically a mini shadow at this point!”
I closed my eyes, gripping the edge of the counter for support as memories of Owen’s shy smile and hesitant voice filled my mind. I could still hear the way he called me “Mommy,” the way his small hand clung to mine as if I were the only safe place in the world.
If my child hadn’t passed, they’d be about Owen’s age now.
The thought cut off sharply, leaving a dull ache in its place drew in a shaky breath, my chest tightening.
Daphne stood and came closer, her hand resting lightly on my arm. Her voice was soft but insistent, he lowering more serious.
e tone
“Lauren, you’ve always wanted to help sick werewolf children. It’s why you came back, isn’t it? To find new treatments, to save lives? You can’t let your history with Alexander stop you from helping Owen. Helping others through him. He’s innocent in all this.‘”
가
Her words tore through the walls I’d spent years building around my heart. She was right, of course. Owen was innocent. None of this was his fault.
But knowing that didn’t make it easier.
I turned to face her, my hands trembling as I dried them on a towel. “It’s not that simple, Daphne,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “Every time I look at him, I’ll see everything I’ve tried so hard to leave behind. Not to mention, it’s dangerous.”
“But it’s not about Alexander,” she said gently. “It’s about Owen. He’s just a scared little boy who needs someone to fight for him. And right now, that someone is you.
The conviction in her voice made my resolve waver. Her words settled in the silence between us, heavy but not unbearable.
Daphne smiled faintly, stepping back to give me space. “Think about it,” she said simply.
I nodded again, though a part of me knew–no matter what had happened between Alexander and me, I couldn’t turn my back on Owen…Could I?
+25 BONUS:
The next morning, as I walked through the sterile halls of the hospital, the air felt heavier than usual.
I could already sense something was off–an settling teision I couldn’t shake. When I was called into the director’s office, I knew this wasn’t going to be a simple meeting.
“Dr. Ava,” he said, his voice carefully neutral as I stepped side. His eyes were steady, but the tension in his posture gave him away. “Owen’s father has requested that you be his attending physician. He’s given permission for you to set any consultation *e you see fit.”
I froze in front of the desk, my stomach dropping. I could feel the walls closing in.
“That’s not possible,” I said quickly, almost pleading, shaking my head.
The director exhaled, a long sigh as if expecting my reaction. “He’ll be here shortly to discuss it with you in person.
A rush of panic surged through me. I spun around too quickly, my pulse racing, but before I could take a step toward the door, it swung open.
“Hello, Dr. Ava.”
+25 BONUS
Charter 0016
