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

Chapter 31

medical organization tomorrow, for a

Issca's voice was calm, and it soothed me like a balm on a wound. I forced a smile, wanting to appear stronger than I felt. "I'm okay, just... processing everything. Perhaps, I need to trouble you to send me to a medical checkup...... because I haven't got my car back yet."

Issca nodded, understanding the weight of what I had been through. He looked

around my kitchen, taking in the mess of papers and the half-eaten sandwich on the counter. "You've been busy, I see."

"Yeah, just trying to figure things out," I replied, avoiding his gaze.

Issca leaned against the counter, arms

crossed. His brow furrowed in confusion.

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

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31

"How are you holding up?"

I paused, glancing down at the papers

again. "I've been through worse, Issca. Much worse. And I've survived."

He sat down across from me, studying my

face. "You look... different," he finally said.

"

"Lighter, maybe."

I smiled, though it didn't quite reach my eyes. "I feel different. It's strange, but now

that the lawsuit's over and Nathan's... well,

out of the picture, I feel like I can breathe

again."

I met his gaze, determination flooding my

chest. "I'm sure. I've wasted enough time. It's time to move on."

small smile tugging at the corners of

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car rumbled softly as it moved down the road, the steady hum filling the silence between us. He'd always been the quiet type, never pushing too hard or asking too many questions. But today, I could feel the weight of his unspoken thoughts hanging in the air,

ו

the

blur past as we neared the medical organization. My heart raced, though

her energy brushing against my mind, both

and concerned.

awfully quiet," Issca finally

low but filled with

his eyes on the road,

could tell he was

trying to read

unspoken tension.

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forced a smile, though I wasn't sure if it convinced either

keeping my

but I saw the way his brow furrowed ever so slightly. He didn't believe me, and deep down, I knew I couldn't blame him. He'd known me long enough to recognize when I was hiding something. Still, he didn't press further, respecting my boundaries

did.

the parking lot of the medical organization, I felt my stomach twist into knots. The building loomed in front of us,

a place of answers,

could

and turned

probing. "Are you

His Pleas, But

3

in with you?" he asked

by my side. But the other part-the stronger, more determined

that

fine," I said, my

if it was the truth.

studied me for a

I'll be here when

opening the door and stepping out into the

took a deep breath, pushing through the doors and into the lobby. The sterile scent of antiseptic hit me instantly,

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