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

Chapter 33

We walked further, the sound of the children's laughter fading behind us. After a few moments, we entered a quieter, more clinical part of the building. The vibrant energy of the kindergarten gave way to the sterile formality of a research

environment.

presence

We stopped in front of a large set of glass doors. Through them, I saw a conference room. Inside, older scientists sat around a long table, heads bent over papers and screens. But what caught my eye wasn't them-it was the young man sitting at the head of the table, his commanding the room despite his youth.

He wore a sharp suit, his dark hair neatly combed, but his face was serious and cold, almost detached. His eyes were fixed on

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the documents in front of him, barely

acknowledging the conversation

happening around him. There was something about him-something distant, authoritative, and... unreachable.

"That's Dr. Carlos," Vesta whispered beside me, her voice barely audible. "He's the

head of this organization. Brilliant researcher, M.D., but... not

exactly the

warmest person you'll meet."

I watched him for a moment,

I

fascinated by

how the older scientists seemed to defer to him, despite the age gap. There was an air

of quiet authority around him, one that

didn't need to be spoken to be understood.

"He's... young," I said, my voice low, not

wanting to interrupt the scene unfolding behind the glass. Vesta nodded. "He is. But he's responsible

for everything you've seen today-the

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program, the research that's saved so many lives. He's dedicated his life

looked up from his documents, how his posture remained rigid and focused. It was as though the weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and he bore it with an almost inhuman detachment. There was something i intriguing about him, something

followed her as we left the

but my thoughts lingered

was something

something I

I shook it off and

me through more hallways, explaining

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and programs within

in the kindergarten, the

why Vesta had dedicated herself to this

something bigger

us.

us.

a heaviness to

done here wasn't without its challenges, its costs. The weight of responsibility hung in the air, especially around Carlos. I wondered what it would be like to be a part of this, to contribute to something so

toward the hallway, the distant sound of footsteps echoed again, and I couldn't shake

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more than just the lives of others-it might change mine, too. A sense

uncertainty.

with all its

the

even know

was searching

I had lost and

needed to move

piece by piece.

I stood in the

haunted

thoughts. His cold, indifferent expression

stark contrast to the warmth

found with Vesta and the vibrancy of the

face was pale, almost ascetic,

life had drained

sharp,

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Pleas, But Our