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

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33

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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saved so many lives. He's dedicated his life to

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 I couldn't quite place. His -coldness, his distance-it made me curious. What kind of man carried such a heavy burden with

followed her as we

thoughts lingered on

something about him

me, something I

shook it

Vesta led me through more hallways, explaining

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programs within the

the kindergarten, the life this organization had breathed into families who had no hope. It was

see why Vesta had dedicated herself to

bigger than any

us.

us.

was a heaviness

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

toward the hallway, the distant sound of footsteps echoed again, and

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might

uncertainty.

place, with

challenges, held the

even know

searching

finally rebuild what I had lost and find the

needed to

piece by piece.

in the courtyard, Carlos's

haunted

my thoughts. His cold, indifferent expression was etched deeply in

contrast to the

Vesta and the vibrancy of the

face was pale, almost ascetic,

drained the color

behind sharp,

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But Our