Chapter 107
I hadn’t slept a wink all night. As dawn broke, I could see the first light creeping through the curtains, casting shadows in the room that felt as heavy as my heart. After getting myself ready and dressing up Cyrus, my thoughts raced as I drove him to the nursery school at the medical facility. He sat quietly in the backseat, playing with his toys, but I could see the curiosity in his eyes.
“Mommy, why are we going here?” he asked, his little voice breaking the silence. I forced a smile, “Just a little adventure, buddy. I wanted you to have some fun with the other kids.”
In truth, I hadn’t been able to escape the feeling that I needed to keep him close today. Vesta would look after him, and I knew he was safe there. As we arrived, I spotted Vesta waiting outside. Her eyes widened when she saw us. We exchanged greetings, and then she expressed her concern.
“Doris! Why have you brought him here? He deserves better than this place!” she exclaimed, her hands on her hips. “Vesta, he’s fine here,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “I just want him to be with me for a little while.” “You’re joking, right? This isn’t the best school for him. You know that,” Vesta pressed further. I offered her a forced smile, hoping it would be enough to mask my worries. “I just want him to spend some time with me, that’s all.” She studied me for a moment, then nodded, although I could see she wasn’t fully convinced. “Alright, but you know I’m here to help. I’ll take good care of him,” she promised.
As I got Cyrus settled in, a feeling of dread hung over me like a heavy blanket. I knew I needed to talk to Vesta later, but first, I had to clear my head. After I dropped him off, I took a break in Vesta’s staff room. As soon as I lay down, tiredness hit me, and I fell into a restless sleep.
When I woke up, Vesta was sitting across from me, and she asked, “Doris, are you alright?” I rubbed my eyes, still feeling the weight of fatigue. “Yeah, just a little tired,” I lied. “It’s been a long week.” “You don’t look alright,” she pressed. “Cyrus mentioned some things, and I’m worried about you. Are you trying to handle everything on your own?”
I hesitated, my defenses rising. “What do you mean? I’m fine. Really.” Vesta leaned in closer. “Doris, you can’t keep pretending. Cyrus told me he’s worried about you. You don’t have to carry this alone.”
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research: Second Chi
&
Hearing Cyrus’s name made my heart ache. I wanted to protect him from everything, including the truth about what was happening in our lives. But Vesta’s words pierced through my facade. With a heavy sigh, I felt my mental walls begin to crumble.
“Okay, fine. It’s just… strange things have been happening,”
I admitted to Vesta. “I feel like
I’m being followed. The same tar keeps showing up outside our home.” Vesta’s face went pale. “Doris, you need to call the police. We need to apply for werewolf police protection.” I ‘sighed, feeling defeated. “I didn’t want to involve anyone. I thought I could handle it.”
I explained how I’d tried losing the car, but nothing worked. “Then last night, I found an
envelope on my window,” I added, shuddering. “It had a note in my lipstick–Looking forward to meeting you, Miss Doris!” And there’s this strange bloody smell in the yard.”
Vesta looked horrified. “You can’t ignore this.” Reluctantly, I nodded. “Alright, I’ll call them.”
Vesta’s expression softened. “Good. And for now, why don’t you stay with me? You and
Cyrus can stay at my place until we sort this out.” “Are you sure?” I asked with a rush of
gratitude. “Absolutely. You’re like family to me,” she assured me.
As we got ready to leave, I felt a little lighter. Cyrus came running out of the nursery. “Mommy! Mommy! I made a new friend!” he exclaimed, waving a drawing he had made. I smiled, but the joy was bittersweet. “That’s great, sweetheart! I’m glad you had fun.” “Can we come back tomorrow?” he asked eagerly. “Of course, but we need to go home first,” I replied, gently guiding him toward the door.
As I prepared to leave with Cyrus, I unexpectedly ran into Carlos in the hallway. His face lit up upon seeing us, but the brightness faded when he noticed my troubled expression.
“Doris, is everything okay?” he asked. I hesitated, not wanting to explain everything that had happened, and shook my head. “We’re fine. Just heading home.” “Are you sure? You look… stressed,” he observed, taking a step closer, his eyes searching mine for answers. “I heard about some trouble. You should move in with me. I can keep you safe.”
“No, Carlos. I can’t just uproot my life because of this. I’m handling it,” I snapped, my frustration spilling over more than I intended.
“Doris! he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion.
“You don’t have to do this alone.” “I don’t need your help like that! I have Vesta,” I retorted.
“Giving Up My First Love For Secret Research. Second Chance at Happineia.
Just think about it,” he said, backing away, disappointment evident in his eyes.
Cim
