His arms locked around my waist like iron. My face pressed into his broad chest. I couldn't breathe.
"Let go! Help!" I choked out, thrashing.
I drove my elbow into his ribs and stomped on his shoe with my heel. He didn't budge. My resistance meant nothing. His arms only tightened.
"Don't move," Silas said, voice low and rough. "Just let me hold you."
"Are you insane? This is a school!" I hissed. I could feel eyes turning toward us.
It was peak drop-off. Parents everywhere. Teachers on duty. If I got caught grappling with a student's father at the gate, I'd be fired by tomorrow.
"Let them watch," he said, chin resting on top of my head.
"You want to destroy my job?" I stopped fighting. My voice shook with rage. "You want to get me thrown out of the country again?"
His body went rigid. Then, slowly, he let go.
I stumbled back, putting distance between us. This was the first time I'd seen him in six years. Silas still looked like something carved from stone—sharp features, storm-gray eyes, dangerous. But silver threaded his temples now. It made him look older. More of a stranger.
"Anthea," he said, voice cracked in a way I'd never heard before. "You're alive."
Something twisted in my chest. A complicated ache surged up, but I bit down hard and crushed it. Don't be stupid, Anthea. This is just another way for him to break you.
"Yeah. I'm alive. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. Thorne."
He swayed like I'd hit him.
I turned to leave—then noticed Olei standing beside Silas. He'd been so quiet, so well-behaved. When I looked at him, his eyes lit up.
"Good morning, Olei." I kept my voice steady. "Come on. I'll walk you to class."
Olei glanced up at his father.
"Go ahead," Silas said, then locked his gaze on me. "We'll see each other again soon."
His eyes promised it. I grabbed Olei's hand and bolted through the gate. Olei jogged to keep up. He didn't ask questions.
The second I stepped inside the building, I exhaled.
All day, I was off. In class, I held it together—didn't let my state mess with the kids. But in the office, grading papers, I couldn't focus. Even chatting with coworkers during breaks, I zoned out.
The dahlia. The hug. His words. Silas was a shadow I couldn't shake.
The way he'd looked at me when he said "you're alive"—I'd never seen that expression before. He didn't look like he'd found anannoying problem. He looked like... No. Stop. I shook my head hard, scattering the thought.
Whatever his expression meant, it didn't change what happened six years ago. He had Olei taken from me right after I gave birth. Had me deported. Got engaged to Vanessa. Those were facts. One look didn't erase them.
The bell rang. No matter how much I wanted to avoid Silas, I wouldn't give up time alone with Olei. I left the office. Olei was already waiting outside the classroom, backpack slung over his shoulders.
"Let's go. Your dad's probably waiting at the gate." I took his hand.
"Anthea, are you upset today?" Olei looked up, eyes full of worry.
"No. Why do you ask?"
"Your eyebrows are all scrunched." He pointed at his own forehead. "My dad does that when he's upset, too."
My heart squeezed. This kid was too perceptive. Too sensitive.
