“I know what Ray said,” she snaps, then softens. “But if my son is sick, I need to see him.”
I hesitate as Ray’s voice rings loud in my head.
“Under no circumstances are you to let his father into the building.Not even if Anika tells you to.”
And now here I am, with Anika telling me to do exactly that.
“It’s fine,” she says, reading my expression. “Ray’s in meetings all afternoon. We don’t have to tell him.”
My chest tightens. That part feels worse somehow. I’m not just breaking the rule, I’m hiding it. And then that breaks the next rule—no lying.
Lying by omission.
I hate the fact that for one stupid second, I actually consider refusing her. But this is her son. And if Sebastian’s sick, how can I stand here and say no?
I let out a slow breath and turn back towards the hall.
I tell myself I’m only letting him drop Sebastian off. Nothing more. Still, guilt gnaws at me as I release the lift.
I wait by the entrance, my arms folded tightly across my chest.
The elevator doors slide open.
Luke steps out first, already looking annoyed, like this is all a massive inconvenience to him. Sebastian trails beside him, pale and quiet.
Luke barely spares me a glance.
“Is she through there?” he asks, already striding past.
“Wait.” I hurry after him. “You can’t just—”
He ignores me completely and heads straight for Anika’s room.
He reaches the doorway and stops dead. His whole body stills. His mouth opens, then closes, and for a moment, nobody says anything.
Then Anika’s eyes fill with tears. “What are you doing here?” she whispers.
Luke clears his throat. “Sebastian’s ill. School wouldn’t keep him. I’ve got work.”
Sebastian edges closer to me and presses himself against my side.
The second I put an arm around him, I feel the heat coming off him. He’s burning up.
“You need to go before Ray finds out you’re here,” Anika says, her voice trembling now.
Luke gives a short, humourless laugh. “He’s kept us apart for eighteen months. Aren’t you sick of him deciding who you can and can’t see?”
“Just leave,” she says. “Please. He’s still angry about court.”
Luke scoffs. “He was willing to give me weekends. Sebastian’s my son, not his.” He pauses, eyes hardening. “At least . . . I don’t think he is.”
My breath catches. Anika goes white. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Her voice is thin, strained. Then she looks at me. “Wynter, can you take Sebastian through to lie down? Give him some paracetamol and call Alga.”
I don’t move. Everything in me is screaming that I should call Ray, before this gets any worse, before Luke says something else cruel.
Before I become part of this mess in a way I can’t undo.
Anika sees the hesitation on my face. “And don’t call Ray,” she adds quietly. “He’ll be furious we let Luke up. He’ll only be here a minute.”
