The night deepened around the hospital.


    With the holiday breaking to an end in just a couple of days, Miranda had a stack of cases awaiting her attention and couldn''t linger around indefinitely. She had already headed back to prepare for work.


    Eugene had just stepped out after receiving a call from his mentor, leaving M alone in the room with the child.


    She was ying a board game with Julian.


    Having spent several days with the boy, M noticed something unsettling about him. He was too quiet, almost unnaturally so, and rarely smiled.


    The only times she had seen any strong emotions from him were when he ran to her for help while being pursued by kidnappers, when he saw his uncle, and when his uncle tried to take him away from her. Otherwise, he was overlypliant, sticking close to her, doing whatever he was told-like a well-behaved puppet.


    He seemed a bit withdrawn, theplete opposite of Adrian''s vibrant and willful personality.


    Despite his young age, M felt that Julian might really benefit from some professional psychological support, but that was a decision for the Pembroke Family to make, not her concern.


    The two were in the middle of a game of Parcheesi, a set Miranda had bought.


    It was Julian''s turn to roll the dice. He gently shook them in his small hands and tossed them onto the table propped up over the hospital bed.


    A six.


    M pped her hands, "Wow, Julian, that''s amazing—a six! You get to roll again. You''re getting closer to the finish line!"


    His eyes sparkled as he nced at M. Encouraged by her enthusiasm, he picked up the dice and rolled again.


    This time it was a three.


    M was excited, "Wow, a three! Jump over these spaces and you can fly your piece across!"


    Just as Julian was about to move his piece ording to M''s guidance, the door to the room opened suddenly, causing a slight tremor in his hand.


    Leonard walked in.


    Seeing him, M instinctively frowned. What was he doing here?


    The presence of a stranger made Julian a bit nervous; his hand holding the game piece trembled slightly.


    Noticing his unease, M ignored the neer, gently held Julian''s hand, guiding him to leap his piece to the next spot, and kissed his cheek. "Julian, you''re amazing."


    His eyes brightened even more, his earlier tension easing away.


    M stayed with him until they finished the game. Julian reached the finish line first and won, earning himself three candies as a reward.


    Julian took the candies, skillfully picked out two, and handed them to her. "For Mommy."


    He always did this-winning the game, keeping just one candy, and giving the rest to her.


    M''s eyes crinkled with a smile as she happily epted the candies, hugging him and kissing his cheek. "Thank you, Julian."


    Even though he didn''t smile, she could sense his happiness.


    After settling Julian with some Lego on the bed beside them, M turned to face Leonard, who had made himselffortable on the chair by her bed. Her earlier warmth vanished, reced by a cold demeanor.


    ...


    "What do you want?"


    Leonard nced at the child quietly ying with his Lego and handed over a te of freshly sliced apples. "Madam, Mr. Pembroke asked me to check on you."


    M didn''t take the te, looking puzzled. "What''s his issue now?"


    Leonard paused, withdrawing the te with an impassive expression. "Mr. Pembroke is unwell these days, which is why he sent me."


    Lysander, with his almost indestructible health, sick?


    So, if he weren''t sick, he would havee himself? She might as well thank the gods of illness.


    M smiled wryly, "What terminal illness?"


    If circumstances allowed, and without any cost, she wouldn''t mind being a widow. She''d still be good to her inws.