Chapter 25
Liam roamed the vibrant kindergarten with an unmistakable sense of unease written across his young face. It was a stark departure from his usual exuberance that greeted the end of a school day. Devin, a vigilant member of the school staff, took notice of the little boy’s restless demeanor and approached him, his expression filled with concern.
“Is something wrong. Liam?” Devin inquired, his gentle voice infused with understanding, a stark contrast to the unsettling emotions that seemed to envelop the young child.
Liam’s response was tinged with innocence as he scanned his
surroundings, his eyes searching for a figure that seemed conspicuously absent. “I don’t see Mr. Woods, he replied, a touch of uncertainty in his
voice.
“Mr. Woods?” Devin repeated, momentarily puzzled as he menta l l y sifted through the roster of staff members. After a brief pause, he responded,
There’s no Mr. Woods.”
Liam’s face mirrored his inner conflict as he grappled with the disparity between what he believed and what he was being told. With a serious. frown etched on his young features, he hesitated before resuming. “But. that man from the picnic. He… he… Liam trailed off.
Devin’s confusion began to dissipate as he pieced together Liam’s reference. “The man at the park?” he inquired, his memory conjuring images of the recent picnic outing. He chose not to correct the child, recalling that Ethan had introduced himself as Mr. Woods during that event. “Oh, that Mr. Woods,” he acknowledged with a nod, his understanding of Liam’s concern now crystal clear.
Liam nodded eagerly, relieved that Devin now comprehended. It was evident that he was determined to learn more about this enigmatic figure named Mr. Woods.
“He only comes sometimes.” Devin explained gently, endeavoring to temper the little boy’s disappointment with a measure of understanding and compassion.
shadow of disappointment crossed Liam’s face as he absorbed this revelation. “Only picnics?” he asked, seeking to clarify whether Mr. Woods was exclusively associated with their outdoor trips.
Chapter 25
Liam roamed the vibrant kindergarten with an unmistakable sense of unease written across his young face. It was a stark departure from his usual exuberance that greeted the end of a school day. Devin, a vigilant member of the school staff, took notice of the little boy’s restless demeanor and approached him, his expression filled with concern.
“Is something wrong, Liam?” Devin inquired, his gentle voice infused with understanding, a stark contrast to the unsettling emotions that seemed to envelop the young child.
Liam’s response was tinged with innocence as he scanned his

surroundings, his eyes searching for a figure that seemed conspicuously absent. “I don’t see Mr. Woods,” he replied, a touch of uncertainty in his
voice.
“Mr. Woods?” Devin repeated, momentarily puzzled as he menta l l y sifted through the roster of staff members. After a brief pause, he responded, “There’s no Mr. Woods.”
Liam’s face mirrored his inner conflict as he grappled with the disparity between what he believed and what he was being told. With a serious frown etched on his young features, he hesitated before resuming, “But, that man from the picnic. He… he…” Liam trailed off.
Devin’s confusion began to dissipate as he pieced together Liam’s reference. “The man at the park?” he inquired, his memory conjuring images of the recent picnic outing. He chose not to correct the child, recalling that Ethan had introduced himself as Mr. Woods during that event. “Oh, that Mr. Woods,” he acknowledged with a nod, his understanding of Liam’s concern now crystal clear.
Liam nodded eagerly, relieved that Devin now comprehended. It was evident that he was determined to learn more about this enigmatic figure. named Mr. Woods.
“He only comes sometimes,” Devin explained gently, endeavoring to temper the little boy’s disappointment with a measure of understanding and compassion.
A shadow of disappointment crossed Liam’s face as he absorbed this revelation. “Only picnics?” he asked, seeking to clarify whether Mr. Woods was exclusively associated with their outdoor trips.
Chapter 25
Devin nodded empathetically, realizing the child’s profound attachment to his boss. With a drooping head, Liam turned away, leaving Devin to watch his retreating figure. It was clear that Liam, despite his tender age, possessed a maturity beyond his years, often choosing meaningful conversations or solitude over playtime with his peers, and it seemed he had forged a unique bond with Ethan, who had unwittingly become Mr. Woods.
Later that day, Hazel embarked on her usual routine of picking up her kids from school. As she observed Liam’s unusually somber demeanor during the car ride home, a sense of concern washed over her, and she couldn’t help but cast frequent worried glances in his direction.
“How was school today?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern, her eyes never straying far from her contemplative son.
Liam responded with a single word, his voice tinged with a hint of, melancholy. “Okay,” he said, a small sigh escaping his l*ps. This was a stark departure from his usual enthusiasm, as Liam typically greeted the end of the school day with unbridled excitement. He would often urge Hazel to hasten her conversations with other parents so they could. promptly head home. However, on this particular day, he sat quietly in the car, Daisy’s cheerful chatter providing a stark contrast to his subdued demeanor.
Ethan seated in his classy and meticulously organized office was deeply. engrossed in his work. His face bore the unmistakable expression of unwavering seriousness. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration.
Despite his longing for more leisurely moments, he had an overflowing agenda to contend with, and even his employees were working overtime this evening to help meet the demanding deadlines.
Feeling the urgency of the tasks at hand, Ethan reached for the intercom button on his desk, he instructed Axel
“Fix a meeting with Sarah Ford’s.”
was
Axel’s response swift and to the point, “Already done that, sir.”
Ethan, however, had something more specific in mind. He leaned forward, his voice carrying an air of formality, “This evening. Over dinner.
A flicker of understanding passed through Axel as he acknowledged his boss’s request with a nod. “Certainly, sir. I’ll make the necessary
11:24
Chaper 23
arrangements.”
Ethan gave a subtle nod of approval, acknowledging Axel’s efficiency in handling the task.
Later that evening, as the sun began its descent. Bella’s soft voice. resonated through the phone’s receiver. “Ethan. can you come home early tonight?” Her request was imbued with a gentle, hopeful tone, and the warmth in her voice hinted at the longing she felt. “Let’s eat dinner together. It’s been a while.”
“I’ll be busy,” he replied stiffly, his focus completely on the documents he was reviewing.
Undeterred, Bella’s voice held a note of optimism as she said. “Just come home, I’ll be expecting you. With those words, she hung up, leaving Ethan to contemplate the choice before him.
Hours passed. Ethan still hunched over his table and buried up in the demands of his work, had lost track of time and failed to notice when evening descended upon the city. It was then a sigh escaped his l*ps, and he realized he had been sitting at his desk for hours on end, that he finally stood, preparing to leave his office for the dinner engagement with
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