Rachel POV
A week later, I stood once again in the courtyard. This time, Leo stood bravely beside me, clutching my hand tightly.
"You'll come back after your class, right, Mama?" he asked, his voice small but steady.
"I promise. I'll be back in a few hours." I squeezed his hand. "And maybe... we can talk to Papa about a special surprise later."
His eyes lit up. "A surprise?"
"Maybe. A furry, four-legged surprise that could be your best friend when I'm not here." The idea had taken root after seeing him play alone in the garden, his imaginary friends as his only company.
A living, breathing companion felt like the perfect solution.
Leo's gasp was everything. "A dog?!"
“Shhh," I laughed softly, glancing at Damien, who was observing us with his usual unreadable expression. "It's just
