Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 120

Julian pulled the doctor aside, demanding an exhaustive breakdown of Caden's injury and the required treatment protocol.

The doctor assured him that the wound had been thoroughly cleaned. It would need fresh dressings every other day, and he required immediate vaccinations.

Caden was terrified of needles.

He had bravely powered through the painful cleaning process without a single tear, but the moment he heard the word 'shot,' his face went rigid, pure panic flooding his eyes.

Julian scooped the boy into his arms. He looked at Hester, his expression entirely unreadable. "I'm taking him to get the injections. Wait for me here."

Hester looked at Caden, who was staring back at her with wide, pleading eyes. She pursed her lips. "I'll come with you."

A flicker of genuine surprise crossed Julian's face, though he didn't comment. He simply gave a curt nod and carried Caden toward the nurse's station.

...

When the needles came out, Caden finally broke down. The local anesthetic had to be injected directly into the edges of the bite wound—a burning, stinging pain that would make a grown man swear.

Hester quickly dug into her purse, pulling out an orange candy. She unwrapped it and held it gently to Caden's lips.

"Here, sweetie. Have an orange candy. It'll make the pain go away."

Caden was sobbing, his face buried in Julian's shoulder.

At the sight of the candy, he blinked. Huge tears continued to spill down his cheeks, but the crying instantly ceased.

"Go on, take it," Hester urged softly.

"Pretty Lady, how come you have orange candies too?"

Hester didn't mention that they were her personal favorite. Instead, she smiled. "Gigi loves them! I have a whole stash in my bag. I'll give them all to you before we leave."

Caden's eyes lit up through his tears. "So Gigi loves them just like me? Next time I go see her, I'm going to bring her a mountain of them!"

"She'd love that." Hester gently placed the candy into his mouth.

"Julian, let's keep things strictly professional."

Julian's face darkened into a cold sneer. He caught sight of Lena walking back with the receipts and the prescribed medication. Leaning down, he murmured to the boy in his arms, "Caden, why don't you go with Lena and wait for Daddy in the car? Okay?"

Caden looked between Hester and Julian. Even at his age, he could feel the sudden, suffocating drop in the room's temperature. He gave a quiet nod.

Lena carefully picked Caden up and carried him out to the parking lot.

Once they were out of earshot, Julian immediately went for the throat. "Since Caden was injured solely because he was protecting you, I'm making you responsible for him. Until he is fully recovered, you will be his primary caretaker."

Hearing the sheer audacity of his demand, Hester felt a spike of pure rage—but since she had already predicted this exact move, she kept her expression perfectly blank.

Instead, a slow, freezing smile touched her lips. "Do you know what, Julian? Hearing you say that... I suddenly feel incredibly sorry for Caden."

Julian's brow snapped into a furious scowl. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"