The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 47

The smile on Claire's face deepened, full of gentleness and coaxing.

"So you're Dr. Zimmerman's little treasure!" She wiggled her bandaged arm slightly. "I'm your dad's patient."

"What's your name?"

"I'm Toby!" the little boy answered crisply.

He really liked this pretty, gentle lady standing in front of him.

"Toby, that's such a cute name." Claire smiled brightly, digging into her pocket to retrieve a milk candy a nurse had given her earlier.

She unwrapped it and offered it to Toby. "You must be tired from running. Take a break, have some candy, and I'll wait for your dad with you. How does that sound?"

Toby's eyes lit up. He obediently opened his mouth for the candy, his eyes curving into happy crescents.

"Thank you! You're so nice, you're like an angel."

Claire chuckled, taking his soft little hand. "Come on, let's go sit on the bench while we wait, and I'll tell you a story. Sound good?"

Toby nodded happily, letting the sweet-smelling angel lady lead him away.

Claire vividly recounted a story about mechanical warriors.

Toby was completely mesmerized, clapping his hands in delight.

"Toby, does your dad work really hard? Does he not have a lot of time to play with you?"

Toby nodded and sighed. "Dad is super busy, but he's busy saving people. When he has time, he builds Legos with me."

"Well... do you want someone to play with you, keep you company, and tell you stories when your dad is busy?"

Claire blinked, dropping her bait like a cunning little fox.

Toby's eyes brightened even more. He nodded vigorously and said in his sweet, milky voice, "Yes! I want the angel lady to play with me."

Claire solemnly hooked her pinky finger around his. Then, lowering her voice conspiratorially, she continued.

"I have a secret mission for you."

Toby patted his chest. "Leave it to me! What's the mission, angel lady?"

Standing next to him was a sharply dressed, beautiful woman who shared a striking resemblance to him. She was watching the scene with an amused smirk.

"Dad!" Seeing Miles, Toby slid off the bench and threw himself forward.

Miles bent down, effortlessly scooping the boy up with one arm in a practiced motion.

Clinging to his neck, Toby immediately executed his 'mission,' his little mouth firing off rapid, dead-serious praise.

"Dad, this angel lady played with me! She tells the best stories! I super, super like her! Can we invite her to our house to play? Every single day!"

Toby paused, and under Claire's increasingly horrified gaze, loudly added a bonus detail.

"She said you have a great body and that she really likes it! She even said she's gonna be my stepmom!"

The air went completely, devastatingly dead.

"Step... mom?" Miles slowly repeated the word.

Toby tilted his head back, looking at Claire like a puppy expecting a treat.