Page 40 of I See You

The admission sent a strange warmth through her, one she tried to ignore.

"I felt the coldness, the ruthlessness, but most of all, I felt the sadness—the exhaustion of carrying everything and everyone on his shoulders."

She could hear Harper sigh again, but this time, she could tell she was listening.

"It’s not that he doesn’t feel anything—he feels too much," Sevyn murmured, her eyes still focused on the road as she weaved through traffic, heading toward her office. "But he doesn’t bear that weight on everyone else. He carries it because that’s what he’s always had to do. And maybe that’s what you don’t see."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Sevyn didn’t know why she cared so much, why she was so invested in trying to explain someone like Hassan Gaines to his own cousin. But as she continued driving, her thoughts still tangled in the man who had left such an undeniable impression, she realized something.

She understood him.

And that alone made her smile.

"You told me before, it was always just you, him, and your grandmother, right?" Sevyn asked, her voice steady, even as she sensed the emotion in Harper’s silence.

"Yes," Harper said softly, her voice cracking slightly.

Sevynheardtheemotions,butshecontinued."Sohefeltlike he had to always be the man. You're more than just his cousin, Harper—you’re his little sister. He has to protect you. And now that your grandmother is dying, he has to take on the weight of caring for her while also trying to stay strong for you both. That’s a lot on one person. Add on past trauma? I wouldn’t express shit either."

Harper didn’t say anything, but Sevyn knew she was listening. "SogiveHassanmoregrace.Thatisnotabrokenman,that’sa strong, but tired man."

Silence stretched between them before Harper finally spoke up, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.

"Damn… bitch, you didn’t have to read my ass like that. You put that shit in Times New Roman, 12pt font. I don’t have no choice but to listen to what you saying. Clock the fuck outta my tea."

Sevyn burst into laughter, shaking her head at Harper’s dramatics. Then, Harper spoke again, but this time, her voice was softer. "He needs you, Sevyn."

Sevyn’s entire body went still. If she wasn’t already at a red light, she might’ve wrecked right then and there.

Hassan Gaines? Needing her?

The light turned green, but her grip on the wheel tightened as she started driving again, the nervousness in her chest refusing to fade.

"I can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be, Harper." Her voice was calm, but inside, something stirred—something she wasn’t ready to name.

"I know… I just hope he comes around. I’ve never seen him that messed up over what someone told him. But with you, he looked… startled. I’ve never seen my cousin scared a day in his life, and whatever you told him had him shook."

Sevyn sat in shock, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

She was relieved when she finally pulled into her office parking lot—because she needed to get off the phone.

"I hope he comes around too, Harp. But that’s his choice. I gotta go, though, just made it to the office."

"Okay, girl. Thank you for the talk. We still on for lunch later?"

A small smile played on Sevyn’s lips as she grabbed her brown Hermès bag and stepped out of the car.

"Yes. I’m definitely gonna need a lemon drop after all the sessions I have today."

Harper laughed, and after exchanging their final goodbyes, Sevyn ended the call.

But even as she stepped out of the car, walking to the building, Hassan’s name still lingered in her mind like a whisper she couldn’t shake.

Sevyn walked into The Haven Center, her brown YSL heels clicking against the polished marble floors as she moved with effortless grace. The large glass building reflected the early morning sunlight, casting a glow that barely registered in her mind. She greeted security with a polite nod before making her way toward her office, already mentally preparing for the long day ahead.

The moment she passed Micah’s desk, her receptionist calledher over with a bright smile, holding up a large vase filled with sunflowers—her favorite flowers.

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