Page 28 of Dr. Damaged Protector

"Mm-hmm." The boy nodded.

"Good." The mother kissed his cheek.

I noticed Lucas flinched and even touched his own cheek in the process.

"Take care, buddy," the father kissed the boy's forehead. It seemed to have that effect on Lucas again…like he was in pain just watching the family show love to themselves.

"Thank you," they repeated to Lucas again before leaving.

"Get some rest, okay?" Lucas advised the young man as he gently caressed the boy's hair.

"Hmm." The boy looked satisfied as he slowly drifted asleep.

Color me impressed.

"Are you done with everything?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah," I answered. "What was wrong with the boy?"

"High fever," he replied. "Dangerously high. He's actually tough for handling it this long. When I was his age, I thought I was going to die from a slight fever."

"But you had your mom to keep you calm," I added.

He didn't reply; the slight smile on his face radiated sadness.

"Lucas?" I called.

He still didn't reply and started going to his office, and I followed behind him.

"Thank you for all you do, doctor," a woman holding her child said to him. He responded with a smile and a nod.

We stopped walking as he paused to take a look at a family together.

"Now that mom's feeling all better, what do you say we get some ice cream?" the father suggested, and his children echoed in agreement.

The mother looked tired but clung to her husband, and he stared lovingly at her, whispering words that made her smile and nodded in approval. Lucas took a long look at them and continued his journey.

****

We got to his office, and he was still silent. Turning to close the door, he looked genuinely surprised to see me standing behind him.

"What are you doing?" he asked like I had committed an offense.

"You asked me to come once I was done," I reminded him.

"Oh," he said, then stepped aside, letting me come in.

He sighed as he closed the door. "I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. With my questioning, that is."

"Questioning?" I raised a brow, then recalled when he asked me what my relationship with his father was. "You don't have to worry about that. I don't know what is happening with your bizarre family, but I understand why you had to ask."

I paused. "Sorry about calling them bizarre. But you have to hear me out, and your father doesn't know how to talk. Your younger sister Tabitha hates my guts; Helena asked me to sell you and your father out playfully."

"I see," he said as he took his seat.

"You aren't even going to refute the accusations?" I asked. "I didn't even mention the one who returned to watch. But he seems pretty cool. I like his tattoos."

"You like tattoos?" He raised a brow, interested.

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