The waiter quickly led Bryce into the room. The young boy seemed a bit down at first, but as soon as he saw Justin and Tina, his face lit up with excitement. He ran straight into Tina’s arms, a burst of joy in his voice.
“Mom! Dad!” he exclaimed.
Tina quickly pulled him close, checking him over. “Are you alright? Did they do anything to you?”
Bryce, clearly confused by her concern, shook his head. “They didn’t do anything to me. They just brought me someplace to eat and said Dad would pick me up later.”
This was not the same story the manager had told them earlier, and it immediately caused Tina’s face to fall. She turned her gaze sharply to the manager and the waiter, who stood off to the side.
“We were just doing our job,” they said in unison, offering overly rehearsed smiles. “We didn’t want him to get lost since he was alone.”
Despite their words, everyone in the room knew they had acted under Weston’s instructions. Tina, choosing not to press further, decided it wasn’t worth making a scene. As long as Bryce was safe, the rest didn’t matter much.
She squeezed Bryce’s hand and glanced at Justin, her tone decisive. “You handle the rest. I’ll take him to the car.”
Justin, still brooding, said nothing but nodded in agreement. Bryce, still puzzled by his father’s lack of involvement, turned to him with a question.
“Dad, why aren’t you coming with us?” he asked, then added, “Where’s the miss?”
Justin crouched down to his son’s level, gently patting his head. “Go with Mom to the car first. I’ll be there soon. As for the miss, she’s got something to do. We’ll see her another time, okay?”
Tina, hearing there would be a “next time,” couldn’t hide the irritation that flared in her chest. Though she kept quiet, the scorn was evident on her face. She didn’t want to upset Bryce, but her frustration with the situation was palpable.
“Come on, let’s hurry,” she said, ushering Bryce toward the door. “We’ll celebrate your birthday properly later.”
Bryce’s eyes brightened. “Really?” His youthful innocence made Tina’s heart ache, and she pulled him closer, her voice tender. “Of course. I took the day off just for you.”
“Can I sleep with you tonight?” Bryce asked, his request so simple yet filled with love.
Justin, about to decline, hesitated as he saw the happiness in Bryce’s eyes. He sighed. “Alright. I’ll be quick.”
Tina nodded and took Bryce by the hand, leading him out.
Justin stood there for a moment, staring at the private room on the second floor. His eyes darkened as he made his way toward it, only to stop in front of the door. He knocked gently, though his heart was heavy.
“Ella, I know you’re in there.”
On the other side, Stella sat despondently, barely lifting her head when she heard his voice. “Justin, are you okay?”
His heart tightened at the sound of her voice. After a long pause, he murmured, “How are you now?”
Stella glanced at Weston, sitting in the corner, indifferent to the situation. He didn’t meet her gaze, his focus entirely elsewhere. She knew that if she said anything to Justin that even slightly provoked him, Weston would make her regret it.
After a moment of silence, Stella spoke hoarsely, “I’m fine. I just know that today’s Bryce’s birthday. You should go celebrate with him.”
For a moment, Justin was left speechless, a deep sense of self-loathing creeping into his chest. His words came out in a rush, desperate. “Ella, I am powerless…”
“Don’t say that,” she interrupted, her voice thick with emotion as she clenched her fists. “I’m still thankful to you, no matter what.”
She managed a faint smile and added, “Tell Bryce I said happy birthday. There’s probably no chance I’ll see him again.”
Justin opened his mouth instinctively, desperate to say something, but the words caught in his throat. He was suffocated by his own inability to find the right thing to say, and for a long moment, silence stretched between them.
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