Chapter 32: A Place to Belong

The warmth of the morning lingered as Lani stood in the living room, watching Elias interact with Lily and Luca. Something about the way he fit into their lives so seamlessly sent a strange feeling through her chest—something unfamiliar, something terrifying.

He belonged here.

But did he believe that?

Lani cleared her throat, drawing their attention. "Alright, you three, breakfast before school."

Lily pouted. "Five more minutes?"

Elias chuckled, ruffling her hair. "You heard your mom. Go eat."

Lily groaned but got up, dragging Luca with her toward the dining table.

Elias started to follow, but Lani gently grabbed his wrist. He turned, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

Lani hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Stay after you drop them off. We need to talk."

Elias's smirk faltered, his expression turning serious. "Lani—"

She squeezed his wrist lightly before letting go. "Just stay."

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to protest, but in the end, he simply nodded.

---

Later That Morning

Once the twins were off to school, Elias returned to Lelani Tech, though he wasn't sure why.

Part of him wanted to leave—to create distance, to stop this attachment before it got worse. But a larger part of him knew he couldn't anymore.

Lani was waiting for him in her office, standing by the window with her arms crossed. She turned when he entered, her expression unreadable.

"Shut the door," she said.

Elias obeyed, leaning against it afterward. "Alright, I'm here. Talk."

Lani took a deep breath. "Why are you pushing us away?"

Elias exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. "Lani, we've been through this—"

"No," she interrupted. "You think we've been through this, but you haven't really answered me." She stepped closer. "You care about them. You care about me. So why are you trying so hard to act like you don't?"

Elias looked away. "Because I don't have the luxury of pretending there's a future."

Lani's jaw clenched. "That's not your decision to make alone."

"Yes, it is," Elias snapped, eyes darkening. "Do you think I want to leave? That I want to hurt you and the kids?" His voice wavered. "I have to. Because one day, I won't be here. And I refuse to let you—let them—watch me die."

Lani's breath hitched at his raw honesty.

For a long moment, they just stood there.

Then, Lani closed the distance between them, reaching up to cup his face. "You're already hurting us, Elias."

His body tensed, but he didn't pull away.

Lani's voice softened. "Lily cried herself to sleep last night, thinking you'd disappear again. Luca acts like he doesn't care, but I see it in his eyes—he's worried. And me?" She let out a shaky breath. "I can't even think straight because I care, damn it."

Elias's hands clenched at his sides. "Lani…"

She pressed her forehead against his, whispering, "Stop deciding for us."

Elias closed his eyes, his breath uneven. He wanted to pull away, but he couldn't. He wanted to resist, but he didn't.

Instead, his hands moved—one resting on her waist, the other gripping her wrist as if grounding himself.

"You're making this hard," he murmured.

Lani let out a soft laugh. "Good."

Silence stretched between them, heavy yet comforting.

For the first time, Elias didn't feel like running.

Maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to anymore.

Elias didn't know how long they stood there, their foreheads pressed together, breathing the same air. It was dangerous—this moment, this feeling—but for once, he let himself stay.

Lani's hands were still on his face, her thumbs brushing lightly against his skin as if memorizing every detail. Elias swallowed, his grip on her waist tightening involuntarily. He was losing the battle within himself, the one that told him to push her away.

He finally sighed, pulling back slightly but not letting go. "Lani… you don't understand—"

"I do." Her voice was firm. "You think you're protecting us, but you're just leaving us to suffer without you."

Elias clenched his jaw. "I don't want you to watch me waste away."

"Then don't waste away," Lani whispered, her eyes searching his. "Fight."

Elias scoffed, shaking his head. "It's not that simple."

"It is that simple," she countered. "You've been fighting for your mother for years. You've been fighting alone. Let us fight for you now."

Her words struck something deep within him—something he had buried long ago.

Family.

Belonging.

Love. 

His chest ached, but for once, it wasn't from his failing heart. It was from the fear of wanting this.

Elias let out a breathless chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "You really don't give up, do you?"

Lani smirked. "Nope."

The tension between them shifted, lightening just a bit. But before either of them could speak again, a knock on the door broke the moment.

Lani sighed, stepping back. "Come in."

Nina, her secretary, peeked inside. "Sorry to interrupt, but Miss Olivia is here to see you."

Lani glanced at Elias before nodding. "Send her in."

Nina left, and moments later, Olivia walked in, her sharp gaze landing on Elias immediately. She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow. "So, are you still planning on being an idiot, or did Lani finally talk some sense into you?"

Elias rolled his eyes. "Nice to see you too, Olivia."

Lani chuckled, but Olivia remained serious. "Lani told me everything, Elias. About your condition. About you quitting. About Lily." She stepped closer. "Do you really think leaving is the right choice?"

Elias exhaled sharply. "I don't know what the right choice is anymore."

Olivia tilted her head. "Then let me help you." She pulled out a folder and handed it to him.

Elias frowned as he opened it. Inside were multiple documents—medical records, financial statements, and a contact list for top cardiologists in the country.

"What is this?" he asked.

"Options," Olivia said simply. "I did some digging. There are transplant programs you might qualify for. And if money is an issue, well… Lani's company does have a health plan."

Elias looked at Lani in disbelief. "You did all this?"

Lani shrugged. "I told you. We're in this together."

Elias's throat tightened. He had spent his whole life believing he had to carry his burdens alone. But now…

Now, there were people willing to carry it with him.

For the first time, hope didn't feel so impossible.

He closed the folder, his fingers tightening around it. "I'll think about it."

Lani smiled softly. "That's all I ask."

Olivia smirked. "Good. Because if you ran away again, I was going to hunt you down myself."

Elias huffed a laugh. "Noted."

The conversation shifted after that, easing into lighter topics. But as Elias sat there, listening to Lani and Olivia talk, he realized something.

For the first time in a long time…

He didn't feel alone.

And maybe—just maybe—he didn't have to be.

To be continued…