Diagnosis

The bus stopped in front of the hospital, and they stepped out, entering the building.

They made their way to the elevator, stepping inside before getting off on the 10th floor. Eve guided Leo to a waiting sofa, and then approached the reception desk. She showed something on her phone, received a small ticket in return, and returned to sit beside him.

"We have to wait about ten minutes for our turn," she said, though she barely believed her own words. This clinic always had long lines—sometimes, you had to wait for hours. Yet today, they only had to wait ten minutes, and even that was only because of the lunch break.

She sat in silence as the seconds ticked away. Right as the clock struck the tenth minute, the receptionist approached her.

"You may go in now."

Eve stood and walked into the office.

As she stepped inside, a familiar figure entered her line of sight—a young-looking woman with her short hair pulled back into a ponytail. She wore minimal makeup, yet she still looked just as stunning as the last time Eve had seen her.

"Hello, Doctor Lisa," Eve greeted as she walked in.

"Miss Evelyn," Lisa replied, standing to greet her. "I'm surprised to see you here."

"Well… some things happened," Eve said vaguely as she took a seat at the desk. Leo settled beside her.

"Hello, Leo, darling. How are you?" Lisa asked, turning to the boy.

Leo only nodded in response.

"Still as cold as ever, big boy," she teased, a smile playing on her lips.

After a brief exchange, she sent Leo off with a nurse to freshen up, commenting that he looked tired after school. The moment he left, Lisa turned back to Eve.

"Alright, Miss Evelyn. Tell me—what brings you here today?"

Without hesitation, Eve recounted everything. Yet when it came to Adrian Voss, she deliberately withheld his name, referring to him only as 'a man from the office.' His name carried too much weight, too much influence. She couldn't risk her son's psychologist being swayed by it.

Lisa listened intently, her expression unreadable, until the door opened again and Leo returned.

"Miss Evelyn, I'll need you to step out for a moment," Lisa said. "I want to ensure Leo doesn't feel pressured while answering my questions."

Eve hesitated, then nodded. Without a word, she rose and stepped out, closing the door softly behind her.

Eve waited outside, watching the clock tick away as the quiet hum of the hospital surrounded her. The rhythmic clicking of keyboards filled the space as the receptionist typed, and nurses walked briskly past, their footsteps tapping against the polished floor.

Minutes stretched.

Then, finally, the door to Lisa's office opened. The psychologist stepped out, followed by Leo, who walked silently behind her.

"You can come in now, Miss Evelyn," Lisa said.

Eve's gaze flickered to Leo as he sat down in his usual spot on the waiting area sofa. His hands were no longer clenched. That was something.

Taking a deep breath, Eve stepped into the office, closing the door behind her.

"Come, Miss Evelyn, sit," Lisa said, gesturing to the chair across from her desk.

Eve complied, her posture stiff as she settled into the seat.

Lisa opened her notebook, her expression unreadable. "My diagnosis is simple."

Eve felt her stomach tighten. "And what is it?"

Lisa lifted her gaze, meeting Eve's eyes head-on. "Leo needs a father figure in his life."

Eve blinked. For a moment, she thought she had misheard. "What do you mean by that, Miss Lisa? I take care of him just fine." There was an edge to her voice, laced with wounded pride.

Lisa remained calm, her tone measured. "This isn't about care, Miss Eve. It's about security—about feeling safe in a way that extends beyond what a mother can provide." She hesitated briefly before continuing. "Not that I'm saying Leo doesn't feel safe with you. But we can't deny the importance of a strong male presence in a child's life."

Eve stared at her, unable to believe what she was hearing.

Lisa continued, undeterred. "As you yourself told me, Leo hasn't spoken a single word since his father passed away. But now, for the first time in years, he did. And it wasn't just with anyone—it was in the presence of one man. A man who, consciously or not, made Leo feel protected enough to speak again."

Eve felt her breath hitch. She wanted to argue, to dismiss the idea, but the logic settled uncomfortably inside her.

It did make sense. And that made her feel even more lost.

"So what are you saying?" Eve asked, her voice low. "That I need to get married?"

Lisa's lips twitched slightly, though not in amusement. "Not just to anyone, Miss Eve. This man. The one you told me about. The one Leo responded to."

Eve recoiled slightly. "What? Why him?"

Lisa leaned forward, her voice quiet, coaxing. "Leo has met plenty of men before. Teachers, doctors, even strangers. Yet he never spoke. Only in the presence of this man did something change. That means something. That makes him special to Leo."

Eve swallowed. How utterly hopeless.

What was she supposed to do? March up to Adrian Voss and propose? The mere thought was ridiculous—so ridiculous that she almost felt like she needed therapy.

Lisa continued speaking, but Eve barely heard a word. The weight of it all pressed down on her, muddling her thoughts until the session finally ended.

Wordlessly, she stood and walked out of the office.

As the door clicked shut behind her, Lisa's composed expression shifted.

She glanced down at her desk, where her phone lay face-down. Slowly, she picked it up.

The screen lit up instantly.

A call had been active for thirty minutes.

There was no name displayed—just a single word.

Sir.

Bringing the phone to her ear, Lisa's voice took on a different tone—one of quiet reverence.

"It's done as you instructed, Sir."

Lisa listened for a moment. 

Then she exhaled softly. "Yes… Thank you, Sir."

The call ended.

She placed the phone back down, her fingers resting lightly against the screen.