The Uncle's Burden

I sat in the back of Adrian's sleek car, tension thickening the air around us. Leo had fallen asleep against my arm, his small body finally giving in to the emotional exhaustion of the day. Adrian hadn't spoken a word since we left the school, his jaw clenched tight as he stared out the window.

The memory of his fury when he discovered our deception replayed in my mind. His eyes had flashed with anger when the principal mentioned I'd claimed to be Leo's mother.

"I should have known better," I whispered, breaking the heavy silence. "I'm so sorry."

Adrian's gaze shifted to me, his expression unreadable in the dim light of the car. "We'll discuss it when we get home."

Home. The word felt foreign on his lips when directed at me. This wasn't my home. I was just the tutor who had crossed a line.

I stroked Leo's hair gently, wondering if this would be the last time I'd see him. Adrian would probably fire me now. The thought made my chest ache more than I expected.