Tinghao's little fists finally unclenched. "So… you won't leave?"
The question cut her deep, a blade she hadn't expected. She kissed the crown of his head, her lips brushing the stiff fabric of his cap. "Never. I'll never leave you."
For a moment, the van was quiet again, but softer this time, the tension easing into something fragile but warm.
Feihao leaned against her arm, Zhihao shifted closer, and Minghao clung tighter, as though anchoring themselves to her words.
Tang Fei exhaled slowly, gazing out the window at the passing streets. Her heart was still raw, her mind still on Huo Ting Cheng in the car behind them. But right now, with their little hands wrapped around hers, she knew what mattered most. And that was shielding them from their shortcomings.
- - - - - - - -
The second SUV trailed behind, its interior taut with silence. The hum of the road beneath the tires did little to mask the heaviness that clung to the air.
