LAUREN'S POV

We walked into the small office that the nurse had led us into. A middle-aged man sat behind a neat desk, pens, and a half-empty cup of coffee that had probably gone cold hours ago. He looked up the moment we entered, his expression polite but distracted as his eyes darted from the paperwork in front of him to us.

“Dr. James, they’re here to see you,” the nurse said, her tone brisk but professional.

He gave her a quick nod before his gaze lingered on me and then dropped to Aria, who clung gently to my hand. His expression softened a little. Then he reached for the...