Jay POV
When Hex walked out, the silence he left behind felt loud.
Marco stood frozen.
Angelo leaned slightly toward me. "What do you think they said?"
"I don't know," I whispered. "No one heard. They were too quiet."
Marco turned and walked back to Trisha's cell.
Jayden stepped aside to speak with their lawyer.
Angelo turned to me.
"We need to prepare properly," he said. "I'll handle the case with my lawyer. Don't worry."
I nodded. "Thank you."
Across the room, Trisha and Marco were talking again.
She pressed her cuffed hands against the bars as he held them.
Then he turned.
And walked toward me.
Slowly.
Before I could react, he knelt.
"Please," he said, voice breaking. "Don't send my mom to jail. Please."
My heart twisted.
I quickly bent down and lifted him up.
"Stand up," I said softly.
I lowered myself to his height.
"I can't withdraw the case," I said gently. "But it was an accident. She may serve two or three years. By the time she's released, you'll be around thirteen or fourteen."
He stared at me.
"You're not angry at our family?" he asked.
"I'm angry," I admitted. "But not with you."
His lip trembled.
"I gave Charles peanut cake," he confessed quietly. "I knew he was allergic."
My head snapped slightly.
I glanced at Keifer.
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"Apologize to Charles," I said calmly.
"What?" Marco frowned.
"You wronged him," Keifer added firmly. "You apologize."
"I don't want to."
"I heard him apologize to you," Keifer said. "So you do the same."
Marco crossed his arms.
"I'm not going."
"But your mom told you to befriend Hex," Keifer reminded.
Marco hesitated.
"…Where is he?"
"In my car," Angelo said. "I'm sure."
Marco nodded once.
"Got it."
And he walked toward the exit.
I watched him go.
A ten-year-old carrying something far too heavy.