Chapter 85. The Tiny Life

Zayn led Lucien toward the SUV, his hand resting lightly on the younger boy’s shoulder. With a smooth pull, he opened the door. Lucien stepped inside, the scent of leather and faint cologne filling the air as Zayn slid in after him. The car purred to life, pulling away from the hospital.

Silence stretched between them for A few minutes, broken only by the steady hum of the engine. Then Zayn’s phone buzzed. He picked it up, spoke briefly in a low tone, and cut the call. A smile tugged at his lips—soft at first, then spreading wider as if he couldn’t contain it.

Lucien turned his head, studying him curiously. His brows knitted. “Why are you smiling?”

Zayn didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he leaned closer and pulled Lucien into a warm embrace, pressing his face against Lucien’s hair and inhaling as though grounding himself in the boy’s presence. “You’ll see,” he murmured, his voice low with something almost secretive.

Lucien pulled back slightly, suspicion fl