The Kiss that Sparked it All novel Chapter 1698

"Alright, I'll whip up some that you both usually enjoy. I'll call you when it's ready."

Then the room fell silent.

Sophia waited a moment, then, feeling slightly disappointed, she turned and walked towards the kitchen.

...

Inside the room, Marcus only relaxed his icy glare when he could no longer hear Sophia's footsteps. He turned to look at his son, whose eyes were red and swollen from crying.

"Why are you crying so much? Didn't I tell you I'd be back soon?"

The man's voice was stern, but his actions were gentle. He lightly massaged his son's puffy eyes to try and lessen the swelling.

Tristan pouted. His face was etched in misery. "Dad, I... I don't like it here. I want to go find Ellinor... I..."

Before the boy could finish his sentence, he was silenced by a raised finger from his father. It was a soft 'shush,' warning him not to mention his mother's name since the walls have ears.

Understanding his father's meaning, Tristan sniffled and obediently fell silent.

Marcus pulled his son into an embrace, whispering words of comfort. "I know you miss her. I miss her too. Soon, we'll be reunited as a family."

Tristan's eyes lit up, and he whispered back. "Really, Dad? Can we live together with Ellinor and my brothers and sisters?"

Marcus nodded firmly at his son. "Absolutely. We'll never be apart again."

Tristan took his father's words to heart. He started to feel relieved and hopeful. He rubbed his eyes. "Then I'll be a good boy and listen to you, Dad. I’ll just wait for the next time I can see Mom."

He could no longer utter Ellinor's name again, as his father had just warned him not to mention his mother's name here.

Marcus' hand rested on Tristan's head, gently ruffling his hair. "Alright, go pull the curtains for me, son. Dad's a bit tired and wants to take a nap."

Tristan nodded vigorously, indicating he understood.

Only then did Marcus bend down and carefully set him back on the floor before returning to his wheelchair.

As for the news that he could stand, Marcus himself was still processing it.

When he was being teased by Ellinor in the hospital, he suddenly discovered that his legs had mysteriously regained their strength.

He didn't understand why; perhaps the medication the doctor gave him had counteracted the drugs Sophia had been feeding him over the years, which caused his leg muscles to atrophy.

It was a case of fighting poison with poison.

Though he could stand, his legs were still weak from years of sitting. He would need to exercise and recover his strength over time.