The conversation between Peter and Duncan had shifted. The pain and regret that once filled the room were now replaced with purpose and rebuilding. They spoke not of betrayal or guilt, but of business—of structure, vision, and how to shape a future that could outlast all the wreckage of their shared past.
When the door opened again, Dylan's excited voice cut through the calm.
"Daddy! I brought you rice porridge!" he grinned, holding the container proudly. "We asked the nurses what you could eat, and this was one of the few things they said. But it's really yummy—I tried some downstairs!"
Duncan smiled with a warmth that hadn't been seen in him in a long time. "If you say it's good, then I believe it."
