Chapter 5 - Unwelcome Family
The woman standing in the doorway was Clara—their older sister, a corporate attorney who had long since traded family loyalty for social status and cold, hard logic. Her eyes swept over the sterile hospital room, lingering briefly on the monitors before fixing with icy disapproval on Julian’s leather jacket, and finally landing on little Leo.
""What are you doing here, Clara?"" Julian asked, standing up to his full height, his voice dropping into a dangerous, low register. ""Marcus is lying here barely breathing, and your first instinct is to play prison guard?""
""I'm protecting what's left of this family's dignity,"" Clara retorted sharply, stepping further into the room and keeping a cautious distance from the bed as if poverty were contagious. ""And as for you, Julian—you vanished three years ago without a word. You don't get to waltz back in like a tragic hero just because things got messy.""
""I didn't vanish, Clara. I walked away from your toxic control,"" Julian fired back, taking a threatening step forward. ""There's a difference.""
""Stop shouting!"" Leo cried out, his voice cracking with sheer terror as he pressed his small back against the hospital bed, his hands covering his ears. ""You're scaring Daddy!""
Both adults froze instantly. Julian closed his eyes, inhaling deeply through his nose to reignite his self-control. He looked down at the boy, feeling a sudden, heavy wave of shame wash over him. He knelt down beside Leo again, ignoring Clara's disdainful glare.
""Hey, buddy. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell,"" Julian said softly, placing a large, calloused hand gently on Leo’s shoulder. ""Grown-ups sometimes forget how to talk without making a mess of things. But I promise you, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you or your dad.""
Leo lowered his hands slowly, looking into Julian’s dark, intense eyes. He seemed to search for sincerity in the biker's weathered face, finding something steady enough to trust. He gave a tiny, hesitant nod.
Clara crossed her arms, looking down at them with a look of profound irritation. ""This is completely absurd. The boy shouldn't even be in a hospital environment like this. Social services should be notified, or at the very least, he needs to come home with me where he can be properly cared for.""
Julian shot up, his eyes blazing with fury. ""Over my dead body, Clara. He stays with his father, or he stays with me. You aren't touching him.""
""And what financial resources do you have to offer, Julian? A motorcycle and a backpack?"" Clara sneered.
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Before Julian could deliver a scathing response, a weak, raspy cough echoed from the center of the bed. Everyone froze. Julian snapped his head back toward Marcus.
On the bed, Marcus’s eyelids were fluttering open, fighting against the heavy fog of sedation and pain.
