“Alan, I need to ask you for a favor."

In the days that followed, Melissa and Marcus didn't encounter each other, nor did they communicate.

A week later, it snowed again. Matthew caught a cold due to excessive play and developed a high fever. He remained hospitalized for two days, receiving intravenous treatment. His condition was severe, leading him to cry out for his father, a rare occurrence.

That evening, the air in the hospital's private room was tinged with the faint scent of medicine.

Matthew had spiked a fever again, prompting the nurse to administer an IV drip. Melissa cradled her son, trying to comfort him.

Clad in a hospital gown, Matthew nestled in her embrace, his eyes brimming with tears. “Mommy, I really want to see Daddy," he whispered softly.

Melissa stroked his hair Lovingly and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"Once you're feeling better, I'll take you to your grandparents' house. You can a few there with she spend days them," promised.

Under normal circumstances, Matthew would have listened without a fuss.

But his illness made him restless and hard to soothe. He squirmed in Melissa's hold and even called out for Marcus in his sleep.

By the time it neared ten at night, Melissa, feeling at her wits' end, pulled out her phone. "How about we call Daddy so you can talk to him?" she suggested, hoping to lift his spirits.

At the mention of his dad, Matthew perked up, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Melissa hesitated for a moment before dialing Marcus' number.

After a brief wait, Marcus' slightly raspy voice came through. “Hey, what's going on?"

Melissa took a moment before replying, “Matthew's asking to speak with you... Do you have a moment?"

Her voice was tentative, filled with hope.

Leaning against the marble countertop of a fancy club, Marcus couldn't help but sneer. “What are you trying to say, Miss Brown?

You think I'm caught up in something, huh?"

Though Marcus seemed relaxed, his tone dripped with sarcasm.

Melissa, not wanting to escalate things, replied softly, “Can't we just talk like normal people? Marcus... We may have gone our separate ways, but that doesn't mean we have to be enemies, alright?"