N paused for a moment, then looked up at Damon. "When did you buy this?"


    "On my way back. I saw it while waiting at a red light and thought it would be perfect for you, so I bought it," he answered.


    N took the ne. The pendant was in the shape of a snowke, sparkling beautifully under the light. She instantly loved it. "It''s so beautiful! I really like it."


    "I''m d you like it. So, can you forgive me, just for the sake of this ne?" Damon asked.


    N nodded with a smile. "Alright, I''ll forgive you this time, just because of the ne!"


    She walked to the mirror to check how it looked, then ced it into a nearby jewelry box.


    A look of confusion crossed Damon''s face. "You like it, right? Why aren''t you wearing it?"


    "I''ll wear it the next time I go out. Go check if Buddy is awake. I''ll freshen up first,"


    she replied.


    He nodded. "Okay."


    N went into the bathroom to freshen up.


    When she came out, she saw Damon still standing in the bedroom.


    Unable to resist, she asked, "Why are you still here?"


    "I was waiting for you," he answered.


    "Alright then," she replied.


    They headed downstairs together, and just as they reached the living room, Mason woke up.


    He opened his eyes, saw Damon, and immediately sat up, walking over to him. "Daddy, you''re back!"


    Damon picked him up, smiling. "Did you listen to Mommy today, Buddy?"


    "I did, but..." Mason lowered his head, looking downcast.


    Damon and N exchanged a nce before asking, "What''s wrong?"


    Mason looked up at them, speaking softly. "I want to go to school. I don''t want to stay at home all the time."


    At first, he had been happy about not having to go to school, but now he was getting bored staying at home all day.


    Damon raised an eyebrow, surprised. He hadn''t expected Mason to want to go to school.


    He set Mason down, crouched to his


    level, and looked him in the eye. "Buddy, Mommy and Daddy asked you to stay home to keep you safe. But since you want to go to school, we''ll discuss it and see how we can make it work, okay?"


    Mason nodded. "Okay."


    "Go wash your face. We''ll have dinner soon," he said.


    After Mason left, Damon turned to N, speaking seriously. "Keeping Buddy at home all the time isn''t a solution. He has to go to school."


    Children this age needed to be around other kids. Otherwise, they''d be more introverted.


    N pressed her lips together. "I thought about that today, too. Now that Gabriel has been arrested, as long as we''re careful and take Buddy to school and pick him up daily, he should be fine."


    "Right. Have the driver wait half an hour early outside. That should work," Damon replied.


    After all, Mason couldn''t stay at home forever. He had to go to school eventually.


    "Alright. I''ll contact the teacher after dinner and have Buddy start school tomorrow," N said.


    "Okay," Damon replied.


    After dinner, Mason yed in the living room while N went with Damon to the study.


    She confirmed with the teacher that


    Mason could return to school


    tomorrow, then looked at Damon. "Today, Wren came to see me. She asked if I could write a letter of forgiveness so that Gabriel could get a fighter sentence."


    Damon looked up at her. "And what did you say?"


    "Of course, I refused. Gabriel kidnapped Buddy. I will never forgive him," she answered.