Quasi hugged me with practiced affection.
“Three days, tops,” he’d said smoothly. “Big meeting in Chicago. I’ll be back before you miss me.”

To the watching world, we looked like love.
To me, something felt… off. But I couldn’t name it.

He knelt in front of Kenzo next, hands on his shoulders, smiling like a father in a commercial.

“You take good care of Mama, all right, champ?”

Kenzo’s face didn’t soften. His stare didn’t flinch. He just… observed him. As if trying to solve a puzzle no child should ever have to solve.