I was a bit stunned, but I grasped her meaning. She suggested that once Loak fully recovered, she would take over caring for my father.

Anya quickly explained, "I've taken care of Mr. Rory before. I can handle it, and I want to take care of him."

Grateful, I squeezed her hand and nodded. "Of course. When Loak gets better, you'll look after him, but you still need to keep up with school."

Anya nodded earnestly. "I will."

Loak, though still pale, smiled sincerely.

"Let's take a moment before