Chapter 5

I just couldn't bear to refuse Connor, and since work was slow for once, I ended up dropping Connor off and picking him up from school for a few days.

Maybe it was because I hadn't seen Victor in so many years, but running into him again stirred up a bunch of old memories, and it left me feeling pretty uneasy.

On the way to and from school with Connor, I kept feeling a bit out of it, like someone was following me.

There was even a moment when I caught a glimpse of a car in my rearview mirror.

For a second, I could've sworn that it was Victor's car.

But when I turned to look, everything seemed normal.

Then, on Thursday morning, Connor's teacher gave me a sudden call. "Connor's gotten into some trouble at school," she said.

Connor was always playful, but he knew his limits and never caused any real trouble.

This was the first time in over a year that the teacher had ever called me about him.

Worried he might be getting bullied, I rushed straight to the kindergarten.

When I got to the teacher's office, I found Victor there, calm as ever.

Layla was sitting on the couch, holding her stomach and complaining non-stop, frowning the whole time.

As soon as she saw me come in, Layla jumped up from the couch. She looked shocked and annoyed. "Ugh, you again? Seriously, Aria, don't tell me he is actually your kid?"

I didn't bother responding to her and just asked the teacher, "What happened?"

Looking awkward, the teacher explained, "Mr. Brooks brought his wife here to reserve a spot for their unborn child.

"Connor ran into Mrs. Brooks in the hallway and accidentally bumped her stomach.

"Mr. Brooks says since Connor is just a kid, an apology is enough."

Connor was sulking off to the side, making it obvious he wasn't about to say sorry.

That was why the teacher called me in.

Connor's eyes were red, and after a moment, he blurted out, his voice full of anger, "I was just heading to the bathroom. I wasn't even close to her.

"She suddenly ran over and grabbed my hand. I simply flung her hand away."

Connor clenched his fists, then looked up at me, a little scared and hoping I'd believe him.

"Mom, I wasn't misbehaving. I didn't bump into Mrs. Brooks's stomach," Connor insisted.

When Connor was just two, he overheard the nanny talking. She said that I never wanted him, and didn't even want to be his mom.

Owen fired the nanny after that, but since then, even when Connor was being playful, he was always extra careful around me, like he was afraid of upsetting me.

He might be little, but kids picked up on more than we thought.

I trusted Connor, and I knew all too well what Layla was like.

I walked over and gathered the frightened Connor into my arms. Then I turned to the teacher and said, "Let's just check the security footage."

Layla's face flashed with guilt as she shot up from the couch. "Victor said this kid looked familiar.

"So I remembered he's that son you lied about. I only went over to check him out. Who knew he'd freak out just because I tried to grab his hand?"

Victor looked away, gazing out the window. For a moment, his eyes flickered with awkwardness.

I told Layla, coldly, to apologize.

Once Connor was calm, I sent him back to class.

I left the preschool, heading to the curb to flag down a cab back to the funeral home.

Suddenly, Victor's voice called out from behind me. "When was he born?" His voice blended into the wind, carrying a faint tremor.

I stood by the curb, not turning around. "It's none of your business," I replied.

I heard his footsteps getting closer behind me.

The midday sun of late autumn stretched his tall shadow right in front of me.

Suddenly, I remembered years ago, on the stage, he'd secretly reached out to touch Layla's shadow.

Without a word, I quietly stepped aside, avoiding his shadow.

Victor stepped up next to me. His hand was so tense, the veins stood out on the back.

"Aria, I looked up Connor's school records," Victor said. "He's in the middle class now. He's four and a half, not three."

My fingers gave a sudden, involuntary twitch. I glanced over at him, keeping my voice steady. "So what?" I said, my tone cool.

Victor's gaze softened, a flicker of warmth in his eyes, just like that night five years ago.

That night, he had that same gentle look in his eyes when he promised to be responsible for me and our marriage.

He drew in a quiet breath. Then he stepped closer, his tall frame completely covering my shadow.

His voice was deep and steady. "You've always loved kids," he said quietly. "But at the very least I should have the right to know."

I was momentarily stunned.

I thought he had found out about what happened to me five years ago. But instead, he'd somehow been mistaken.

I couldn't wrap my head around it. "You suspect Connor is your son?"

Victor replied, his tone steady and sure, "It's not a suspicion. Aria, there's no other way this adds up."

I looked at him for a long moment, trying to see if he was actually serious.

I couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "Victor, how could there ever be a kid between us?"