Chapter 6
Finley and I both had a rare day off, and with the New Year coming up, we went grocery shopping early in the morn- ing.
By the time we got home with bags full of stuff, it was nearly noon.
Just as we stepped out of the elevator, chatting and laughing, a tall, skinny guy came into view.
I froze for a second, staring at that familiar face.
The next moment, Kyler walked toward me with teary eyes and a choked–up voice.
“Mom.”
It had been five years.
The once little boy had grown taller, and his face had lost its babyish look.
Before I could react, Finley took the bags from my hands, looked up at Kyler, and said, “Let’s go inside. Your nose is red from the cold.”
Then he took my hand and led me into the apartment.
As soon as we got inside, Finley poured Kyler a cup of hot water, said he had something to take care of at school, and left in a hurry.
The apartment fell quiet, just the two of us. Eventually, I broke the awkward silence.
“What are you doing here?”
Kyler immediately burst into tears and rushed over, clutching the hem of my shirt.
“Mom, can I live with you?
“After you left New York, Dad completely changed. Grandpa kicked him out of the company, leaving us just one house and nothing else.
“Elie must’ve offended someone. Her face got slashed, and she became mentally unstable. They sent her to a mental hospital.
“No one… no one’s taking care of me…
“My teacher said if I don’t have someone to care for me before school starts next year, I won’t have to go back to school.
“I found your address in Dad’s notes. I saved up for a long time just to come find you…”
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Chapter 6
Kyler said, his voice trembling. Then he dropped to his knees in front of me, tears running down his face.
“Mom, I’m your son. Please take care of me. Can we live together?”
Watching him cry his heart out, I felt nothing.
Ever since I left New York, every time I thought of Kyler, all I could remember was him yelling at me.
Over time, I almost forgot I even had a son.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I met his pleading eyes and shook my head calmly.
“When your father and I divorced, I gave him all your child support at once.
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“You’re just like him, looking like him and thinking like him, always favoring Elie and hating me, your own mother.
“Five years ago, I stopped seeing you as my son.”
As Kyler stared at me in despair, I called the police and asked them to contact Marcus to come pick him up.
Less than an hour after the police called Marcus, he showed up at my door.
The moment I opened it, I froze.
It had only been five years, but Marcus looked like a completely different person–thin, haggard, and stripped of the refined aura he once had. Even his hair had turned gray.
When our eyes met, Marcus quickly looked away, but in the next instant, he turned back, his gaze filled with longing.
“Kaia… how have you been these years-”
“Keep your son in check. Don’t let him bother me again.
I cut him off coldly before he could finish the small talk.
He froze at the sharpness in my voice, then gave a bitter smile.
“Kyler is your son, too.”
I ignored him, saying with a cold, fake smile, “I lost my son five years ago.”
“Kaia.” Marcus’s voice grew tense as he reached out, trying to grab my hand.
But just a few centimeters before he could touch me, a strong, well–defined hand suddenly appeared, knocking his away without hesitation.
Then, a clean scent I knew so well filled my nose.
At some point, Finley had come back. Without a word, he stepped in front of me, shielding me as he gave Marcus a cold stare.
“Just talk. Keep your hands to yourself.”
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Marcus’s expression froze the moment he saw Finley.
He glanced at me, hesitated, then looked Finley up and down before finally asking, “Who are you?”
Before Finley could respond, I stepped forward and took his arm, looking Marcus straight in the eye.
“My husband.”
Then I turned to Kyler, who was still inside the apartment.
“Your dad’s here. Time to go. Don’t come looking for me again.”
The moment I finished speaking, I saw Marcus’s face, pale as ash.
It wasn’t until Kyler stepped out of my apartment that Marcus asked, his voice full of pain.
“You married someone else?”
I didn’t want to waste any more time talking to him.
After a cold glance, I closed the door without hesitation.
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