Chapter 246
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Chapter 246
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“You okay, baby?” Mia whispered, pressing a soft kiss into her son’s hair.
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Aiden was curled up against her chest, his little body warm and heavy, still half–asleep. She could feel his tiny breaths brushing against her collarbone, slow and steady, like he was trying to fight off sleep but losing the battle.
He gave the smallest nod, his head brushing against her.
“Still wanna sleep some more, huh, baby?” she asked gently, rocking him a little in her arms.
This time, he shook his head, his messy hair brushing her chin.
Mia smiled through the heaviness in her chest. She smoothed his hair down, even though it popped back up immediately.
Ethan gives her shoulder a soft pat as he walks toward his room.
Mia’s heart pounded painfully in her chest. She looked down at her son.
“Can Mama talk to you? Will that be okay?” she asked softly.
Aiden pulled back just enough to look up at her. He blinks at her slowly, curious and trusting. Then he gave a little nod, sitting up properly now so he could see her face better.
Mia pause…
The words she had rehearsed in her head, the dozens of ways she had thought of explaining this moment, were gone, her head was empty.
She suddenly felt lost, unprepared. Maybe she should have written it down, maybe she should have thought harder about how to tell a child something this big.
Her throat tightened as she reached out and brushed his hair back from his forehead. Her hand lingered there, fingers trembling against his soft curls.
“Baby…” she started, then stopped. She stared at him, at his innocent face, the purity in his gaze.
And God, those eyes…
She clears her throat.
“Baby, you know how I told you Papa had to be away?” she whispered, her voice almost breaking.
Aiden’s expression didn’t change. He blinked again, calm and sure. “He is saving lives, Mama,” he said softly, repeating the story she had fed him so many times. His voice was matter of fact.
The sting in her eyes turned sharp, tears gathering as her lips wobbled. She nodded quickly, trying to smile for him even though her chest felt like it was about to open.
11:20 Thu, Sep 18
Chapter 246
God, how many lies had she told this little boy just to protect him? To protect herself?
She stroked his cheek with her thumb.
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“What if I say… Papa is back from those missions?” she asked carefully, her voice trembling. “Would you like to see him, baby?”
For a heartbeat, Aiden just stared at her, like his little mind was trying to make sense of what she was saying. And then–his whole face lit up.
His smile broke wide and bright, his eyes shining like stars. It was so pure, so radiant, that Mia felt her heart crack open.
“Can I meet Papa?” Aiden asked eagerly, his small voice bursting with hope.
Mia’s throat closed. She wanted to answer, but what came out instead was a shaky chuckle, a sound so fragile it almost broke into a sob.
Her little boy was smiling so big, his tiny hands gripping her arm as though he was ready to run to this “Papa” right now if she just pointed the way.
Mia couldn’t hold it in anymore. Her arms went around him, pulling him against her chest so tight she almost buried him in her embrace.
She pressed her lips into his hair, her tears falling freely now, hidden against him.
“Yes, baby,” she whispered, her voice cracking as she clutched him tighter. “Of course you can meet him.”
“That went well?” Ethan’s voice broke through the silence as he stepped back into the living room.
Mia turned her head slowly, still sitting where Aiden had been curled up just minutes ago. The room felt lighter now, though her chest was still heavy.
Aiden had disappeared into his bedroom, his tiny feet running down the hallway with a new kind of excitement.
He had said he was going to pick out the toys he wanted to show his papa–his little voice filled with so much hope that Mia thought her heart would shatter.
Ethan dropped onto the sofa opposite her, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His eyes softened as he studied his sister.
“I’m proud of you,” he said quietly.
Mia nodded, her hands tightening in her lap. “He looks so happy,” she whispered, almost like she couldn’t believe it.
“He is,” Ethan agreed. “Don’t beat yourself up about it, Mia. You did what you felt was right keeping him away from Alex.”
11:20 Thu, Sep 18
Chapter 246
:
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Her throat tightened. She wanted to believe that, wanted to hold on to the idea that she had done the best she could for her son.
She nodded again but didn’t trust her voice enough to respond.
The silence stretched for a moment before she sighed, pushing herself up from the sofa. She wrapped her arms around herself, pacing slowly across the living room.
“How do I even do this?” she muttered, more to herself than to Ethan. “Do I call him?” She stopped in her tracks, shaking her head. “I don’t even have his number.”
Her lips press together “I can’t do this in his company”
Ethan leaned back against the cushions, his gaze steady on her. “What about his mother? You have her number, right?”
Mia paused, her eyes flicking toward him. After a moment, she gave a small nod.
“She can arrange for you to meet Alex,” Ethan said softly.
Mia’s arms tightened around herself. Her body felt cold despite the warmth of the room. “I have to meet him first,” she whispered. “Be sure he wants to meet Aiden before I… before I let him.”
“He wants to meet him, Mia,” Ethan said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
But Mia shook her head. “I still have to talk to them first. I need to know how this is going to go before I throw him in the middle of it.” Her voice cracked slightly at the end.
“Fair enough,” he said gently.
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Mia ran her hand over her hair, tugging lightly at the strands as though that would calm her racing thoughts. Then, after a pause, she takes in a breath and forces a small smile onto her face.
“I’ll call her tomorrow,” she said finally. “I’ll talk to her, and then… then we’ll see.”
Ethan nodded, but his eyes didn’t leave her. There was something searching in his gaze.
“What?” she asked, her voice defensive as she caught his strange look.
Ethan tilted his head, studying her carefully, then gave a faint smile. “You’re doing the right thing,” he said.
Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Finally, she turned her gaze to her brother, her arms hugging herself tighter.
“I hope so,” she whispered.
