Chapter 253
56
55 vouchers
Alex stood by his car for a long moment, staring back at the door he had just walked out from. His chest was still heavy and his head still full.
It didn’t feel real yet. He has not fully processed it all yet.
His son.
He let out a shaky breath and pressed a hand against the roof of his car as though he needed something solid to hold onto before his knees gave out.
Alex Blackwell, the man who is called untouchable, the man who carried power like a second skin, felt like a damn child himself right now.
He has not felt so much joy and fulfillment in a single moment before. Not when he closed a deal, not when he won in those brutal underground ring fights, not even when he built his empire with his own bloody hands.
Nothing compared to just seeing his son. Nothing compared to holding him, hearing his little voice, knowing he was real.
And yet, beneath that joy, he was terrified.
Alex had never been good with kids. Never.
He didn’t grow up around softness, and hadn’t been taught how to nurture or love.
His father had only taught him fear, discipline, and control. What did he know about raising a child? About being the man a little boy needed?
When he had first laid eyes on Aiden, every instinct in him had screamed to run. To run before he ruined it. To walk out before he saw disappointment in his son’s eyes.
But he didn’t run, he stayed….
“Damn,” Alex muttered under his breath, dragging a hand over his face.
He almost wanted to give himself a medal for not collapsing under that fear. For not letting it consume him. For not running out the door the moment his son looked at him.
But now? Now he needed air. He needed a drink. He needed somewhere quiet, somewhere he could think, somewhere he could let everything settle before his chest burst from all the feelings clawing through it.
He sighed and got into his car. He started the engine, his fingers gripping the steering wheel tight. He looked into the rearview mirror, preparing to reverse out of the street.
But stops immediately
A small figure ran out of the house, bare feet, little arms swinging wildly.
17:28 Wed, Sep 24 N
Chapter 253
“Aiden?” Alex whispered, stunned.
Mia was right behind him, running, panic in her face.
:.
56
55 vouchers
Confused, Alex quickly turned off the engine and jumped out of the car. His chest squeezed painfully as he saw the boy spinning around, looking left and right.
Then their eyes met.
The moment Alex stepped out, Aiden spotted him. His little face lit up through the tears, and his small voice echo through the quiet street.
“Papa?”
It was a scream, a cry, a desperate call.
Alex’s chest cracked open.
The boy’s cheeks were wet, his nose red. He was crying, but his little legs carried him forward as fast as they could, stumbling, running straight for him.
Alex didn’t think. He jogged toward his son and scooped him up in his arms. The boy clung to him instantly, tiny hands tightening around his neck like he was scared he might disappear again.
“Papa,” Aiden whispered against his shoulder, his little voice breaking.
Alex held him tight, one hand supporting his small back, the other cradling his head. His throat burned. He pressed his face against his son’s hair, breathing in his scent.
Behind him, Mia slowed to a stop. Her chest was heaving, her face pale. She looked like she was about to faint.
He wanted to reach for her. He wanted to steady her..
He stretched his free hand toward her instinctively, but Mia quickly stepped back, avoiding his touch.
The rejection stung for a brief second, He wasn’t even hurt–not really. His arms were full of his son. That was enough.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” Alex whispered, pulling Aiden back slightly so he could see his face.
The boy sniffled, his eyes wet, his small lips trembling. “Papa can’t leave Aiden again.”
The word again felt like a knife in Alex’s chest. His brows furrowed, his heart splintering into pieces at the sound of it. Again. How many times had this boy cried for a father who wasn’t there? How many times had he asked where his papa was?
“Shhh,” Alex whispered, his voice rough. He kissed the top of his son’s head and held him close again. “It’s okay. I’m not leaving you. Never.”
Aiden’s little arms tightened even more, clinging like he was terrified Alex might vanish if he let go.
17:28 Wed, Sep 24 N
Chapter 258
56
65 vouchers
Alex glanced over Aiden’s head toward Mia. She was standing there, arms wrapped around herself, her face turned away, but he caught the shimmer of a tear sliding down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly, like she didn’t want him to see.
His chest ached for her too. He wanted to go to her, to hold her, to tell her she didn’t have to carry all this alone. But all he could do was stand there, with his son in his arms, and watch her hug herself.
“I want to go with Papa,” Aiden said suddenly, pulling back just enough to look at Alex with those big eyes.
Alex froze. His heart leapt at the words, joy sparking through him, but his gaze slid immediately to Mia.
He wanted it. God, he wanted it more than anything, for his son to come with him, to sleep in his house, to wake up in his arms, to walk into school tomorrow with him. But he didn’t want to rip that choice away from Mia. He didn’t want his happiness to mean her pain.
So he stood there, holding his boy close, but ready….if Mia said no, to let him go.
“I want to go with Papa,” Aiden repeated, his voice more determined this time, his little hands fisting into his
shirt.
Alex’s throat tightened as his eyes went back to Mia. Their gazes locked.
He saw the war in her eyes, her beautiful expressive eyes.
In that moment he was dragged back to the thousand of memories that rushed through him all at once.
He was still drawn to her like a magnet, even after almost five years. Nothing had changed. He wanted her, needed her, still craved her.
He had told himself over and over that he didn’t love her anymore. That love was a weakness, that relationships were chains he didn’t want.
He had trained himself to bury every emotion deep inside, to lock his heart in a cage and throw away the key.
But one look at her, one single glance, and all those walls came crashing down. Everything he thought he had buried came alive again.
He wants her still, he misses her. God, he missed her so much.
“Mia,” he breathed, her name leaving his lips like a plea.
She looked away instantly, rubbing her hands together, hugging herself tighter.
“I’ll go pick his things,” she said quickly, her voice shaky. “He… he can stay with you today. You can take him to school tomorrow. I’ll uh–I’ll send you the school address and also inform the teacher.” She didn’t meet his eyes once as she spoke.
“Come with us,” Alex blurted out before he could stop himself.
“Don’t,” Mia said sharply, shaking her head. Her arms tightened around her body like armor.
17:28 Wed, Sep 24 N
Chapter 253
“I’m just saying-”
“Don’t push it,” she cut in, her voice breaking slightly.
Before Alex could respond, a small voice piped up.
0:0
56
55 vouchers
“Yeah, Mama, come with us,” Aiden said, pulling his face away from Alex’s neck to look at his mother. His little eyes were still wet, his cheeks flushed, but his voice was hopeful, pleading.
Mia let out a wet chuckle, her lips trembling into a sad smile.
“I can’t do that, baby,” she whispered, turning around, her back to both of them as she started walking toward the house.
“Why, Mama?”
Mia didn’t stop to give an answer.
