Chapter 101
“Mom! Look! Faye is my best friend now!” Cyrus exclaimed, sounding very grown–up.
Carlos nodded, clearly entertained, while Cyrus added, “Women’s friendships are amazing, right?”
I laughed, feeling a bit tipsy from the drinks Faye and I had shared. “You’re right, buddy! I’m just so happy!”
As I knelt down to Cyrus’s level, I brushed his hair back, enjoying the softness of his curls. Faye and Carlos had stepped out to run a quick errand, leaving us to share a quiet moment together. “Do you want to hear a story before bed?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Yes, please!” he replied, his eyes shining with excitement and a big grin on his face.
I smiled, feeling warmth in my heart. “Alright, once upon a time, there was a brave little wolf who….” I started, telling him about a wolf exploring magical forests and facing different challenges. As I spoke, I noticed Cyrus leaning in closer, resting his little hands on his knees, completely captivated.
“Did the little wolf have friends?” he asked, his curiosity brightening his face.
“Yes! The little wolf had a best friend who was a clever fox,” I answered, enjoying how engaged he was. We laughed together at the wolf’s silly adventures, each giggle bringing closer.
us
When I reached a part in the story where the little wolf faced his fears, I looked deep into Cyrus’s eyes. “When the little wolf was brave, he found out how strong he really was,” I said. “Just like you, Cyrus. You are brave in your own way.
His pride. “I want to be just like the brave little wolf!” he exclaimed,
ace lit up t determination shining through.
I felt a wave of love and protectiveness at that moment. Even with the unsettling thoughts about the strange happenings in our yard earlier, I knew I would do everything to keep him
safe.
“Gaving thy My First Love For Secret Research Second Chance at Happiness
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Now, what do you think will happen next?” I asked, inviting him to join in the storytelling. He thought for a moment and suggested, “Maybe the little wolf finds a hidden treasure!”
“Great idea!” I said, excited to see his imagination spark. As we crafted the story together, I felt our bond growing stronger, a beautiful reminder that even in uncertain times, our love
would always guide us.
Sunlight flooded the house the next day. I sat in the living room, half listening to the loud
chatter of the radio news while watching Cyrus play with his toys. His laughter and the familiar sounds of the radio created a calm moment, almost making me forget the dead mouse I’d found in the yard earlier that morning. The image stayed in my mind, leaving me with a slight feeling of unease.
Then, a knock sounded at the door and brought me back to the present. Cyrus looked up from his toys, his face lighting up with excitement as he ran over to me.
“Mum! Someone’s here!” he said as he was eager for me to open the door.
Taking a deep breath, I stood up. The uneasy feeling grew as I walked to the door, thinking about the dead mouse I’d seen in the yard earlier. But as I opened it, the sight of Nathan standing there, his arms full of brightly wrapped gifts, was somehow more unsettling than I’d anticipated.
“Nathan,” I said, my voice coming out cold, more so than I’d intended. “What are you doing
here?” He hesitated for a moment, then gave me a warm smile, holding out one of the gifts toward Cyrus, who was peeking from behind my legs. “I just wanted to visit and see both of you. It’s been too long, don’t you think?”
I crossed my arms, feeling my patience wearing thin. “Do you think showing up
unannounced with a bunch of gifts makes everything alright? What exactly are you hoping
to accomplish here?”
He looked taken aback, but quickly tried to recover, shifting awkwardly. “I thought after the last wedding, maybe things had improved between us. We were friendly enough that day, weren’t we?” A humorless laugh escaped me. “Friendly? You’re seriously mistaken, Nathan. Nothing has changed between us. I made myself very clear that day. I already have
something far more precious than anything you could offer me.”
Nathan’s expression fell, and he glanced down, looking genuinely hurt. “Doris, I miss you. I
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miss both of you. I was hoping maybe for Cyrus’s sake, we could try to be a family. Just Think about it.” “Think about what?” I snapped, my voice harsher than I’d intended. “You think a few nice words and some presents can change the past? Cyrus and I are just fine our own. We don’t need you disrupting our lives.”
on
He took a step closer, his jaw set. “I’m not trying to disrupt anything. Doris. I just want to be here for both of you. Cyrus…he’s not just your child. He carries Oliver’s blood. I can feel it. I know Cyrus is the child of two people,” he further repeated “and he has Oliver’s genes.”
His words hit me like a slap, and my face grew hot with anger. “Shut up, Nathan,” I said, barely keeping my voice steady. “You don’t get to talk about him like that.”
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“Give a My First Love For Secret Research: Second Chance at Happiness
