Chapter Six: Are You My Daddy?

CALISTA

The soft hues of dawn filtered into the room, but the beauty of the morning did nothing to soothe my restless heart. Sleep had eluded me all night. My mind replayed the events of the past few days like a broken record—Cassius’s cold demeanor, the mansion’s suffocating luxury, and, most of all, the aching void left by my son’s absence.

Aaron’s face haunted my thoughts. His cheeky grin, the sparkle in his eyes, the way his little arms wrapped around my neck—it was unbearable to be away from him.

By morning, I made my decision. I needed to see him.

Hours later, I stood at Lila’s front door, my palms damp with nerves. Before I could knock, the door swung open, and there he was—my little ball of energy, sprinting toward me with a wide grin.

“Mummy!” Aaron’s voice rang with pure joy as he flung his arms around my legs.

“Aaron!” I bent down, scooping him into my arms and holding him close. Tears stung my eyes as I kissed his forehead. “I missed you so much, sweetheart.”

“I missed you too, Mummy,” he said, his small hands cupping my face. “But why didn’t you come back sooner? I’ve been waiting and waiting!”

Guilt gnawed at me. “I’m sorry, baby. Mummy had to take care of some things.”

His smile faded as he leaned back to look at me. “I want to come with you.”

My heart sank. “Aaron—”

“I want to go home with you!” he interrupted, his voice louder and more determined.

I glanced at Lila, who stood behind him, her arms crossed as she watched the unfolding scene. I could see the concern in her eyes, but there was also an unspoken message: You knew this would happen.

I knelt to Aaron’s level, cupping his small hands in mine. “Aaron, listen to me. I promise I’ll come back to see you, okay? But right now, you have to stay here with Auntie Lila for just a little longer.”

“No!” His voice cracked as tears filled his eyes. “I don’t want to stay here! I want you, Mummy!”

I pulled him into a hug, trying to soothe him, but his little body stiffened in resistance.

“What if we get ice cream later?” I suggested, desperation creeping into my voice. “Chocolate chip mint, your favorite!”

He shook his head, his tears soaking into my shirt. “I don’t care about ice cream. I just want to be with you!”

I sighed, feeling helpless. “Aaron, sweetheart, I know this is hard, but I’m doing this for us. I promise it won’t be for long.”

He pulled back slightly, his face scrunched in frustration. “But why can’t I come now? Are you mad at me?”

“No!” I said quickly, my voice cracking. “Oh, baby, no. I could never be mad at you. You’re my everything.”

“Then take me with you!” he pleaded.

“Maybe you should,” Lila chimed in, stepping closer. “You said you and Cassius agreed not to interfere in each other’s lives, right? He shouldn’t have an issue with Aaron being there.”

I hesitated, her words cutting through my resolve. She wasn’t wrong, but the idea of bringing Aaron into the mansion felt like a risk I wasn’t ready to take.

“I don’t know, Lila,” I said, my voice shaky. “What if—”

“You don’t really have a choice,” she interrupted gently. “Look at him. He’s miserable without you, and honestly, I don’t think you’re doing much better.”

Aaron sniffled, his wide eyes locking onto mine. “Mummy, you’ll take me to see Daddy, right? You promised.”

The question hit me like a freight train. “W-what?”

“You said one day we’d see Daddy together,” he said, his voice quiet but firm.

My mouth opened, but no words came out. I looked at Lila, silently begging for help.

“Hey, Aaron,” Lila said brightly, crouching down to his level. “Why don’t we go outside and play for a little bit? Mummy and I need to talk about boring grown-up stuff.”

Aaron hesitated, his bottom lip jutting out in a pout, but eventually, he nodded and ran off toward the backyard.

Once he was out of sight, I sank onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. “This is a disaster.”

“You’re overthinking it,” Lila said, sitting beside me. “He’s your son, Calista. You have every right to take him with you.”

“It’s not that simple,” I muttered.

“Why not?”

“Because...” I hesitated, my voice dropping. “Because there’s a chance Cassius is his father.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “What?”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “The resemblance, Lila. It’s been nagging at me ever since I saw him. The eyes, the way they tilt their head when they’re curious—it’s too much to ignore.”

“And you’re sure it’s not just a coincidence?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “But if it’s true... I can’t let him find out. Not yet.”

By the time we returned to the mansion, Aaron had regained his usual energy. He raced ahead of me, his little legs carrying him through the grand entrance like he owned the place.

Once inside, he plopped down on the living room rug, playing with his toy car while I sank onto the couch.

I had barely settled in when my phone buzzed. It was another call from a potential employer, and I quickly answered, desperate for a distraction.

“Yes, I’m available to start immediately,” I said, forcing a smile into my voice. “I just need to finalize a few personal matters.”

As the call dragged on, I glanced at Aaron, who was still engrossed in his toy. Relieved, I turned my focus back to the conversation.

When I finally hung up, I looked up—and my heart dropped.

Aaron was gone.

“Aaron?” I called, my voice tinged with panic.

No response.

I bolted out of the room, my eyes scanning every corner. A maid passed by, and I grabbed her arm. “Have you seen my son?”

“Your son? You mean the boy who looked like Mr Dario?” she said, looking slightly worried. “He went toward the west wing.”

My stomach twisted. The west wing—Cassius’s private quarters.

Without thinking, I sprinted down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I flung open door after door, each empty room only fueling my fear.

Finally, I reached the study.

I froze in the doorway, my breath catching in my throat.

Cassius sat in his wheelchair, his sharp features illuminated by the soft light of a desk lamp. Across from him stood Aaron, his small hands clutching a picture frame.

The two of them stared at each other, their expressions unreadable.

My heart stopped.

Aaron tilted his head, his voice breaking the silence as he asked a question that hung in the air like a thunderclap.

“Are you my daddy?”