Kieran's povI tried to ignore the nagging feeling in my chest, but it gnawed at me with every passing second. Julian was... different. Not in a way that screamed something was wrong, but in a way that made every instinct in me go on high alert. He spoke now, bright and cheerful, the same little boy I had always wanted him to be. But it was too sudden, too convenient.Sitting across from him at breakfast, I watched him chatter excitedly about a bird he saw outside his window that morning. His hands waved as he spoke, his little fingers flitting through the air like they were drawing pictures of his words. Isadora was eating with a pleased, self-satisfied look on her face as if she had single-handedly brought him out of his silence. The elder, Walsh, sat beside her, as casual as ever, sipping his tea with deliberate slowness. He was watching me, I realized, measuring my reaction.I pushed my plate aside, appetite lost. "Julian," I said carefully, "do you remember the day at the park?
Kieran's povI sat in my office, fingers steepled under my chin, watching Julian—my son—play in the courtyard below. He was laughing, bright and happy, as he tossed a ball back and forth with one of the guards. It was such a stark contrast to the other boy who had been trembling in my arms just days ago, mute, withdrawn, and scared of everything.And I knew, with absolute certainty now, that something had happened.The DNA results confirmed it. I had two children. No doubt about it. But the fact that I even had to check in the first place, that I had been pushed to question everything I believed to be true, told me just how deep the deception ran.Isadora.And her father, the ever-calculating Walsh.They thought they had me fooled, thought I would be blind enough to let this go because my son was back. Because he was talking, smiling, calling me Papa like he should have been all along.But they underestimated me.I wasn’t going to confront Isadora just yet. No, not when the game w
Kieran's Pov (A few hours later)I clenched my jaw as I sat in my car, staring at the grainy images on my laptop screen. Tobias Maximorff. The name sat there like a curse, a damnation I hadn’t seen coming. The man who had helped Naya escape, the man who had played a part in the twisted game Isadora and her father were weaving—he was right in front of me now, in these pictures. And standing beside him, in an apron dusted with pollen, smiling as if the world hadn’t burned in her wake, was Naya.My stomach twisted as I clicked through more images. A flower shop. She ran a goddamn flower shop. The simplicity of it felt like a joke, like an elaborate ruse that mocked the storm she had left behind. She was supposed to be gone, unreachable, a ghost in the past. Instead, here she was, posing with a bouquet in her hands, a man’s arm slung around her waist in a way that was far too intimate for my liking.Tobias wasn’t just some rogue operative. No, he had built a life with her. A life t
Tobias's PovThat peace doesn’t last long.Mid-morning, a delivery arrives. Naya opens the door, and a small package is handed to her. She frowns as she looks down at it. "I wasn’t expecting anything.""Maybe it's from one of your friends?" I suggest, watching her closely.She shrugs and opens the box. Inside is a single flower—the same one I had given to that strange man yesterday. My stomach drops instantly.Naya lifts the flower, twirling it between her fingers with a soft chuckle. "Oh, it's pretty. Someone must be apologizing to me." She smirks and pulls out her phone. "Bet it's Sophia. She pissed me off last week. Let me call her."Panic flashes through me, but I keep my expression neutral as she dials. The phone rings once… twice… and then a knock comes at the door.Naya blinks, lowering her phone. "That’s weird."I don't move as she opens the door, revealing Sophia standing there with a bright smile and a gift basket in her hands. "Surprise!"Naya stares. Her phone is still at
Kieran's povI studied him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of deception. His jaw was tight, his muscles tense with the effort of resisting my hold, but there was no flicker of dishonesty in his gaze.I didn’t believe them.“You want to keep playing this game?” I asked. “Fine. Then let’s make things clear. I know everything now, Tobias. I know how you orchestrated the switch. I know what you’ve done. And I know exactly where my son has been this entire time.”Tobias’ eyes darkened, but he said nothing.I leaned in just a little closer, letting my presence suffocate him. “Say your goodbyes,” I murmured. “Because I’m taking my family back.”A flicker of something crossed Tobias’ face—something close to fear. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by a smirk that was all too familiar.“You really think it’s that simple?” he asked, tilting his head. “Tell me, Kieran… how do you plan on running two families at once?”I froze at that, my face going blank His smirk widened.
Naya's POV I was going to be sick.The room was spinning, my heartbeat a deafening roar in my ears. My hands trembled as I clutched at the doorframe, my mind blank except for one singular, gut-wrenching thought—Aiden was gone and Kieran knew where I was.How? When? Why? Who would do this? When did Kieran find out?I could barely think through the fog of fear clouding my mind, but one thing was certain—I had to find my son. My body moved before my thoughts could catch up. I grabbed my coat off the hanger, barely noticing the rain still pelting down in heavy sheets outside. My vision tunneled as I reached for the doorknob."Naya! Stop!" Tobias’s voice cut through my panic, sharp and commanding. He grabbed my wrist before I could open the door. "Where the hell do you think you’re going?"I wrenched my arm away from him, my voice a raw, broken whisper. "I have to go to the police.""Now? In this weather? Naya, listen to yourself—""My son is missing!" I shrieked, my voice cracking und
Naya's POV Morning came too soon. The sun’s rays filtered through the blinds, warm and indifferent. My head pounded, my throat raw from crying. I sat up, disoriented, but the sharp reminder of reality settled in almost immediately. Aiden was still gone.The thought sent me into motion. I stumbled out of bed, hands shaking as I grabbed the nearest bag and started shoving clothes into it.Tobias entered the room, his face weary. “What are you doing?”“I’m leaving.”His brows furrowed. “Leaving?”“I can’t stay here. I’m going back home.”Tobias crossed the room in three long strides and grabbed my wrist, stopping me. “Running again?”I yanked my arm free. “I’m not running.”He scoffed. “Feels like you are.”Anger flared in my chest. “I am trying to do something. What am I supposed to do? Sit here and wait?”“I’m already following leads, Naya. I went back to the police station this morning. They’re looking into it.”I shook my head. “That’s not enough.”Tobias exhaled slowly, his hands o
Naya's PovI wasn’t sure what I had expected when I rushed back home, but when I stepped through the door and saw him standing there, holding our son in his arms, my entire world stopped.Kieran.Tall, imposing, and utterly unchanged by the years that had passed. If anything, time had only sharpened his edges, and made his presence more commanding. His broad shoulders filled the space, and his piercing gaze was fixed solely on me.I froze.Relief surged through me the moment I laid eyes on Aiden, safe and sound in Kieran’s arms. But that relief quickly turned into something else—anxiety, nervousness, the feeling of my ribs caving under the weight of our past.“Naya,” Kieran said, his voice smooth yet laced with something unreadable. “You look well.”I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat grow. “Kieran.” His name fell from my lips, helpless and uncertain. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, just as he couldn't from me.The years had done nothing to lessen his effect on me
Naya's POV The fluorescent lights of the waiting room hummed, a monotonous drone that seemed to amplify the silence. It was a sterile, cold sound that vibrated through my bones, mirroring the icy dread that had taken root in my soul. The air itself felt thick, heavy with unspoken fears and desperate hopes clinging to the edges of reality. Two hours. Two hours we had waited, each minute stretching into an eternity, punctuated only by the rhythmic beeping of machines and the hushed whispers of nurses passing by. Two hours of praying, pleading with a universe that seemed deaf to our cries, and desperately clinging to the fragile hope that Aiden, my sweet, beautiful boy, would be okay.Finally, the door to the emergency room swung open, and a doctor emerged. His face was grim, etched with a weariness that mirrored the exhaustion that had settled deep within my own being. His eyes, usually bright and filled with a professional detachment, were clouded with a somber empathy that sent
Naya's POVThe world had become a kaleidoscope of chaos. It was getting worse. The battle that is. the cave was bathed in the eerie glow of the moon. Men were fighting, their faces contorted with rage, their bodies locked in a brutal dance of death.And in the center of it all, I saw him. Elder Walsh, his eyes burning with fanaticism, his hands raised in a gesture of power.I felt exhausted, my arms arching and bloodstained from fighting off so many enemies, all to survive.And then, I saw Aiden.He was running, his small legs pumping, his face streaked with tears. He was shouting, his voice hoarse, his words lost in the din of battle."Julian! Mom!"My heart leaped into my throat. He was here. He was alive.But he was running straight into danger."Aiden!" I screamed, my voice raw with terror. "No! Get back!"Elder Walsh saw him, his eyes widening with a predatory gleam."Get him!" he roared, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Don't let him escape!"Julian, who had been crouchin
Naya's POV Tobias stepped forward, his face set in a hard line. “Back off, you Old bastard,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You’ve got the wrong kid.”The Elder chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so, Tobias,” he said, his eyes twinkling. “I know exactly who I have. That’s why I waited for the star of the show to arrive.”One of the Elder’s men stepped forward, dragging someone behind him. My heart skipped a beat.It was Julian.Isadora screamed, her face contorting with anguish. “Julian!” she cried, her voice cracking. “What did you do to him?”The Elder smiled coldly. “Don’t worry, my dear,” he said, his voice smooth as silk. “We haven’t harmed him… yet.”Isadora turned to her father, her eyes pleading. “Please, Father,” she begged. “I don’t want to be a part of this anymore. Not if it means hurting Julian. He’s the only family I have left.”The Elder’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of cold fury. “Silence, Isadora,” he snapped. “You will do as you’re told.”He turned back to
Naya's pov I woke up with a gasp, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. The last thing I remembered was Julian saying something about Aiden being in danger, and then… nothing. Just blackness. I pushed the blanket off my lap and sat up, my head throbbing. It felt like a giant was using my skull as a drum.“Ugh,” I groaned, pressing my hand to my forehead. The cottage was silent, eerily so. Where was everyone?I stumbled off the couch, my legs wobbly. “Tobias? Aiden?” I called out, my voice trembling. No answer.Panic clawed at my throat. Everything was a mess. The cushions were askew, a half-finished drawing lay abandoned on the coffee table, and the air was thick with a sense of… dread.I ran to the window, peering out into the fading light. The car was gone. My breath hitched in my throat. He’d left. He’d taken the others and left me behind.Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision. I felt abandoned, useless. But I couldn’t afford to fall apart. Aiden w
Tobias’s POVThe city air still clung to my clothes, a greasy film of exhaust and hurried footsteps. I’d spent the afternoon weaving through crowded streets, trying to finalize the last-minute details for the wedding.Naya deserved the best, and I was determined to give it to her, even if it meant battling grumpy florists and haggling with caterers who thought they were serving ambrosia instead of fried chicken. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my mental checklist of seating arrangements and cake flavors. It was a message from the Elder.My stomach clenched as I read the words. They were laced with a thinly veiled threat, a demand for allegiance. He wanted me to join him, to fall in line with his plans, or he would… well, he didn’t explicitly say what he’d do, but the implication was clear: he'd make my life, Naya’s life, Aiden’s life, a living hell."Don't blame me when everything falls into pieces," the message concluded.I scoffed, a bitter sound in the busy street
Aiden's POV I trudged towards the front of the school, my heart heavy. I couldn't believe Julie had betrayed me like this. I couldn't believe he had said all those things to me.As I reached the front of the school, I saw Isadora waiting for me. She looked pale and anxious."Aiden," she said, her voice trembling. "We have to go. Now."I frowned. "What's wrong?" I asked."There's no time to explain," she said, grabbing my hand. "We have to leave. Your Grandfather wants to see you."I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay here, at least until I could figure out how to fix things with Julie. But Isadora was pulling me towards the car, and I knew I couldn't argue with her.We drove in silence, my anxiety growing with every mile. Isadora kept glancing at me, her eyes filled with fear.Finally, we reached the estate. I dreaded spending even one more day in that house.But as we pulled up to the gates, something strange happened. A black car pulled up behind us, blocking our path.A tall ma
Aiden's POV Three days. That's all it was supposed to be. Three days of pretending to be Julian, three days of nasty tutors and cold rooms, three days of holding in all the things that made me… me. I’d counted every minute, every second, just so Julie could have a break. But those three days felt like a lifetime.I tried my best to be Julian. I sat up straight, didn't fidget, and answered all the questions the tutors threw at me, even when my brain felt like it was going to explode till my voice, so unused to talking for long periods went hoarae5. Mistress Thorne still looked at me like I was a bug she wanted to squish, but she didn't hit me again. Maybe because she didn't want to overdo it.I had to hold in a snort of disgust.I hated that it could still happen and the fear it sent through my body whenever I even thought she might pull her hands into her robes with the cane But the worst part was being away from mom and dad. I missed their hugs, their smiles, their silly jokes. I
Julian's POVEven though I was scared, switching with Aiden felt… like breathing after holding my breath for too long. I could almost taste freedom. But as Naya led me towards their little house, my hands trembled. According to what his parents knew,Aiden didn't talk (not that they know he could talk and did so on a semi regular basis now).He used his hands always, signing words I barely knew. What if I messed up? What if Naya saw through my clumsy attempts?Naya squeezed my hand, and I tried to mimic Aiden's bouncy walk, but my legs felt like jelly."You okay, sweetie?" Naya asked, her voice warm. "You're awfully quiet today. More than usual, even for you."My heart hammered. I reached for the small notebook Aiden always carried and scribbled:'Tired. Long day.' I showed it to her, trying to copy Aiden's quick, jerky movements.Naya frowned, her eyes searching mine. "Long day, huh? Did something happen at school? Did someone tease you?"I shook my head, then quickly signed the wor
Aiden's POVLately, Julian hasn’t been the same. I noticed it first at school. He used to sit with me sometimes, even if he pretended not to care. But now, he looks down at the floor a lot, and when I try to talk to him, he just walks away. Not just at school, but even when I visit him with my astral projection. I float into his room, hoping to see that goofy grin or hear him laugh at my silly signs, but he looks through me like I’m not there. Sometimes he doesn’t even answer back.It made my chest hurt. I didn’t know why he was like this. I wanted to help, but Julian wouldn’t let me.One afternoon, I was floating around the house, drifting like a ghost, trying to find him. I peeked into the bathroom, and there he was, standing in front of the mirror—his shirt lifted just a little as he rubbed his arms.I saw it then. The scars. Long, jagged lines running down his arms, hidden beneath his sleeves. They looked red and angry, like wounds that never quite healed. My heart stopped for