Chapter Three – The Date She Couldn’t Forget

Nora woke up before her alarm. For several seconds, she stared at the ceiling, unsure why her chest felt so heavy.

Then she remembered. The Sterling mansion. Adrian. Leo. Her eyes closed again. “Mummy?” The little boy's voice echoed in her mind.

Nora turned onto her side and pulled the blanket over her head.

She had barely slept.Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that tiny crescent-shaped birthmark beneath Leo's ear.

It had been five years. Five years since she had last seen her son. Five years since a doctor had looked her in the eyes and told her that the baby she had carried for nine months had not survived.

Five years since she had learned how to live with a hole in her heart. And yesterday, a little boy with the same birthmark had looked at her and called her Mummy.

It couldn't be her son. It simply couldn't. Nora reached for her phone and checked the time.

6:42 a.m. She had no reason to be awake this early. Yet there was no chance of falling back asleep. She dragged herself out of bed and walked into the bathroom.

After washing her face, she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She looked exhausted. “You're imagining things,” she whispered. Her reflection offered no reassurance.

She picked up her toothbrush. “It's a coincidence.” She said it again. “A coincidence.” But the word sounded less convincing each time.

By the time Nora arrived at work, she had managed to convince herself that she was going to forget about it.

She had a project to complete. A career to build. A life to live. She couldn't allow a five-year-old memory to take control of her mind.

Her phone vibrated. Mia. Nora answered. “Good morning.” “You sound terrible.” Nora sighed. “Good morning to you too.”

“Did you sleep?” “Not really.” “I knew it.” Mia's voice immediately became more serious. “What happened yesterday?”

“Nothing.”.“Nora.” “What?” “You've known me for six years. Do you really think I'm going to believe that?”

Nora smiled faintly. Mia always knew when she was lying. “I met Adrian Sterling.” “And?” “And his son.”

There was silence. “His son?”n“Yes.” “Okay.”nNora could almost hear Mia sitting up.

“What about him?” Nora hesitated. “He called me Mummy.” Mia said nothing. Nora closed her eyes.

“I know how it sounds.” “No,” Mia said slowly. “Actually, I don't think I know how it sounds.” “He's a child. Maybe he mistook me for someone else.”

“Maybe.” Nora stared at her computer screen. “There was something else.”

“What?” “The boy has a birthmark.” Mia was silent again. “What kind?” “A crescent.” Nora's voice dropped.

“Under his left ear.” Mia didn't respond immediately. She knew. She knew exactly what that meant.

“Like your baby?” Nora swallowed. “Yes.” The silence between them stretched.

“Nora…Don't.” “I didn't say anything.” “You were going to.” Mia sighed.b“I'm just saying that maybe you should look into it.”

“No.” “Why not?” “Because I don't want to.” “Nora.” “I spent five years trying to accept what happened.” Her voice cracked. “I can't start doing this again.”

Mia softened. “You don't have to do anything you're not ready for.” Nora looked down. “Exactly.”

“But…Nora knew there was a but coming. “You deserve to know the truth.” Nora closed her eyes.

The truth. That was the one thing she had spent five years trying not to chase. Because sometimes the truth was worse than the lie. She changed the subject.

“I have to work.” Mia sighed. “Fine. But we're still having dinner tonight.” “I know.”“And don't cancel.”

“I won't.” “Good.” The call ended. Nora stared at her phone for a few seconds before placing it face down.

She tried to concentrate. For the next two hours, she worked on the Sterling project. Measurements. Floor plans. Material selections. Furniture arrangements.

It should have been easy. But every time she opened the project file, she saw the mansion. Every time she thought about the mansion, she saw Leo.

And every time she saw Leo, she remembered the birthmark. Eventually, Nora pushed her chair back.

She needed a break. She walked to the small kitchen and poured herself a cup of coffee. Her phone vibrated again.

This time, it was an email. From Sterling Holdings. Nora frowned. She opened it.

Dear Miss Hayes, Mr. Sterling has requested your presence at the Sterling residence tomorrow morning to review the second stage of the renovation plans.

Please confirm your availability. Nora stared at the message. Tomorrow? She hadn't expected to return so soon. She should have been pleased.

The project was important. Instead, a strange feeling settled in her stomach. She typed a quick response.

I will be there. Then she locked her phone. She had no choice. It was work. Nothing more.

She returned to her desk and forced herself to continue. But across the city, Adrian Sterling was looking at a file with Nora's name on it.

Daniel sat opposite him. “You asked for her background.” Adrian nodded. “What did you find?”

Daniel opened the folder. “Nora Hayes. Twenty-six years old. Studied interior design in London. No criminal record. No major financial problems. She currently works independently on residential design projects.”

Adrian listened quietly. “Family?” “Her parents are both deceased.” Adrian's eyes lifted.

“Both?” “Yes.” “And she has no siblings?” “None that I could find.” Adrian leaned back in his chair.

“That's it?” Daniel hesitated. “No.” Adrian's expression hardened. “What?” “There is a gap.”“What kind of gap?” Daniel opened another document.

“Five years ago, Nora disappeared from almost every professional and social record for nearly a year.”

Adrian's eyes narrowed. “Why?” “I don't know yet.” “Find out.” Daniel nodded. “There is one more thing.” Adrian looked at him.

“What?” “She was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital five years ago.” Adrian's fingers stopped moving.

“When?” Daniel gave him the date. Adrian stared at him. It was the same year. The same year he had met the mysterious woman at the Blackwood Hotel.

A strange uneasiness settled in his chest. “Why was she admitted?” Daniel looked down at the file.“That's the problem.”

“What problem?” “The hospital records from that period are incomplete.” Adrian's gaze sharpened.

“Incomplete?” “Several files were transferred to another archive after a system failure. Some records were never restored.”

Adrian stood,“Find them.” Daniel looked up. “Adrian, this was five years ago.” “I don't care.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.

“I want every record connected to Nora Hayes from that year.” Daniel nodded slowly. “I'll see what I can find.” After Daniel left, Adrian remained standing beside the window.

He couldn't explain why he was suddenly so interested in Nora. Maybe it was because she had looked at him yesterday with something he couldn't identify.

Maybe it was because Leo had reacted to her differently. Or maybe it was because of that strange feeling that had followed him since she walked through the front door.

A memory. Faint. Almost forgotten. A woman's voice. A pair of frightened eyes. Rain against a hotel window.

Adrian closed his eyes. He hadn't thought about that night in years. He had been drunk. Angry. Trying to escape a family situation that had made him feel trapped.

He remembered the hotel. The whiskey. The woman. But not her name. Not where she came from. Not where she went. He had left before sunrise.

And he had never looked back. At least, he had thought he hadn't. Adrian opened his eyes. For some reason, he could see Nora's face.

He frowned. There was something he was missing. Something important. His phone rang. He answered. “Hello?”

It was Daniel. “I found something.” Adrian's expression changed.

“What?” “There is a hospital record connected to Nora Hayes.”

“Go on.” “She was admitted five years ago.” Adrian waited. “She was pregnant.”Silence.

Adrian's grip tightened around the phone. “Pregnant?” “Yes.” “Did she give birth?”

Daniel hesitated. “That's where it gets strange.” Adrian's voice hardened. “What happened?”

“She gave birth to a baby boy.” Adrian stopped breathing..For several seconds, he said nothing. Daniel continued. “But the child's records are sealed.”

Adrian stared out at the city. A baby boy. Five years ago. Nora Hayes. The woman from the hotel.

His stomach tightened. “Find out who sealed them.”.“I'll try.” “No.” Adrian's voice was cold.

“Don't try.” He looked toward the door. “Find out.” The call ended. Adrian slowly lowered the phone.

For the first time, the possibility entered his mind. A possibility so unexpected that he almost rejected it immediately.

Nora had been pregnant. Five years ago. The same year he had spent one night with a woman whose name he never learned.

And now that woman had walked into his house. His son had looked at her and called her Mummy.

Adrian's jaw tightened. It was impossible. It had to be. Because if it wasn't… Then the entire story he had believed for the past five years was about to fall apart.