CHAPTER TWO: THE DREAM.

Sophia waited for Adria to have gone far before leaving. She knew what he was capable of doing. Unknown to her, Adria didn't leave; he hid on the left side of the building in order to follow her behind and know where she stayed.

Sophia waited for 45 minutes before she left. Adria gradually followed her to her house. All these times, Sophia felt someone was following her, but when she turned, she didn't see anybody.

As soon as they got to the house, Adria was so happy that he could have his son anytime he wanted to.

Sophia quickly took her bath and bathed her son. They had dinner and went to bed. Sophia was not able to sleep. Adria's last words echoed in her mind.

“Watch me. If you don't do the needful, whatever happens to you is your business.”

Sophia's heart was racing. Her son had witnessed everything that happened between her and Adria. Theo is a very smart boy who asks a lot of questions. She was praying he don't ask her any questions regarding to that because she wouldn't know how to present everything to him and he would understand.

Sophia was still reminiscing on all these when Theo jumped out of the bed and sat down on the seat close to the bed. He was panting as though he was coming from a marathon race competition.

She went closer and started stroking his hair. She was still stroking his hair when Theo closed his eyes, then opened them again.

"Mum, I had a dream, and I want to share it with you, "He said, his voice still sounding sleepy.  Sophia adjusted herself to hear what his son wants to say.

"My love, please go on. Mummy is all ears". Mummy, I saw a man in my dream who walked up to me and said he was my father. He is very tall and handsome. I told him that I don't have a father, I only have a mother. He held me by the hand and said he was my father and that I should follow him. I was about to follow him when I woke up" Theo explained, with so much clarity.

Sophia was so shocked to hear this from his little son but tried not to show it.

“Really??.. This is huge. Let me rush and bring the food that you didn't finish.

I believe you're hungry. I'll be right back” Sophia said, changing the topic because she wouldn't want that discussion to hold because she was not emotionally ready for it.

As she was about to leave, Theo held her hand and asked

“But mum, where is my father? Do I have a father? Mum, please talk to me,” Theo said, his eyes locked onto mine.

Sophia paused, looked at his little son, and shook her head.

“My son, don't worry, I’ll answer your question, but for now, you need to eat. Let me rush and get something for you to eat alright?” She said, as she rushed to the kitchen

****”

Getting home that night, he paced his penthouse suite.

Five years!!! Five years of living in the dark while his son grew up without him. Sophia's words replayed in his mind: "I did what I had to do to protect him from you".

The accusation was more than he wanted to admit. Was he really that bad? Was he really a villain she painted him to be?. He couldn't bear it as he paced through the room. He poured himself a glass of wine and drank. He made up his mind that Sophia wouldn't dictate his relationship with his son.

It has happened before but not anymore.

Immediately, Adrian picked up his phone and dialed a number. The person answered on the first ring. A woman's voice answered, very professional and sharp.

" Chara, I need you to dig into everything about Sophia Westwood. There's something fishy about her since we divorced. I want you to find out where she’s been, who she's been, and what she is hiding.

I really know other things that she's hiding from me. Start tonight".

"Yes sir," Chara replied without hesitation

Andria ended the call and looked out of the window. He quickly dialed his mother’s number, and she picked up at the first ring.

“Mum, please I would like to see you this morning. It's not something to talk over the phone. And it's a very serious matter.

“Alright, my son. I'll be there. Anything for you and he hung up

The next morning, Adria sat already dressed waiting for his mother. Shortly, she arrived and was looking very anxious.

“Son, you called. Hope all is well?”

Adria nodded and pointed her to sit down.

“Mum, do you know that I have a son?”

His mother flinched.

“How and when?

“I saw Sophia yesterday.” He continued and explained everything to his mother.

His mother was so angry and decided to go with his son to confront Sophia and take his grandson back.

Adria told his mother to hold on till evening as he wanted to attend a brief meeting

the investigation he told Chara to make concer

Later that afternoon, Sophia received an anonymous envelope in the mail. It was unmarked ,but had weight. She carefully opened it, her hands trembling. Inside was a single file labeled:"Westwood - Confidential.

Sophia could not believe her eyes as she flipped through the pages.

They contained detailed information about her life, financial records, and her movement over the five years. But the last page made her heart stop beating.

A grainy photograph of Theo, taken from a distance. The timestamp was from two years ago.

What this means is that somebody has been watching her and his son all these years. Her breath hitched as she realised this. Could this be done by Adrian? No. She remembered she just met Adria after five years. Was this dug out?

As she was still holding the file, a handwritten note fell out of the file. It reads: “You're not the only one with secrets". Sophia's mind raced. This was also a warning and a threat. But where was this coming from?