I have a high fever, but I'm doing my best to write the next chapter. Can I expect gems and reviews to motivate me?
I never wanted my child to be like this. Nikolai knelt down beside us, "Tell me, Leo. What do you want?"Leo's lips parted but no sound came. He hesitated, his gaze dropping to his little fingers fiddling with the edge of his blanket. After a long moment, he whispered so softly that I had to lean in to catch the words.ââŚCan I have⌠french fries?âI blinked. âFrench fries?âI thought he was going to ask for something which we can't instantly provide. He nodded quickly, cheeks slightly pink. âWith⌠a little cheese on top,â he added in a mumble, then looked down again. âThey give it here after months⌠on special occasions.âNikolai and I shared a look. Our baby has to long for even the basic things while we are enjoying the luxury of our lives. Nikolai blinked and pulled out his phone to place the order. Leoâs eyes lit up when he got to know his french fries were on their way. While we waited for the food, Nikolai and I brought out a small travel board game we had picked up earlier.
Alessia's POV As soon as we were allowed to meet our baby boy, Leo, we didn't waste a single second in going to him. My heart was pounding in my chest. I already sold the connection with him when I saw him for the first time, and now I cannot control myself anymore. I just want him in my arms. I want to give him all the love that he missed in these years. The Matron opened the door to his room and warm air welcomed us. The scent of disinfectant and crushed cookies reached our senses. My heart sank to the pit of my stomach when my eyes locked on the small figure curled up on the narrow bed, bundled in mismatched blankets. There was only his bed in the small room, indicating he had been left alone in the orphanage. My heart clenched.My head turned to Nikolai who was staring at his baby with mixed expressions. He has sympathy for him, and at the same time, there is guilt for not providing the kind of life he deserves. Our baby definitely deserves more than this. The monster has
Nikolai's POV Alessia held onto my arm tightly, as we waited for Matron to join us. Unlike other times, today the orphanage was unusually silent. The laughs of children that usually fill this place were missing. Alessiaâs grip on my hand tightened. âWhat if she says heâs not here?ââShe wonât,â I said, though the same fear haunted my thoughts.I got to know that Marco left Leo here after that incident. He hasn't told his girlfriend about Leo and if she hears him calling him dad, she will definitely break up with him. Marco is a very cunning and greedy person. He will not let go of his girlfriend when she is the sole owner of her father's business. The day before yesterday was his girlfriend's birthday so he left Leo in the orphanage. I hope he hasn't taken him back. With the current situation, he would like to keep him to himself so he could prove to the council that he is taking care of him like a doting father. Matron came, breaking the chain of thoughts. She didn't seem please
Alessia's POV I was standing in the middle of a vast field that looked familiar yet foreign. Everything was quiet around me. The sky above me was grey as if it was also mourning. A breeze rustled the grass at my feet, but there was no sound, no birds, no voices, not even the beat of my own heart. âNo...â I whispered, stumbling forward. âNo, no, pleaseâŚââLeo?â I called out desperately, spinning around in every direction âBaby, where are you? Leo!âThere was no answerâonly silence.I looked down and realized I was wearing white, the hem of my dress soaked in something dark. My hands trembled as I raised them to my stomach.It was flat.Empty.Not even the slightest mound was there.And then my eyes caught the sight of two small cribs, standing far off in the distance. II ran towards them with the hope that I would find my babies inside, but my heart broke when they, too, were empty. My lungs burned with each breath I took, my throat was sore from screaming."My babies! Please!âA s
Nikolai's POV The moment I saw Leo in Marcoâs arms, something inside me broke, especially after knowing that he was my son. It should be mean whom Leo, must be calling daddy. I remember those months when he was in Alessia's womb. I used to imagine what it would be like to meet my son. To hear him call me âDaddyâ. To see me as his pillar that's always with him no matter what. I had dreamt of holding him, teaching him, watching him grow up with Alessiaâs fire in his heart and my protection around him like armor. But reality was crueler than imagination.Because the child I had mourned, the one I had buried in my nightmares and searched for in every prayer, was standing just a few feet away... and reaching for daddy, which was not me but Marco. Leo clung to him as if he was safe. As if he was home.I wanted to tear the moment apart. I wanted to rip Leo from his grip and shout the truth loud enough to burn the lies from his mind. I could sense Alessia wasn't fine. But my world moved
I gasped when the sound of a body hitting the marble floor echoed in the hall. Marco was on the ground, gasping as Nikolai slammed him down with a force that shook the floor.A few of those who were sitting on the chair immediately stood up, scraping the chair. People gasped and voices shouted in alarm, but no one dared intervene.Leo clung to me instinctively as Nikolai pushed him into my arms. His tiny fingers grasped my shirt tightly. He looked up at me with wide, confused eyes, and I held him close, to my heart. He is my son. My Leo. My baby. My attention shifted when I heard a loud cry from Marco. Nikolai has hit him right in his mouth, and he used to say bullshit about us. Before Marco could even grasp what was happening his jaw met with another powerful blow. Nikolai didnât care who was watching or judging him. He was past all the thoughts. He has been holding himself from killing Marco long enough, but today, he crossed all the limits. To get into power, he tortured a litt