Chapter 3

Aliya  POV

Leo woke me up before the sun had even peeked over the horizon.

“Mummy! It’s my birthday!” he shouted, bouncing on the bed like a little spring.

I groaned, reaching for the pillow, but the moment I saw his face, the excitement, the wide grin, the little dimple that always showed when he was happy, I was wide awake.

“I know, my love,” I said softly, pulling him into my arms. “Happy birthday!”

He hugged me tightly, almost knocking the wind out of me. “You promised me today would be perfect!”

“I promised,” I said, kissing his hair. “And I always keep my promises.”

He leapt out of bed and ran to the living room, with Elena following quietly behind. I trailed slowly, taking a deep breath, letting myself enjoy the quiet before the chaos of the day began.

The living room was decorated simply but warmly, balloons tied to the chairs, streamers hanging loosely across the ceiling, and a small dinosaur cake on the table with six tiny candles waiting to be blown out. Leo gasped in delight, spinning in a circle as he pointed at everything.

“Wow! Mummy, this is amazing!” he cried.

“I’m glad you like it,” I said, smiling softly. “Happy birthday, my Leo.”

Elena handed him a small pile of wrapped gifts. He tore them open with surprising care, eyes widening at every little thing, a model airplane, a soft dinosaur plush, and a book about space. His excitement was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile at his joy.

“You’re the best mummy ever!” he said, hugging me tightly.

“And you’re the best son ever,” I whispered, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.

After the small home celebration, it was time for the birthday date I had promised. I grabbed my bag, and we all headed to the amusement park. Leo chattered nonstop in the car, planning which rides he would try first, already making up stories about the friends he would meet. Elena sat quietly in the back, smiling at him, keeping a watchful eye while letting him have his excitement.

At the park, Leo became unstoppable. He ran from ride to ride, laughing, shouting, joining other children in games without hesitation. I followed, holding his hand when he got tired, taking pictures when he insisted, clapping when he waved at me from the carousel.

“This is the best day ever!” he shouted.

I smiled, my chest tightening. Watching him so happy, so alive, made all the struggle of the past six years, the loneliness, the worry, the nights I had cried into my pillow, fade just for a moment.

Then my phone vibrated. Elena.

I moved a little away from the noise, trying to hear her over the laughter, music, and excited shouts of children.

“Aliya, sorry to bother you,” she said, a little tense. “There’s an issue with the new supplier. I need your approval on a document before noon, or it could delay the shipment...”

“I’ll handle it,” I said quickly, forcing myself to concentrate. Ten minutes later, the call ended, and I turned back toward Leo.

He wasn’t there.

My heart dropped.

I called his name softly at first. “Leo?”

No answer.

Panic clawed at my chest. I pushed through the crowd, scanning every face, every ride, every bench.

“Leo!” I shouted, louder this time. My voice trembled.

And then I saw him.

Across the park.

He was clinging tightly to a man’s leg, small arms wrapped around the man’s leg, as if afraid the man would disappear.

“Daddy,” Leo said, the word leaving his lips like a prayer.

My heart stopped.

The man looked down at him, frozen for a moment, then awkwardly rested a hand on Leo’s back. There was something familiar about the curve of his shoulders, the quiet intensity in his gaze, but my mind refused to place it.

I couldn’t breathe. My legs felt like lead.

I moved forward carefully, calling softly, “Leo, come here, sweetie.”

Leo turned, a huge smile on his face. “Mummy! I found my daddy!”

The man’s eyes flicked up to mine, and I felt that strange, painful tug again, recognition I couldn’t quite grasp, memory that teased me.

I scooped Leo into my arms. “It’s okay, my love. Mummy’s here,” I whispered.

“Bye, Daddy!” he waved cheerfully.

I hugged him tightly, forcing my emotions into calm, keeping my trembling hands hidden.

Elena appeared silently at my side. “Shall we head back, Aliya?” she asked softly.

I nodded, still holding Leo. “Yes. Let’s go home.”

The rest of the park date passed in a blur. I tried to focus entirely on Leo, on the joy on his little face. We rode roller coasters, spun in the teacups, and shared ice cream, his small hands sticky with chocolate, his laughter echoing through the bright afternoon.

By the time we returned home, the day was calm, the sun beginning to dip. I carried Leo inside, still in my arms. “Happy birthday, my little one,” I whispered.

Elena had brought in his favorite dinner, mini pizzas, chicken nuggets, and a small bowl of chocolate ice cream. We ate together quietly, laughing over little spills and chocolate-smeared faces.

Later, after clearing the table, Leo curled up on the couch beside me, exhausted but content. “Mummy, this is the best birthday ever,” he said sleepily.

I brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. “I’m glad, my love. You deserve it.”

“Mummy! When will I see Daddy? Can I see him now?” he asked, bouncing on the couch, his little hands gripping the arms as if he could pull the answer out of me.

I hugged him tightly, forcing a calm I didn’t feel. “Leo… we’ll see him soon,” I said softly, keeping my voice gentle. “I promise, you will.”

“Soon? But when?” he pressed, his wide eyes staring at me with that unrelenting six-year-old honesty.

I swallowed hard. How could I tell him the truth? That I didn’t know who the man was? That he might not even be part of our lives? I couldn’t. Not yet.

“You’ll see him, I promise,” I repeated, hoping my words sounded convincing even to me.

Leo’s lower lip jutted out in a pout, but he nodded slowly. “Okay… but I want to see him tomorrow, mummy.”

My heart twisted. I knew he meant it, not tomorrow as in an exact date, but tomorrow as in now. And I couldn’t give him that.

“Tomorrow is school, sweetheart,” I said softly. “But you’ll see him soon, I promise. How about we think about all the fun things we’ll do instead?”

His small hands squeezed mine. “Okay… but I hope he comes soon.”

I kissed his hair and forced a smile. “Me too, my love. Me too.”

Elena, who had been quietly watching from the kitchen doorway, stepped forward. “Aliya, maybe we should let him play for now. He’s excited, and you need to catch your breath.”

I nodded, though my chest still ached. “Thank you, Elena. Keep him busy for a little while?”

“Of course,” she said gently. She knelt down and asked Leo, “How about we bake some cupcakes? Then you can decorate them however you like.”

Leo’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Chocolate ones!”

As I retreated to my office, closing the door softly behind me, I allowed myself a moment to exhale. I sat down at my desk, staring blankly at my laptop. My mind replayed the park incident, Leo’s innocent words, and that man’s unreadable expression.

I could barely focus on the reports in front of me. How could I? My son’s laughter floated up from the kitchen, sweet and innocent, while my chest felt heavy with the knowledge of what I couldn’t tell him.

The next morning, reality hit hard.

Leo’s school had a parent visitation day. All the children were encouraged to have one parent attend, and he was beyond excited to show off his classroom, his projects, and his new friends.

But I had a crucial business meeting this morning, I couldn’t be in two places at once.

I knelt down to his level before dropping him off, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. “Leo, mummy can’t come today. But Elena will go instead, okay?”

His brows furrowed. “Elena? But I want you.”

I forced a reassuring smile. “I know, my love, I wish I could be there too. But Elena knows you so well, and she’ll be so proud to show everyone how amazing you are.”

He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Okay… but promise you’ll hear all about it?”

“Promise,” I said, hugging him tightly. “I’ll hear every detail when you get home.”

Elena took his hand as we entered the classroom. “Ready for this, Leo?” she asked warmly.

“Yeah!” he replied, his voice bright with excitement despite the disappointment.

As I watched them walk into the classroom together, I felt a mixture of pride and guilt. I had worked so hard to build a life for him, to give him stability and joy, yet I couldn’t give him everything he wanted, not yet.

I returned to my office, opening my laptop, my mind already switching gears. Contracts, investor calls, expansion proposals, all of it demanded my attention.

"I'm sorry Leo,  mummy have to work" I muttered.