Chapter 11 – Secrets in the Night

Damien later left after checking up on Aiden and spending some time with Aria after she cutely insisted.

The apartment was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of a nightlight. Rain had returned, tapping rhythmically against the windows, a comforting lullaby for some—but for Aiden, it was a reminder of the storm inside him.

Aria had finally settled next to him on the cot, her small hand brushing his arm gently. “It’s okay, Aiden. You don’t have to be scared here,” she whispered.

Aiden hugged the blanket tighter around his small frame. “I… I’m scared sometimes,” he admitted, his voice barely audible. “At home… things aren’t safe. She… she’s scary.”

Aria nodded, listening carefully. “I know. Mum said you can tell us anything here. And Mum… she’ll keep you safe.”

May, who had been quietly observing from the doorway, stepped closer, her presence calm but commanding. “Aiden,” she said softly, kneeling beside him. “You don’t have to hide anything. No one here is going to hurt you. Can you tell me what’s been happening?”

He hesitated, eyes darting to the corner where shadows danced on the walls. “She yells… even when she smiles. And sometimes… she hits.”

May’s heart clenched. A flash of anger and protectiveness surged through her. But beneath that, a deeper, more personal pang struck her chest. There was something about the way he described fear—the precise way, the instinctive way, the subtle hints in his gestures—it was hauntingly familiar.

“Tell me about it,” she urged gently. “Step by step.”

Aiden swallowed hard, his small shoulders shaking. “She… makes me do things perfectly. And if I don’t, I get punished. Sometimes… I hide, but she finds me anyway.”

May reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. Her fingers trembled slightly—not from fear, but from the sudden, overwhelming realization.

The eyes. The hands. The voice. The fear.

Her mind raced through the years—the surrogacy, the escape, the hidden truths. And then, as the puzzle pieces fell into place, the realization struck her like lightning:

This child… Aiden… he is mine.

May’s breath caught. She could hardly believe it. Her son. Alive. In front of her. Safe, for now—but scarred by fear.

Aria, sensing the shift, leaned closer to Aiden. “See? Mum’s here. She’s going to help you.”

Aiden’s lips trembled. “Are you… really safe here?”

May’s voice was steady, though her heart raced. “Yes, sweetheart. You’re safe. And no one will ever hurt you again.”

He looked up at her, eyes wide, trust flickering through the fear. “You… you’re really my Mum?”

May knelt fully, taking his small hands into hers. “Yes. I am. And I will protect you… always.”

Tears welled in Aiden’s eyes, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to relax. Aria clapped softly beside him, delighted. “See? I told you! You’re safe now.”

May smiled, though her mind was already racing ahead. There were consequences to this knowledge. Vanessa would never allow this to remain hidden. Damien—if he found out—would react, and she wasn’t ready to reveal the truth just yet. But she could not ignore the evidence before her: Aiden’s fear, his habits, the striking resemblance to the child she had carried and left in secret.

Hours later, after the children had fallen asleep, May and Sophia sat in the living room with coffee, whispers barely audible over the soft patter of rain.

“He’s… special,” Sophia said carefully, choosing her words. “I can see it in his reactions. He’s observant, intelligent… cautious. But he’s craving safety, and he trusts you implicitly.”

May nodded slowly, swirling her coffee in thought. “Yes. And something else… I think he’s my son.”

Sophia’s eyes widened. “Wait… what?”

May leaned back, letting the weight of her revelation sink in. “Aiden… the way he behaves, the way he reacts to fear, the way he holds himself… it matches my twin’s age, his birthdate, and the history of the surrogacy I did years ago. Everything points to… him being mine.”

Sophia’s expression softened. “May… if that’s true, you need to be careful. Not just for him, but for Damien, and… Vanessa.”

“I know,” May said quietly, her fingers tightening around her mug. “But I have to protect him. I can’t let her continue to control him or hurt him emotionally.”

Sophia nodded firmly. “Then we’ll do it together. You, me, Aria… and eventually, Damien will need to know.”

May smiled faintly, grateful. Sophia’s presence was more than support—it was strategy, intelligence, and unwavering loyalty. “Exactly. And we need to be smart about this. One misstep, and everything could spiral.”

Meanwhile, at Stone Global Holdings, Damien was pacing his office. The events of the past week—the children, May’s sudden prominence, the subtle influence she was gaining in the company—were all converging into a single, inescapable thought: he was dangerously attracted to her.

But he had Vanessa. And she was not a woman to be crossed.

A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. It was David, the renowned doctor he trusted.

“Damien,” David said, walking in with his usual calm authority. “We need to discuss the situation with Aiden.”

Damien frowned. “Aiden? What about him?”

David’s eyes were serious. “I’ve noticed behavioral signs. Fear, withdrawal, subtle physical reactions… he’s under psychological stress. And frankly, the woman living in your household—Vanessa—is contributing to it.”

Damien’s jaw tightened. “I’ve noticed. I… I don’t know how to handle it. He hasn’t spoken until now.”

David nodded. “It’s delicate. But there’s a way to get him to speak safely. Someone he trusts completely. And I have a feeling… May Austin could be the key.”

Damien’s pulse quickened. May. His mind immediately jumped to the way she interacted with the children. Her calm authority, the trust she inspired. Could she really help him?

David continued, “I’ll coordinate medically. But you need to allow her access… in a controlled, safe environment.”

Damien hesitated, the conflict clear in his eyes. Vanessa’s wrath, Daxton’s expectations, the Stone legacy… and yet, the pull toward May was stronger than anything he’d felt before.

“Do it,” he said finally, voice low. “If it helps him… she can have access.”

David nodded, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Good. You’ll see results soon.”

Back at May’s apartment, the rain had eased into a light drizzle. Aiden was asleep, finally at peace, while Aria lay curled beside him, murmuring soft words about dragons and magic kingdoms.

May sat quietly, thinking, piecing together everything—the fear, the resemblance, the timing, the surrogacy. Her son was here, alive, and she had a second chance to protect him.

Sophia sat beside her, sipping her tea. “So… what’s next?” she asked softly.

May’s eyes were distant, determined. “Next… we make sure Aiden is safe. And then… we figure out how to get Damien to understand the truth, without putting anyone in danger.”

Sophia smiled. “I’ll help. Every step of the way.”

May’s gaze softened as she looked at her best friend. “I know you will. And… thank you. For everything.”

Sophia shrugged, a faint smile on her lips. “What are best friends for?”

May exhaled slowly. The weight of the revelation was heavy, but it felt… right. And for the first time in years, she allowed herself a small glimmer of hope.

She had her children, her friends, and her strength. And nothing—not even Vanessa, not even Daxton—would stop her from protecting them.