Chapter 9 – Secrets Unveiled

Rain pattered lightly against the windows, a soft rhythm that filled the otherwise quiet apartment. Aria had been talking nonstop since breakfast, bouncing from one room to another, excited about the plan she had been scheming all week. Today was the day she had been waiting for: Aiden’s first sleepover at her home.

“Are you ready, Mum?” Aria asked as May helped her zip up her tiny raincoat. The little girl’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I packed extra snacks! And I made his favorite sandwich!”

May smiled, kneeling to adjust her daughter’s bow. “I think he’s going to love it, sweetheart. Just remember to be polite and kind.”

“Of course! I already told him our house is magical!” Aria chirped, running ahead to the door.

Lily peeked from the kitchen doorway, balancing her bag of notes for a lecture she was giving online. “Don’t forget to remind him to be comfortable. And no ghost stories too late, please.”

“Ghost stories are the best!” Aria exclaimed, but May ignored her, suppressing a smile. She knew this sleepover wasn’t just about fun—it was a subtle plan to give Aiden a safe space where he could speak freely, away from the Stone residence.

By mid-morning, Damien had dropped Aiden off. The boy had remained unusually quiet in the car, his hands gripping the armrest tightly. His small jaw was set, and his gaze remained fixed on the floor. Damien gave him a reassuring smile but said nothing.

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” Damien said, handing Aiden’s bag to May. “Take care of him.”

May nodded. “Don’t worry. He’s in safe hands.”

Damien hesitated. For a brief moment, he caught the flicker in Aiden’s eyes—the same look of subtle fear he had seen at home—and something tightened in his chest. “I trust you,” he said softly, before turning to leave.

Aria immediately ran to grab Aiden’s hand, tugging him inside. “Come on! Our house is full of fun!”

Aiden followed hesitantly, peeking around the apartment like it was unfamiliar terrain. May watched him closely, noting every detail—the way he flinched when the sound of a door creaking reached him, the careful, almost disciplined movements he made when setting down his bag, the shadows beneath his eyes despite a young child’s age.

Something deep in her chest stirred, a quiet whisper she ignored at first.

Once the children were settled, May and Lily observed quietly from the living room. Aria had immediately begun showing Aiden around, her boundless energy attempting to coax a smile from him.

“I like your dragon,” Aiden finally said, nodding toward the stuffed toy Aria had been brandishing like a sword.

Aria clapped her hands. “You do? You can be a dragon too! You have to roar, though.”

Aiden hesitated, then let out a tiny, reluctant roar. Aria cheered, bouncing in excitement.

May’s eyes softened as she watched the exchange. There was something in the way he responded to Aria—hesitant, cautious—but clearly longing for warmth and safety.

Then came the first incident that made her pulse race.

Aiden had chosen to sleep in the living room, near the fireplace. When it was time to settle down, he huddled under a blanket, fidgeting with the corners nervously. Aria crawled next to him, laying her little hand gently on his shoulder.

“You can tell me anything,” she whispered.

He looked at her, eyes wide. “I… I can’t…”

Aria tilted her head. “Why not?”

May approached slowly, sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Aiden, sweetheart, no one here is going to be mad at you. You can tell us anything.”

He swallowed hard, his small hands curling into fists under the blanket. “It’s… it’s Mommy.”

Aria’s eyes widened. “But… isn’t Mum here?”

Aiden’s voice dropped. “The lady at home… she scares me. She… she hurts me.”

May’s heart froze. She felt her pulse jump, and a cold dread filled her chest. She crouched beside him gently, keeping her tone soft, soothing. “Aiden… you don’t have to be afraid. Nobody here will ever hurt you. Can you tell me what happens?”

Aiden’s lips trembled. “She… she yells and… sometimes hits. I don’t like it.”

May felt a surge of anger—but also a gut-wrenching sense of recognition. The way he described fear, the precise language he used… her heart clenched. It wasn’t just abuse—it was control, fear, discipline—and there was a detail she had never expected.

“The way you feel… you don’t feel safe with her at home?” May asked quietly.

Aiden shook his head. “No.”

May reached out, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until he looked up at her, and something about his gaze—so familiar, so achingly familiar—stopped her in her tracks.

The eyes.

The curve of his jaw.

The way he curls his hands when he’s afraid.

It hit her suddenly—like a lightning bolt.

Aiden wasn’t just a child in her care.

He was her son.

The world seemed to narrow around her.

Five years of surrogacy, contracts, hidden truths, and silent escapes—all flashed before her eyes. The tiny boy before her—the one clutching a blanket and trembling—was the living proof of a secret she had carried for years.

May swallowed, forcing herself to remain calm. She couldn’t panic. She had to think, to act, to protect him.

“You’re safe now,” she said softly, hugging him close. “Nobody’s going to hurt you here, okay?”

Aiden clung to her immediately, letting out a shuddering sigh. For the first time in years, he seemed to relax.

Aria watched, wide-eyed. “Mum… is he okay?”

May nodded. “Yes, sweetheart. He’s going to be just fine.”

Meanwhile, across town, Vanessa’s instincts had not failed her. She had sensed Damien’s attention drifting—and now she had received a subtle report that May Rivers had orchestrated a sleepover. Aiden Stone was involved.

Her lips curved into a thin smile. “Interesting,” she murmured. “Let’s see how far she’s willing to go.”

She immediately sent Damien a casual text: Make sure Aiden is home on time tonight. Some boundaries should not be crossed.

Damien frowned at the screen, his chest tightening. Boundaries?

He looked at the window, rain falling in relentless sheets, and thought of May. The pull he felt—impossible to ignore—was growing stronger.

Back at the apartment, the evening wore on. May tucked Aiden into a small cot next to Aria’s, watching the two children fall asleep under the soft glow of a nightlight.

Her mind was racing.

This is him. This is my son.

Every resemblance—the small hands, the expressive eyes, the quiet strength—made her certain. But she needed evidence. She needed confirmation.

May rose quietly, walking to her desk. She pulled out her laptop and opened the kindergarten records she had discreetly requested, cross-referencing dates and teacher notes. The names, dates, and the subtle hints in Aria’s conversations aligned perfectly.

Aiden Stone. Born the same year as her twins. Father: Damien Stone.

She exhaled slowly, sitting back in her chair, her heart hammering. It was overwhelming—and yet, in a strange way, liberating.

He’s alive. He’s here. And I can protect him.

Aria stirred in her sleep beside him, murmuring softly: “Don’t be scared, Aiden. Mum’s here.”

May smiled through her tears. “Yes, sweetheart. Mum’s here.”

For the first time in years, everything she had done—the sacrifices, the running, the fears—felt worth it.

And she knew one thing:

Nothing would stop her from keeping her children safe. Not Damien’s fiancée. Not Daxton. Not anyone.

Outside, rain continued to pour. The city was silent, but inside the small apartment, a mother had finally found her child—and the future was beginning to unfold.