Chapter Two: With Baby's Daddy

Throughout the drive to the hospital. I second guessed myself. 

" Was it really Sylvester?" I try to remind myself that Diana has admitted his identity.

" But why?" 

Our two years of marriage was the best time of my life. Sylvester said it's his as well. What changed? Why did he leave?

I dabbed my eyes, pushing off the thought of my twin having a child by my son's father. It crippled my heart. Every breath I take fleeted with agonizing difficulty. Fear dumbs down my senses. How will I explain it all to Kelvin in the future?

He's asleep when I arrive. But something is off. Either someone took him to bed, or he dozed off and someone else tucked him in.

The bedsheets weren't evenly tucked. One edge of it strayed from the side of the bed. If there's one thing I know about my five year-old, it's the fact that never happens.

"Alright, get up. I know you're not sleeping."

He didn't move. Kelvin is a light sleeper, so I'm apprehensive when he lies still. My eyes wanders to his laptop. It isn't shut. Very unusual for a perfectionist. I tuck him in properly and closed the laptop before his favourite nurse walked in.

" Thank God you're here. Didn't want to disturb you so I waited for you to come."

" Did he do something wrong?"

She halts and narrowed her eyes. " Do you even believe the question you just asked?"

I chuckled. She softens and rubs my shoulder. " It's just that I expected him to be relieved. We got a call of a possible donor. He scheduled to come this evening. But, Kelvin didn't want it. For the first time, he actually threw fits like a normal child."

" You must have sedated him."

" Yes. We were afraid he would do something wrong if we blinked."

My eyes nestled on the sleepyhead. Being terminally ill must be so overwhelming that he's rejecting treatment. But I have to try. I have emptied my savings already, and if staying in debt will keep my boy alive, I will borrow from whomever I find.

" Hope you didn't reject the transplant."

" Of course not. It's his only fighting chance. I wouldn't risk it even if he brawled out his eyes."

I lingered by his bedside. My hope of getting aid from my parents have been aborted. I don't expect them to care about my son since they desperately want to erase my past with Sylvester. How he survived the accident beats my imagination, the same way I can't fathom how I didn't miscarry after he pushed me out of the car.

I go out to grab a sandwich, on my way back, I find guards stationed outside Kelvin's ward. I darted to the door with no idea when or where I flung my sandwich. 

My spirit escaped for a split second. A million thought swirled in my head. My chest weighed down with worry. 

One of the two guards stopped me. " Are you Kelvin's mother?"

"What have you done to my son?"

" He's fine, ma'am. We moved him."

They led me upstairs to the VIP section. The corridor stretched in silence. The air, clean. That thick smell of ethanol and phenolic compounds downstairs brushed faintly here. My skin peeled like old painting on a wall, wary and edgy.

Closer, I hear Kelvin's voice. He chuckles, and a scream followed a hysterical laugh. Someone must have tickled his sides.

I imagine it's the nurse. I peep through the window, rustling the curtain for better view. My mind blanked.

I barge in. " What are you doing here?"

Kelvin's smile disappeared. He clasped his hands stung by guilt. I wanted to tell him it's alright. I couldn't... there's this feeling in my guts that keeps me on my toes.

" Didn't you hear the question," I fumed, bristling.

Seated by the bedside, the man my sister calls Roman Hills heaves a sigh. " You're Kelvin's mother?" He acted surprised.

I scoff. Did they send him here to take Kelvin from me? In their dreams. " And you are his father?" I snarled.

He glanced at Kelvin and back at me. " Yes, I am."

My gut wrenched inside. I feel my heart expand with every breath. Fist clenched, my blood became fire running through my veins. " We should talk... outside."

" Mommy," Kelvin says. " He doesn't mean it like that. I wrote to him...and... I..." He lowered his gaze. 

He ruffles Kelvin's hair. " It's alright. Get some rest.

Can we go outside?"

Confused, I shambled outside. My anger, gone. My spite, evaporated. I wanted to hear what Kelvin wrote him. I wanted to know so badly that it's the first question I asked.

" It's nothing you should take to heart. I had no idea he's your son..."

" What did he write?" I cut in, eyes brimming with tears.

" I want my daddy." He said flatly. " Don't be mad at him..."

I gasped, cupped my face and turned away to the wall. 

How did he know? Did he feel it somehow? Is this why he stopped asking about when his daddy is coming home?

He sighed and stepped closer. " Hey Hazel. I don't know how to make it all better or make up for not telling you before linking up with your son, but honestly I mean well. He's just about my son's age."

Those words...they whip my face like a frost wind.

I kicked his hands off my shoulders. " What you should do is go back to the lady you want. Or your son. You just had your engagement, so you should go home with her. My son and I are no works of charity." I dabbed my eyes, nose full and ready to let loose.

How could he have a child about my son's age? I can't seem to shake the feeling that he might have cheated on me while we were married.

" Hazel, this is all a misunderstanding. I'm not your late husband. I would know if I were."

I nod. " Yes. You're absolutely right. My Sylvester wouldn't be so blind to what's before his eyes. You know what else? My son mistakes you for his father and you are not him. So, leave us alone."

At the door his voice stops me, deep and resonant like a lullaby from the past. " I'm afraid I can't do that. You can hate me, throw fits and box the air, but I will go through this surgery with him."

I stopped. " Surgery? Are you the donor..." 

His throat bobbed. Mine thinned. I exhaled, feeling my pride battling against the help my son can receive.

" Yes." He said, in a matter-of-fact tone, curt and straight. " I will appreciate if you drop whatever idea you have about me aside and let me do this."

Tears stings my eyes. " Why? So that you can make yourself feel good by saving a boy who imagines you're his father?"

He humped. " Did I tell you how he got through to my line?"

My forehead furrowed. That's roughly irrelevant or is he trying to dodge the question?

" He hacked my server. Something my boy hasn't dreamt.

That boy in there hacked a server that took me a year to design. At just five. Honestly, I respect Kelvin. He reminds me so much of myself. 

Put aside what you hold against me. This isn't about charity or whatever you prefer to call it. Kelvin is a genius, Hazel. I'm saving him at all cost."

Tiny drops escape my eyes before I could intervene. " Why can't he see that Kelvin takes after him? Why can't he see that it's his blood and genes?"

His eyes wanders to the door, layered with a brief longing. " He took nothing. Do you have any idea what he was after?"

My lips parted. My voice sounded hollow to my ears. " Address book." I thought out loud. It has all the phone numbers of every staff in an organisation.

" Yes. While I wonder how he knew exactly what to look for, I'm completely amazed by how he learnt so much about advanced technology and cyber security."

He rattled about the details like a proud father. He wasn't offended or ashamed of talking about the security breech. " It hurts my pride, but I had to change the old passkey." He exhaled.

I bit my lips. Eyes lowered, and a sharp thorn on my conscience. Should I tell him?

No. This is not some kind of highschool reunion. I can't shake off the betrayal gnawing at my heart. He has a child about my son's age. It only means he cheated on me before the accident.

"Pfft. How simple could your passkey be that even a five year old could hack it." I scorned and hissed. " Guess the King of Tech isn't such a big deal if a five year old could humble him." 

He chuckled, eyes bright and starry. His eyes softens. His voice drops low, sensual and mesmerising. " It's not really simple. It's November, nine, nineteen ninety." 

Shivers rushed down my spine. Wearing a thin smile that matched the way my husband beams, he whispered. " I know you recognise the digits."