Chapter Five - The Question

That evening, Selena returned to the office for some documents.

She did not expect Dexter to still be there.

The lights were dim.

He stood beside the window, looking out over the city.

“You’re here late,” he said.

“So are you.”

“I had work.”

“So did I.”

He turned.

“Selena.”

She stopped.

“What?”

“How old were you when Adrian was born?”

Her heart sank.

“Why?”

“Just answer.”

She looked at him.

“Twenty-one.”

Dexter’s expression changed.

Twenty-one.

The same age Selena had been when she disappeared.

He stepped closer.

“Who’s his father?”

Selena’s voice dropped.

“I told you. That’s personal.”

“He’s my son, isn’t he?”

The world seemed to stop.

Selena could not breathe.

Dexter stared at her.

“Look at me.”

She did.

“Is Adrian my son?”

Her eyes filled with tears.

She wanted to deny it.

She had rehearsed the lie a thousand times.

But standing there, facing the man she had once loved, the words would not come.

Dexter’s voice softened.

“Selena.”

She looked away.

That was enough.

He understood.

His face went still.

“How long?”

“What?”

“How long have you known?”

Selena closed her eyes.

“Since he was born.”

Dexter stepped back.

“Six years?”

“I’m sorry.”

“Six years?”

His voice rose.

“You knew I had a child and you never told me?”

“I was trying to protect him.”

“From me?”

“From everything.”

“You had no right to make that decision for me.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t.”

His anger filled the room.

“You let me believe you were gone. You let me believe I had lost you. All these years, I never knew I had a son.”

Selena cried silently.

“I didn’t think you would want him.”

Dexter stared at her.

“How could you possibly think that?”

“Because I was scared.”

“Of me?”

“Of your family. Your father. Your world. Everything.”

Dexter’s jaw tightened.

“You should have told me.”

“I know.”

He looked toward the door, then back at her.

“Where is he?”

Selena froze.

“Dexter—”

“Where is my son?”

“At home.”

“I want to see him.”

“Not tonight.”

“Why?”

“He’s asleep.”

Dexter took a deep breath.

For the first time since Selena had returned, the anger in his eyes carried something else.

Pain.

“I missed six years.”

Selena could not answer.

He walked toward the door.

Before leaving, he stopped.

“When can I meet him?”

She wiped her tears.

“Tomorrow.”

Dexter nodded.

“Tomorrow.”

He left.

Selena stood alone in the office.

She had spent six years guarding her secret.

Now it was out.

And she had no idea what would happen next.

The following morning, Selena woke before Adrian.

She sat at the edge of his bed and watched him sleep.

Soon, he would meet Dexter properly.

She did not know whether to be relieved or terrified.

At breakfast, Adrian looked up from his plate.

“Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“Are you sad?”

Selena smiled.

“A little.”

“Why?”

She reached across the table and held his hand.

“Because something is going to change.”

“Bad change?”

“I don’t know.”

Adrian thought for a moment.

“Will you still be my mommy?”

Selena’s eyes filled with tears.

“Always.”

He smiled.

“Then it will be okay.”

Selena pulled him into her arms.

Across the city, Dexter stood in his office holding the old photograph of himself and Selena.

For years, he had believed the past was something he had lost.

Now he knew he had a son.

A son named Adrian.

A child who had lived six years without knowing him.

Dexter looked toward the window.

He had missed birthdays, first days at school, small victories, childhood illnesses, bedtime stories, and countless ordinary moments.

He could not get those years back.

But he could decide what happened next.

He would meet Adrian.

He would learn who his son was.

And, whether Selena wanted him to or not, Dexter intended to become part of Adrian’s life.

For the first time in seven years, Dexter allowed himself to hope.

Not for the past.

For the future.

T

And somewhere between Selena’s fear and Dexter’s determination, a new chapter of their lives was about to begin.

The following morning began differently for everyone.

Selena woke before sunrise. She stood in the kitchen preparing breakfast while Adrian sat at the table drawing pictures on a sheet of paper.

“What are you drawing?” she asked.

“Me and Dexter.”

Selena paused.

“You're drawing him again?”

Adrian nodded happily. “He said he wants to know what I like.”

Selena placed a plate in front of him.

“And what did you tell him?”

“I told him I like pancakes.”

She smiled. “Of course you did.”

Adrian looked at her carefully.

“Mommy, is Dexter really my father?”

Selena’s hand stopped.

For six years, she had protected him from this question. She had imagined that one day she would explain everything when he was old enough to understand.

But now the truth was already standing at their door.

“Yes,” she said gently.

Adrian stared at her.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

A small smile appeared on his face.

“That means I have a daddy.”

Selena swallowed.

“Yes, sweetheart.”

“Why didn't I meet him before?”

Selena pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.

“Sometimes grown-ups make difficult decisions when they are scared.”

“Were you scared?”

“Yes.”

“Of Dexter?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then why?”

Selena looked at her son.

“Because I wanted to make sure you were safe.”

Adrian considered her answer.

“Am I safe now?”

Selena smiled.

“Yes. You are safe.”

He seemed satisfied.

“Can I see him today?”

Selena nodded.

“Yes.”

Adrian's face brightened.

At Lim Corporation, Dexter had arrived unusually early.

He had cancelled two meetings so that he could spend time with Adrian.

His secretary noticed immediately.

“Sir, you have a board meeting at eleven.”

“I know.”

“And a lunch appointment.”

“Cancel it.”

She blinked. “Again?”

Dexter looked at her.

“I have somewhere important to be.”

She smiled slightly.

“Of course.”

Dexter returned to his office and opened his desk drawer.

The old photograph of Selena was still there.

For years, he had kept it because he could not let go of the past.

Now he realized he had been looking at the wrong thing.

The photograph showed the woman he had loved.

But Adrian represented the future.

He closed the drawer.

There was a knock.

“Come in.”

Gabriel entered.

“Sir.”

Dexter looked up.

“Any problems?”

“No.”

Gabriel hesitated.

“Are you sure you want to continue without involving the family?”

Dexter’s expression hardened.

“My family doesn't need to know anything yet.”

“Understood.”

Dexter leaned back.

“I want Adrian to have a normal relationship with me before anyone else gets involved.”

Gabriel nodded.

“That may be wise.”

When Gabriel left, Dexter stared out the window.

He knew his father would eventually find out.

He knew there would be questions.

There might even be opposition.

But Dexter was not twenty-three anymore.

He was not the young man who had waited outside Selena’s apartment without understanding why she had left.

He was a father now.

And he intended to act like one.

That afternoon, Selena brought Adrian to a quiet park.

Dexter was already there.

Adrian spotted him immediately.

“Dexter!”

The boy ran toward him.

Dexter crouched and caught him in a careful hug.

“Hello, little man.”

Selena watched from a short distance.

The sight made something inside her ache.

Not because she regretted anything.

Because she realized how much Adrian had missed.

Dexter had brought a small gift.

“I didn't know what you liked, so I got this.”

Adrian opened the package.

His eyes widened.

“A model car!”

“You like cars?”

“I love them!”

Dexter smiled.

“Then we'll have to find out which ones are your favorites.”

Adrian immediately began talking.

He explained the difference between the cars he had seen on television and the ones he had seen on the road.

Dexter listened.

Every few seconds, he glanced at Selena.

She could see the emotion in his eyes.

He was trying not to overwhelm Adrian.

She appreciated that.

After a while, Adrian asked a question.

“Did you know Mommy when she was young?”

Dexter looked at Selena.

“Yes.”

“Were you friends?”

Selena answered before Dexter could.

“We were very close.”

Adrian smiled.

“Were you in love?”

Silence.

Selena nearly laughed from embarrassment.

Dexter looked equally surprised.

Adrian waited patiently.

Finally, Dexter said, “Yes.”

Selena lowered her eyes.

Adrian looked between them.

“Then why did you stop?”

The question was simple.

The answer was not.

Dexter crouched beside him.

“Sometimes people get hurt and don't know how to fix things.”

Adrian nodded.

“Can you fix it now?”

Dexter looked at Selena.

She did not know what to say.

He answered carefully.

“We can try to make things better.”

Adrian smiled.

“Good.”

The three of them walked through the park together.

For a while, there were no accusations and no old wounds.

Only a mother, a father, and a child learning how to become something new.

Later, Selena and Dexter stood beside the car while Adrian played nearby.

“You handled that well,” Selena said.

Dexter gave a small smile.

“I was terrified.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

She laughed softly.

“I've never heard you admit that.”

“I'm learning.”

Selena looked at him.

“Dexter, I need you to understand something.”

“I know.”

“No. You need to hear it. Adrian is my priority.”

“He should be.”

“I don't want him caught between us.”

“He won't be.”

“You can't promise that.”

“I can promise that I will never make him choose.”

Selena looked at him for a long moment.

“Thank you.”

Dexter nodded.

Then he said quietly, “I still have questions.”

“I know.”

“And I'm still hurt.”

“I know.”

“But I don't want my anger to destroy what I have with him.”

Selena's eyes filled with tears.

“That is all I wanted.”

Dexter looked toward Adrian.

“I wish you had trusted me.”

“So do I.”

Their eyes met.

For the first time, there was no anger between them.

Only sadness and understanding.

A few minutes later, Adrian ran back.

“Mommy! Dexter!”

They both looked at him.

“Can we get ice cream?”

Selena laughed.

“Of course.”

Dexter smiled.

“I know a place.”

Adrian grabbed both their hands.

Selena looked down at their joined hands.

For years, she had imagined that revealing the truth would destroy everything.

Instead, it had opened a door.

Not a perfect door.

Not an easy one.

But a door.

And perhaps that was enough.

As they walked toward the ice-cream shop, Dexter glanced at Selena.

“You know this doesn't mean I forgive you completely.”

She smiled faintly.

“I know.”

“And you don't have to forgive me for being angry.”

“I know.”

He looked at Adrian.

“But I want us to try.”

Selena nodded.

“We will.”

Adrian looked up.

“What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Dexter said.

Adrian narrowed his eyes.

“You're hiding something.”

Selena laughed.

“He gets that from you.”

Dexter smiled.

“Definitely not from me.”

For the first time in seven years, Selena laughed with Dexter without feeling that the past was going to swallow them.

The road ahead would not be simple.

Dexter still had a family who might resist the truth. Selena still carried fears she had not spoken about. Their relationship had been broken for years, and neither of them knew whether it could ever become what it once was.

But Adrian was no longer a secret.

He was a little boy with a mother who loved him and a father who wanted to be present.

That mattered more than anything else.

That night, after Adrian fell asleep, Selena stood by his bedroom door.

Dexter had sent one final message.

Goodnight. Tell Adrian I said goodnight too.

She smiled and typed back.

I will.

She placed the phone down.

Then she looked at her son.

“You have your daddy now,” she whispered.

Across the city, Dexter sat at his desk.

He opened a new document.

At the top, he typed one sentence:

Things I want to know about Adrian.

Under it, he wrote:

His favorite food.

His favorite book.

His best friend.

What makes him laugh.

What scares him.

What he dreams about becoming.

He stopped.

Then he added one more.

How to be the father he deserves.

Dexter stared at the sentence.

For six years, he had believed his greatest loss was Selena.

Now he understood that his greatest loss had been time.

He could not recover it.

But he could make sure he did not waste another day.

Tomorrow, he would call Selena.

Tomorrow, he would see Adrian again.

And tomorrow, he would begin learning how to be a father.

The secret heir was no longer a secret.

And the story of Selena, Dexter, and Adrian was only beginning.