Chapter Four - The Little Boy

Monday morning, Selena arrived at work tired.

She had barely slept the night before. Every time she closed her eyes, thoughts of Adrian's illness, his fever, and the unexpected appearance of Dexter filled her mind. She had spent most of the night sitting beside her son's bed, checking on him whenever he stirred.

Although Adrian was feeling better, Selena still carried the exhaustion in her eyes.

Dexter noticed immediately.

“You didn’t sleep.”

Selena looked up from the files on her desk. “I’m fine.”

“That’s not an answer.”

She sighed. “My son is better.”

“Good.”

Dexter returned his attention to his computer, but a few seconds later, he looked up again.

“Does he have a doctor?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Selena studied him for a moment before giving him a faint smile.

“Are you always this nosy?”

“Only when I’m concerned.”

The word hung between them.

Concerned.

Selena’s smile slowly disappeared.

There was something different about Dexter lately. He had always been serious, demanding, and difficult to read, but recently, his attention seemed to linger on her longer than necessary.

Dexter looked away first.

Selena lowered her eyes to her work, pretending the conversation had not affected her.

But it had.

At lunchtime, Selena's phone suddenly rang.

She glanced at the screen before answering.

“Hello?”

“Mommy!”

Adrian’s excited voice immediately brought a smile to her face.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

“I drew something.”

“You did?”

“Yes! It’s really nice.”

Selena laughed softly. “What did you draw?”

“A man.”

“A man?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

There was a short pause.

“The man from your office.”

Selena’s smile disappeared.

“What man?”

“He came to school.”

Her heart skipped.

“What?”

“I don’t know his name. He wore a black suit.”

Selena stood so quickly that her chair moved backward.

“Where are you?”

“I’m with Mrs. Riley.”

“Stay with her. I’m coming.”

She grabbed her handbag and hurried out of the office.

Dexter watched her leave through the glass wall of his office.

Something about her expression had unsettled him.

He wondered what had happened.

He had not planned to go anywhere near Adrian’s school.

He had only been driving through the area after leaving a business meeting when something caught his attention.

A familiar car.

Selena’s car.

He slowed down.

Then he saw the little boy standing near the school entrance with a backpack hanging from his shoulders.

Dexter stopped.

For some reason, he felt drawn toward him.

He didn't understand it.

Maybe it was curiosity.

Maybe it was the strange feeling he had experienced since Selena returned to his life.

He stepped out of the car.

Adrian looked up.

Their eyes met.

The boy smiled.

“Hello.”

Dexter hesitated before approaching.

“Hello.”

Adrian looked at him carefully.

“Are you Mommy’s boss?”

Dexter stiffened.

“Your mother told you about me?”

“She said you’re Mr. Lim.”

Dexter gave a small smile.

“She did.”

Adrian nodded.

Then he studied Dexter's face again.

There was something strangely familiar about the man standing in front of him, but he couldn't explain what it was.

“You look like me.”

Dexter's smile disappeared.

“What?”

Adrian shrugged innocently.

“My teacher says people can look alike.”

Dexter stared at him.

He had never believed in coincidences.

Not when they appeared this clearly.

The boy had dark eyes.

The same dark eyes Dexter saw every morning when he looked into the mirror.

Even the shape of Adrian's face seemed familiar.

Before Dexter could ask another question, a familiar voice rang out.

“Adrian!”

Dexter turned.

Selena stood several feet away.

Her face had gone pale.

Adrian immediately ran toward her.

“Mommy!”

Selena pulled him into her arms.

She held him tightly, almost as if she were afraid someone might take him away.

Then she looked at Dexter.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was nearby.”

“You shouldn’t have approached him.”

Dexter's expression hardened.

“I wasn't trying to hurt him.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you angry?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Selena tightened her grip on Adrian's hand.

“Come on.”

She turned and began walking away.

Dexter watched them.

“Selena.”

She stopped but didn't turn around.

“Six years,” Dexter said quietly. “That’s a long time.”

Selena's fingers tightened around Adrian's.

She knew exactly what he meant.

But she didn't answer.

She simply walked away.

Dexter remained where he was.

Something had shifted.

He had finally seen Adrian up close.

The resemblance was impossible to ignore.

The same dark eyes.

The same thoughtful expression.

Even the same slight tilt of the head whenever he was curious about something.

Dexter returned to his car and sat behind the wheel.

He didn't start the engine.

He simply stared ahead.

Six years.

A child.

Selena's disappearance.

The timing.

The secrecy.

Everything pointed toward one impossible conclusion.

But Dexter refused to accept it without proof.

He needed answers.

And this time, he intended to get them.

That evening, Selena sat with Adrian at home.

Adrian was coloring at the small table in their living room.

Selena watched him quietly.

She had spent six years protecting him from questions she wasn't ready to answer.

But now she could feel everything changing.

“Mommy?”

“Yes?”

“Is Mr. Lim your friend?”

Selena hesitated.

“No.”

“Then why did he look at me like that?”

She looked down at her son.

“What do you mean?”

“He looked surprised.”

Selena swallowed.

“Some people are just curious.”

“About me?”

“Yes.”

Adrian smiled.

“I think he is nice.”

Selena's heart tightened.

“You don't know him.”

“But he talked to me.”

“That doesn't mean you know him.”

Adrian nodded.

“Okay.”

He returned to his drawing.

After a moment, he held it up proudly.

“Look, Mommy.”

Selena forced a smile.

“It’s beautiful.”

“That's Mr. Lim.”

Selena looked at the drawing.

Her heart sank.

Adrian had drawn a tall man wearing a dark suit.

Beside him was a little boy.

And between them was a woman holding both their hands.

Selena's eyes filled with emotion.

“Why did you draw us like this?”

Adrian shrugged.

“I don't know. I just wanted to.”

Selena pulled him into a hug.

Adrian rested his head against her.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Are you sad?”

“No.”

“You look sad.”

Selena closed her eyes.

“I’m just tired.”

Adrian hugged her tighter.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She kissed the top of his head.

For years, Selena had believed she could keep the past buried.

She had convinced herself that leaving Dexter was the only way to protect Adrian.

She had endured loneliness, difficult nights, and countless questions from her son because she believed the truth would destroy everything.

But Dexter had now met Adrian.

And once he started asking questions, Selena knew there would be no easy way to stop him.

Later that night, after Adrian had fallen asleep, Selena stood beside his bed.

She watched his peaceful face.

Her little boy.

Her entire world.

She gently brushed his hair away from his forehead.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

She didn't know whether she was apologizing to Adrian, to Dexter, or to herself.

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

Selena froze.

She looked at the screen.

One message.

From Dexter.

We need to talk.

Her heart began pounding.

She stared at the words for several seconds.

Then another message appeared.

About Adrian.

Selena's hand trembled.

The moment she had feared for six years had finally arrived.

Dexter was going to ask questions.

And this time, she might not be able to hide behind silence.