The Lie Between Them

Alexander stared at his mother.

For a moment, the funeral hall seemed to disappear.

“What did you just say?”

His mother glanced around nervously.

“Not here.”

“You said my divorce was never supposed to happen.”

“I know what I said.”

“Then explain it.”

Her fingers tightened around the small black purse in her hand.

“Alexander, there are things you don’t understand.”

“I’ve had five years to understand them.”

“That isn’t enough.”

He gave a humorless laugh.

“You’re telling me now?”

His mother’s eyes flickered toward Mia.

Mia had not moved.

But Alexander noticed the change in her face.

She had heard them.

And whatever his mother had said, Mia knew exactly what it meant.

That bothered him more than anything.

He stepped closer to his mother.

“What happened five years ago?”

“Alexander—”

“Who lied to me?”

His mother’s lips parted.

Before she could answer, a voice came from behind them.

“Don’t.”

Alexander turned.

Mia was standing several feet away.

Her face was pale, but her voice was steady.

“Don’t do this here.”

His mother’s expression tightened.

“Mia…”

“No.”

Mia looked directly at Alexander.

“This isn’t the place.”

Alexander stared at her.

“You knew.”

She didn’t answer.

“You knew my mother was going to tell me.”

“I didn’t know what she would say.”

“Then tell me yourself.”

Mia’s eyes hardened.

“You want me to tell you what happened five years ago?”

“Yes.”

“Here?”

His gaze moved briefly around the room.

People were beginning to notice them.

“No.”

“Then stop.”

She turned to leave.

Alexander caught her wrist.

Mia froze.

His hand immediately loosened.

He hadn’t meant to grab her.

But the moment her skin touched his, memories came rushing back.

Her hand in his.

Her wedding ring.

The night she had cried in their bedroom.

The morning she had signed the divorce papers.

Alexander let go.

Mia stepped backward.

“Don’t touch me again.”

There was no anger in her voice.

That made it worse.

There was something final about it.

Alexander swallowed.

“I need answers.”

“You should have asked for them five years ago.”

The words landed harder than he expected.

Mia turned away.

Then Noah stepped between them.

Alexander looked down.

The boy was staring at him.

For several seconds, neither moved.

Then Noah said quietly,

“Are you the man Mommy doesn’t like?”

Mia’s eyes widened.

“Noah.”

Alexander’s heart stopped.

The child looked up at him innocently.

“I didn’t mean—”

Mia took his hand.

“Come with me.”

“But—”

“Now.”

She led him away.

Alexander watched them disappear into the crowd.

His mother came to stand beside him.

“You see why I wanted to talk to you first.”

Alexander didn’t look at her.

“What does Noah have to do with my divorce?”

His mother said nothing.

That silence was answer enough.

Alexander turned slowly.

“Mother.”

She closed her eyes.

“Not here.”

His voice dropped.

“Is he mine?”

She opened her eyes.

And before she could answer—

A sharp crash came from the other side of the hall.

Everyone turned.

A glass display case had shattered.

People screamed.

Mia spun around.

Noah was gone.

Her face drained of color.

“Noah?”

She pushed through the crowd.

“Noah!”

Alexander moved at the same time.

He didn’t think.

He simply ran.

They searched the hallway.

Then the side rooms.

Nothing.

“Mia!”

She turned.

Alexander pointed toward an open door at the end of the corridor.

“Over there.”

They rushed inside.

Empty.

Mia’s breathing became frantic.

“He was right beside me.”

“I know.”

“He wouldn’t leave.”

Alexander looked around.

Then he noticed something on the floor.

A small blue toy car.

Noah’s toy.

He picked it up.

Mia stared at it.

“No.”

Alexander looked at her.

“What?”

Her face had gone completely white.

“He never leaves that behind.”

Alexander’s eyes moved toward the open window.

The curtain was moving.

A cold draft slipped through the room.

He walked toward it.

On the windowsill was a folded piece of paper.

He opened it.

Four words had been written across the page.

STOP DIGGING INTO THE PAST.

Mia read it over his shoulder.

Her breathing stopped.

Alexander looked at her.

“Who knows what happened?”

She didn’t answer.

“Mia.”

She stared at the note.

Then whispered,

“Too many people.”

A sound came from outside.

A car engine.

Alexander rushed to the window.

A black vehicle was already pulling away from the building.

He couldn’t see the driver.

But he could see someone in the back seat.

A small face pressed against the glass.

Noah.

Mia screamed.

“NOAH!”

Alexander was already running.

He reached the parking lot just as the car disappeared through the gates.

He stopped.

His fists clenched.

Mia reached him seconds later.

She was shaking.

“He’s my son.”

Alexander turned.

“What?”

Mia stared at the road.

Tears filled her eyes.

Then she looked at him.

“I’ve spent seven years protecting him from people who wanted to use him.”

Alexander’s expression changed.

“Seven?”

Mia realized what she’d said.

Too late.

Alexander took one slow step toward her.

“You said seven years.”

Mia said nothing.

His voice became quieter.

“How old is Noah?”

She closed her eyes.

“Seven.”

Alexander stared at her.

The pieces he’d been refusing to connect suddenly slammed together.

The age.

The eyes.

The resemblance.

The fear.

His mother’s silence.

Mia’s desperation.

His hands began to shake.

“You were pregnant.”

Mia looked at him.

And this time—

she didn’t deny it.