An Unexplainable Pull

"Noah... don't!"

Serena's scream tore through the quiet garden and every single conversation in the restaurant came to an abrupt halt as heads turned toward the panicked woman racing across the lawn.

Adrian reacted before he had time to think and his long strides carried him past Serena, his eyes were fixed on the small figure standing at the edge of the koi pond.

Noah had crouched down, completely fascinated by the colorful fish gliding beneath the water. He leaned forward, stretching his tiny hand toward the surface.

"Mama!" he called excitedly. "Look how big this....."

His foot slipped as he was speaking and the loose gravel beneath his sneakers shifted, causing his small body to tipped toward the pond.

Everything happened in a blur but Adrian lunged forward and caught Noah around the waist just before he fell into the water.

The little boy gasped, instinctively wrapping his arms around Adrian's neck and for a heartbeat, the world seemed to stop.

"You've got quite the adventurous spirit," Adrian said, setting him back on solid ground while keeping a steady hand on his shoulder.

Noah looked up at him with wide eyes. "I almost fell."

"You did."

"I'm sorry."

Adrian found himself smiling despite the situation. "It's alright, I just want you to be more careful next time."

Noah nodded earnestly. "I wanted to see the fish and they actually looked hungry."

Adrian glanced at the pond. "They've probably already been fed."

"You think so?"

"I'm sure of it."

Noah sighed dramatically. "Then I guess they're lucky."

A quiet chuckle escaped Adrian before he could stop himself and he couldn't remember the last time a child had made him laugh.

There was something oddly comforting about the little boy, something that made the tightness in his chest ease, if only for a moment..... but his thoughts were shattered when footsteps hurried toward them.

Serena reached Noah first and she dropped to her knees and pulled him tightly into her arms. "Are you hurt?"

Noah shook his head. "I'm okay, Mama."

"You scared me."

"I'm sorry."

She cupped his face with trembling hands, checking him over from head to toe as though searching for injuries that weren't there.

Only after convincing herself he was unharmed did she finally look up and her eyes met Adrian's.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke. "Thank you," she said quietly.

There was gratitude in her voice but there was something about the way she spoke that made Adrian uncomfortable.

Adrian slipped his hands into his pockets. "You should keep a closer eye on him."

The words came out harsher than he'd intended and Serena's expression stiffened. "I usually do."

Before the silence could stretch any further, Noah looked between them curiously."Mama..."

She looked down. "Yes?"

"This uncle saved me." "I know."

"He looks scary..."

Adrian raised an eyebrow. "...but he's actually nice."

Ethan, who had finally caught up to them, burst into laughter. "I like him already."

Serena shot Ethan a warning glance before turning back to Noah. "What do we say when someone helps us?"

Noah smiled brightly. "Thank you, Uncle."

Adrian blinked. "No need."

"I'm Noah."

The little boy held out his tiny hand with complete confidence and for some reasons Adrian couldn't explain why he accepted the handshake. "I'm Adrian."

"It's nice to meet you."

"You too."

Something about the child's smile felt strangely familiar as if he'd seen it somewhere before.

He studied Noah's face a little longer, he has soft curls and bright gray eyes, gray...

His thoughts were interrupted when Serena gently pulled Noah's hand back. "We should leave."

Noah looked disappointed. "But we just met."

"We're already late."

Before you go, Adrian said and walked toward the shop at the restaurant, his dinosaur fell into the pool, he can have this.

She shouldn't allow Noah take it but then he would cry through out the day and she wasn't ready for that, so he asked him to accept it.

What do you said when someone gets you something " Thank you Uncle " Noah said and she lifted him into her arms before he could protest, Noah leaned over her shoulder and waved enthusiastically. "Bye, Uncle Adrian!"

Adrian watched them walk away and his eyes continue to linger on the little boy much longer than it should have.

Ethan opened the passenger door for Serena before climbing into the driver's seat and the SUV disappeared through the hotel gates and only then did Adrian realize he was still standing beside the pond. "Mr. Ashford."

His assistant approached cautiously. "The board meeting starts in forty-five minutes."

Adrian didn't answer immediately.

Instead, he kept staring at the empty driveway and finally, he spoke. "Find out everything about Serena Hayes."

His assistant nodded. "I want to know where she has been these past five years."

"I'll have someone start immediately."

Adrian's jaw tightened. "And the man with her."

"Ethan Carter?"

"I want his entire background."

The assistant made another note. "Anything else?"

Adrian hesitated as images of Noah flashed through his mind,  his laughter and fearless smile.

It was a strange familiarity he couldn't shake, he frowned before speaking again. "...Find out who the little boy is too."

His assistant looked surprised but quickly recovered. "Yes, sir."

As the assistant walked away, Adrian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone.

His thumb hovered over an old photograph he had never been able to delete but it was taken six years ago.

A younger Serena smiled at the camera while stealing fries from his plate, he had kept the picture despite everything that had happened.

His eyes slowly drifted back toward the hotel entrance and then something struck him, the little boy's eyes...

They looked exactly like the eyes staring back at him from his own reflection.

Adrian's grip tightened around the phone. "...Impossible."