Chapter Five — You are only six

Evelyn POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Damian carrying Ethan. I heard that innocent little voice calling him Daddy. I saw Sophie standing comfortably beside my husband.

By morning, I had convinced myself it had all been a nightmare. Then I reached across the bed. The other side was cold, completely untouched. Which meant Damian had not slept here last night.

A dull ache settled in my chest. I slowly sat up, pressing a hand against my stomach.

“Good morning, little one.” The words came out with a shaky smile. “You slept better than Mommy, didn’t you?”

I wished I could stay in bed all day, but life refused to stop because my heart was breaking.

After showering, I dressed in a simple cream sweater and jeans before making my way downstairs.

Laughter greeted me before I reached the living room and I froze.

Ethan was running around the sofa while Damian chased after him.

“I’m going to catch you,” Damian laughed.

The little boy squealed happily. “No, you won’t!”

I stood there silently. I had never heard Damian laugh like that. Not once. Not during our wedding. Not on birthdays. Not even during anniversaries. The man I married rarely smiled. Yet this version of Damian looked completely different. Relaxed, Warm, and Alive.

Ethan darted behind Sophie, laughing so hard that he almost fell. She reached down and kissed his forehead. “There you are.”

Damian smiled at both of them. The sight felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart.

Maybe this had always been the life he wanted. A family built on love. Just not with me.

A wave of nausea hit suddenly. I turned toward the staircase, hoping to reach the bathroom before I embarrassed myself. My vision blurred and my foot slipped. I gasped. Instinctively, both hands flew to my stomach.

“My baby.”

Before I could fall, strong arms caught me.

“Evelyn.”

Damian. He steadied me immediately. “Are you hurt?”

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. His hands remained on my shoulders. It had been months since he had touched me like this. The warmth of his hands almost made me cry.

“I’m... fine?” I didn’t know if I was asking or telling.

“Are you sure?”

I nodded quickly. “It was just dizziness.”

His brows drew together. “You should see a doctor.”

I forced a laugh. “I already did.” If only you knew.

His eyes searched mine as though trying to figure something out. Before either of us could speak again, small footsteps raced toward us.

“Daddy!”

Ethan wrapped both arms around Damian’s leg. The little boy looked up at me curiously. “Are you sick?”

I smiled despite myself. “No.”

“You look sad.”

Children really did notice everything. “I’m just tired.”

He continued staring at me. Then, to my surprise, he reached into his pocket. “I have candy.”

He held out a small wrapped sweet. “You can have it.”

I blinked. “You want to give it to me?”

He nodded seriously. “When I am sad, Mommy gives me candy.”

A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it. “Thank you.”

I accepted the candy, making his smile widened. “There, I feel much better already, See?”

I could not help smiling back. For a brief moment, I forgot who he was. He was not the child who had shattered my world. He was simply an innocent little boy. None of this was his fault.

Sophie walked over then. “Ethan.”

He turned immediately. “What did I tell you about taking candy before breakfast?”

His face fell. “I forgot.” He stared at her pouting.

She chuckled softly. “I can see that.”

Then she looked at me. “I am sorry if he is bothering you.”

“He’s not.” I said softly.

That much was true. The child was not my enemy.

She smiled thankfully before leading Ethan toward the dining room.

Once they disappeared, Damian remained standing beside me. “I want to apologize.”

I looked at him as he continued. “For yesterday.”

His voice sounded unusually sincere. “Everything happened faster than I expected.”

I folded my arms. “So you decided not to tell me anything.”

“I was trying to protect everyone.”

“Everyone except your wife.”

Pain flickered across his face. “I deserve that.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. Then his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and his expression changed instantly. He answered without hesitation.

“What is it?”

The color slowly drained from his face. “What? How?”

I frowned. “What happened?”

He didn’t answer me. Instead, he listened silently for another few seconds before ending the call. His jaw tightened.

Sophie hurried back into the living room. “Damian?”

He looked at her. “The hospital called.”

Her face turned pale. “What did they say?”

“Ethan’s test results are missing.”

There was complete silence after that. Even Ethan stopped playing.

“What do you mean missing?” Sophie whispered.

“They said the files can not be found.”

“That is impossible.”

“I know.”

She shook her head repeatedly. “No... no...”

Fear filled her eyes. I watched the exchange carefully. Those results clearly meant more than ordinary medical records. Something was so not right.

Damian turned toward one of the security guards. “Prepare the car.”

“Yes, Sir.”

The guard hurried outside. Sophie knelt in front of Ethan. “Sweetheart, Mommy has to go somewhere.”

“Can I come?” He asked sweetly.

She smiled sadly. “Not this time.”

His lower lip trembled. “But…”

Damian crouched beside him. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Ethan nodded reluctantly.

Within minutes, Damian and Sophie were heading toward the front door. Neither of them explained anything to me. Neither of them asked if I had questions.

The front door closed behind them. Their cars disappeared down the driveway. The mansion suddenly felt strangely quiet.

I looked toward Ethan. He stood by the window, watching until the cars disappeared completely. His tiny shoulders slumped.

My heart softened despite everything. He was just a little boy waiting for his parents to come back.

I slowly walked over. “Ethan.”

He looked up. “Will Daddy come back?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

I smiled gently. “Soon.”

He sighed dramatically. “Grown-ups always say soon.”

I laughed. “You are only six. How do you already know that?”

He grinned proudly. “Because I’m smart.”

“That you are.”I smiled agreeing to that.

For the first time since yesterday, the heaviness in my chest eased slightly. I placed my hand over my stomach. Maybe one day my own child would smile at me like this. Maybe one day I would have a family that truly belonged to me.

I had no idea that before the day ends, everything inside this house would descend into chaos.