Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5. Ever since that brief encounter, Adrian had been unable to sleep. Nolan’s small face kept flashing through his mind, along with that familiar scent and identical appearance. He pulled out a photo from the surveillance footage. The woman stood sideways, her hair tied back, her eyes cold—a stark contrast to the Liora he remembered. But he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t believe there could be two identical people in the world, but her indifference and rejection struck his heart like a lead ball. “I need to know more of the truth that words cannot obscure,” Adrian murmured. Three minutes later, he called someone. “I’ll send you a sample in five minutes for DNA testing. Also, I need all the information on this woman in half an hour.” He said firmly, sending a photo of Liora leaving the conference building. After hanging up, he carefully placed a thin strand of hair, separated from his own, into a plastic bag—the one he had plucked from Nolan’s head yesterday. Although he was almost certain the other woman was his child, he remembered Liora’s deliberate coldness, and how his years of fruitless searching were likely due to her deliberate avoidance. Therefore, he had to do everything he could to ensure that the accident of five years ago wouldn’t happen again. --- Liora didn't expect her peaceful days to end so quickly. That morning, she arrived at the office with her hair tied up halfway, dressed simply, and wearing an expression she deliberately made difficult to read. She had trained herself for years to remain calm in front of anyone, even when her mind was filled with dozens of worries. However, her composure wavered slightly when she saw Adrian standing in the lobby. She tensed up. It was only for a moment, less than a second, but it was enough to make her breathing change. Adrian looked around as if searching for someone, and Liora knew it wasn't a coincidence. She quickly turned her face away, held her breath, and hurried into the elevator without looking back. Safe? No. She knew she was only delaying the inevitable. --- Nolan was the only one who made this world feel warm. That afternoon, after Liora picked Nolan up from kindergarten, they stopped by a small park. Nolan ran around carrying his toy car, laughing every time its wheels got stuck in the grass. Liora sat on a long bench, trying to hold back the anxiety that kept gnawing at her chest. "Mom, look!" Nolan exclaimed, holding up his car. Liora nodded, smiling faintly. "Good job, sweetie." She wanted to sit there longer, breathe in the air, enjoy the moment without threat. But everything stopped when someone called softly, "Nolan?" The voice made Liora's blood freeze, Adrian stood a few steps away from them. Nolan looked at Adrian, and from the change in his eyes, he knew he remembered this stranger with whom he had had a brief conversation. Liora watched as two almost identical eyes locked eyes. Before they could speak, she abruptly stood up, her body tense, and stepped between them, cutting off their gaze. "Don't come any closer," she said softly but firmly. Adrian raised his hands, as if trying to calm her down. " Is this your child?" "None of your business." "Nolan," Adrian repeated, as if savoring the name on his tongue. "A name we once... discussed." Liora felt her palms grow cold. Her memories were instantly awakened; she hadn’t forgotten anything from the past. "Mom," Nolan called suddenly, grabbing Liora's hand. "Why are you shaking?" "Mommy," Nolan suddenly called, grabbing Liroa's hand. "Why are you trembling?" "Mommy," the childish voice made both adults shudder. This time, Adrian heard it clearly, while Liroa didn't know how to face him. Should she admit to being Nolan's mother? She absolutely couldn't say those words to Nolan, even if such acquiescence would plunge her into a new crisis. Then, Nolan's voice continued, "Mom... let's go home, okay? I'm tired." Liora nodded, turned, and took Nolan's hand. There was no denial, only a mother's tenderness. Liora knelt down and gently hugged Nolan, who nestled obediently against her chest. Adrian quickly stepped forward, blocking her path. "You're Liora, why won't you admit it?" "If you're not Liora," he said softly, "then why does he call you Mom?" "Just go." "Liora." "Go away!" Her voice choked, and Nolan hugged her neck fearfully. Damien appeared, his steps quick and his eyes immediately assessing the situation with the precision of a man who had sensed danger from afar. "Is there a problem?" Damien asked coldly. Liora didn't answer. Adrian turned to Damien, his gaze sharp like a cornered animal. "This is between me and her," Adrian said. Damien stood in front of Liora without hesitation, forming a solid wall that allowed Liora to breathe. "She doesn't want to talk to you. That's enough." "Leave us alone," Adrian replied. "I don't know who you are, but—" "I'm the one protecting her," Damien cut in, his tone calm yet dangerous. Their gaze locked, almost freezing the air around them. --- The following days descended into complex chaos. Adrian began secretly following Liora's trail. He observed her schedule, the projects she was working on, and even obtained Nolan’s birth certificate based on genetic comparisons—of course, the name on it wasn’t “Liora Weir.” This woman wanted to completely erase all traces of her past. He had never felt such a strong obsession. Adrian became increasingly convinced that she was indeed Liora. He had never felt such an obsession before. Meanwhile, Liora kept her distance in the most perfect way. She was professional, her answers were brief, and her expression turned into a stone wall whenever she unexpectedly encountered Adrian in the hallway or meeting room. But no matter how hard she denied it, Nolan remained a gap she couldn't close.The boy began to see Adrian frequently, whether in the lobby, in the park near the office, or when Liora left the building. Nolan always looked at Adrian with a warm curiosity that he couldn't explain. And Adrian? He began to notice subtle details, details that felt like divine revelation, allowing him to feel the magic of blood ties. Even without a DNA test, he could be 100% certain that the little angel before him was his child. The way Nolan stood. The way Nolan turned his head. The curve of his eyebrows, the line of his jaw, the shape of his eyes. It was like seeing himself in miniature. One afternoon, Adrian crouched down in front of Nolan, who was playing with a puzzle. "Do you like this?" Adrian asked. Nolan nodded, his eyes sparkling. "Yes. Mom says I like playing with things that are difficult." "You're smart," Adrian whispered, a hint of bitterness behind his admiration. "Like Dad?" Nolan asked innocently. That simple question cut much deeper than Adrian could show. Liora quickly pulled Nolan behind her. "Don't talk to him without me," she said sharply. "Because you're afraid of the truth?" Adrian whispered. Liora stared at him with anger she could no longer contain. "What truth? That you kicked me out? That you accused me without proof? That you let your family destroy my life?" Adrian almost took a step back. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't know he is my son." "Because you have no right to him," Liora replied without hesitation. "Not after what you did." Nolan looked at them alternately, not understanding what was going on. Liora felt her heart beating irregularly, not because she was afraid of Adrian, but because Nolan was starting to look anxious. "Liora," Adrian said again, his voice weakening. " But I knew it, Nolan... is my son—" "He's not your responsibility," Liora cut him off. "And you never wanted him." “It was a misunderstanding,” Adrian’s voice rose, choked with emotion. “I was misunderstood, I know I was wrong, I quickly realized I was wrong. I looked for you, I looked for you for a long time, you know that, right? Because you were deliberately avoiding me, otherwise I would have found my son long ago, instead of trying so hard to prove something that rightfully belongs to me—” “Once you decided I was guilty, you never trusted me again!” Liora lowered her voice, but her tone was filled with heartbreak and anger. "Looking for us again? Just to be driven away by you again?" Damien appeared behind them, his face cold and sharp. "Enough. He doesn't want to be disturbed." Adrian furrowed his brow. "Who are you? Why do you care so much?" "Because someone has to protect him from the people who hurt him," Damien replied. "Don't tell me how to fix my mistakes," Adrian retorted, "when you don't even know what happened between us." Liora closed her eyes, holding back a sudden wave of breathlessness. She looked at the two men before her, one forcing her to confront her past, the other protecting her for reasons unknown. She hated this feeling of being unable to handle everything, but what was worse was that Adrian’s eyes no longer held the same look as the man who had hurt and humiliated her. There was pain, there was regret, there was something that wanted to change, and it only made everything more difficult. --- A few days later, Adrian brought the documents. "I want a DNA test," he said, placing the envelope on the small table in the meeting room. Liora shook her head without hesitation. "No." "Why?" "I won't let you drag Nolan into your family problems. Not anymore." Adrian stared at her intently. "If you refuse this test, I can file a legal petition." Liora smiled, her eyes full of sarcasm. “So, your first gift to me is a threat?” Adrian froze. He realized that Liora was no longer the same person she was five years ago; she had changed more than just her name. “I’ve already done the DNA test, Nolan. It’s definitely my child.” Adrian touched his nose, his momentum waning. “Then, the second gift is deception?” “If you want to sue me, no problem. I believe the judge would prefer the child to belong to the mother who has been with him for five years, rather than a so-called father who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.” Liora stood up, tidied her work folder, and walked out without looking at Adrian again. Nolan waited outside, sitting on Damian's lap. Adrian, following closely behind, witnessed the scene: Liora stood before them, like a small family without him—a scene he had never imagined. Before leaving, Liora turned slightly, allowing Adrian to hear her last words, shattering his last remaining belief "Do you want to know the truth?" Her voice trembled slightly. "The truth is simple, Adrian." "I'm alive, I gave birth to your child… but I hate you." The door closed. Adrian remained standing there, his body frozen. And for the first time in five years… he truly realized what he had lost.