Chapter 6 Who's That Boy?

After Nolan Duvall finished speaking, his eyes flicked toward the direction Rowan Blackwood had gone. Marielle Duvall's heart froze instantly. "What do you care if a boy thinks another man is good-looking? Let's go." Marielle bent down and scooped up Nolan. Seeing her clear unwillingness to continue the conversation, a flicker of sorrow passed through Nolan's eyes. He wrapped his small arms around her neck and cooed, "I just want to find someone for Mommy, that's all." "Brat, stay out of grown-ups' business. This time, I'll have Chloe arrange a spot for you at kindergarten. You'll start school there. With Chloe watching over you, I can rest a little easier." Holding Nolan, Marielle walked toward the exit, her hands trembling slightly. Why had Nolan thought Rowan Blackwood was handsome just now? Though father and son were eight-tenths alike, the fact that Nolan had taken an instant liking to Rowan made Marielle uneasy. This was her son—her child, one she had fought to bring into the world—had nothing to do with Rowan Blackwood! She would never let Rowan take this child away from her. A flash of determination crossed Marielle's eyes, but she didn't see the look of concern and sorrow in Nolan's. Though young, he knew every time she woke from nightmares in the dead of night. He didn't know what Rowan had done to her back then, but since she refused to speak of it, he chose to pretend ignorance. Still, he had already made his own plans to seek justice for his mother. Mother and son walked out of the airport, each lost in their own thoughts. Marielle flagged down a taxi and took Nolan straight to Chloe Bennett's place. Five years had passed, yet Chloe still lived in the same apartment, and the spare key remained where it always had. Marielle retrieved the key with practiced ease, unlocked the door, and stepped inside with Nolan. It was a modest three-bedroom apartment, small but warmly decorated. After a quick glance around, Nolan whispered, "Mommy, which room is yours?" "The second one on the right. I used to live in that room." A faint smile touched Marielle's lips. Chloe was her college classmate and closest friend—someone who had sheltered her during the years her stepmother abused her. This place had become her second home. Nolan dragged his suitcase into Marielle's room. Photos of her younger self hung on the walls, though Nolan didn't recognize them. Since the day he opened his eyes, all he'd ever known was Marielle as she was now. Marielle, however, felt tears welling up. That face—far less polished than today's—had been radiant with joy and youth. That version of her would never return. She reached out, gently tracing the outline of her younger self in the photo, her heart aching. Noticing her gesture, Nolan asked, confused, "Mommy, who is this? Is it Aunt Chloe?" "No, that's a photo of me from long ago." Marielle's voice cracked slightly, though she tried hard to suppress it. A wave of sadness enveloped her, yet she didn't want Nolan to see. But Nolan was perceptive—he clearly sensed the shift in her mood. Suddenly, he tugged at her hand. "Mommy, I'm starving. Go check the kitchen for something to eat. Hurry up, I'm about to die of hunger!" With that, he pushed her out of the room. Her sorrow momentarily broken, Marielle sighed. Nolan hadn't eaten much on the plane. Remembering that, she resigned herself to the task, took off her coat, and rolled up her sleeves. "Alright, alright, I'll cook for you. You stay here and play quietly. Don't go messing around in Aunt Chloe's room, understand?" "Yeah, yeah, I know." Pouting, Nolan shut the door behind her. Staring at the old photo of Marielle on the wall, he quickly pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. Then he turned on the computer in the room. Uploading the photo, he swiftly searched for information about Marielle. It didn't take long to uncover details—her marriage to Rowan Blackwood eight years ago, and the news five years ago that she had died in a fire while secretly meeting a lover. Nolan's eyes darkened sharply. Mommy meeting a lover? Impossible! From the moment he was born, he'd known there was only one man in her heart—Rowan Blackwood. She never said it, but Nolan could feel the deep hatred buried within her. It must have been Rowan who wronged her. Nolan quickly began searching for Rowan Blackwood's background. Ever since he'd first heard Rowan's name in Marielle's sleep-talking at night, he'd been investigating the man—his background, influence, and marital status. He knew everything. Suddenly, Nolan came across a photo of Rowan holding a little boy. The boy looked about his age, bore a strong resemblance to Rowan, and Rowan's gaze toward him was filled with tenderness and affection. Who was this boy? Nolan's eyes narrowed sharply. He immediately dug deeper into the boy's identity and discovered he was Reese Blackwood, the eldest grandson of the Blackwood household, currently four years and ten months old—four months older than himself!