Free Web NovelChapter 86: Chapter 86 Is This... Your Child?
Elara
I spotted the Bentley parked at the entrance and was surprised to see the little boy standing outside waiting for me instead of staying in the car.
I walked over quickly and playfully pinched his earlobe. "Why didn’t you wait in the car?"
"Haha, Aunt Elara, I couldn’t wait!" he said excitedly. His whole face lit up like Christmas morning.
"Perfect, we can walk there from here."
Holding Orion’s hand, I took him to the little shop I’d visited three times before, and bought three hair clips.
The shopkeeper gave us a knowing smile - she probably thought we were mother and son by now.
"Orion, don’t give them all at once. You can give them to her at different times."
But Orion was quite generous for his age.
"Why not? Aunt Elara, Uncle Dominic says you can’t win someone over by being cheap!" He puffed out his chest proudly, clearly repeating what he thought was sage advice.
I face-palmed, wondering what exactly Dominic was teaching this child.
With a forced smile, I said, "Well, then listen to your Uncle Dominic, I suppose."
Orion had drunk a lot of juice in the car, and suddenly he fidgeted. He shifted from foot to foot, tugging on my sleeve. "Aunt Elara, I need to pee."
Looking at the child’s red face, I led him to the restrooms. "Can you go in by yourself?"
Orion was six years old now, and it wouldn’t be right for me to take him into the women’s restroom.
The little boy stood up straight. His chin jutted out with determination. "Of course!"
I turned my back and answered a work call while waiting.
When Orion came out, he saw my back but suddenly his attention was completely caught by a figure that walked by.
His entire body went rigid, like he’d been struck by lightning.
"Mom..." he whispered. The word came out barely audible, filled with longing and disbelief.
Without thinking, he ran after the figure. "Mom!" His small legs pumped as fast as they could, desperation driving every step.
I had just hung up when I saw Orion run past me. "Hey, Orion, I’m over here!"
Panic shot through me as I watched him disappear into the crowd.
But the child didn’t seem to hear me, so I quickly chased after him.
My heels clicked frantically against the mall floor as I pushed past shoppers.
Author
Orion finally grabbed the edge of a woman’s jacket, calling out in his small voice: "Mom!"
His tiny fists clutched the fabric like his life depended on it.
The woman turned around, her eyes filled with surprise. She blinked several times, clearly startled by the sudden contact. "Little boy, I think you’ve got the wrong person."
Tears welled up in Orion’s eyes. His bottom lip trembled as he shook his head fiercely. "I’m not wrong! You are my mom! I know my own mom!"
"Mom, don’t you remember me? I’m Orion!" His voice cracked with emotion, each word a desperate plea.
The woman’s expression grew confused as she appeared to be thinking hard, but she clearly had no memory of the little boy before her.
She studied his face intently, searching for any spark of recognition that never came.
She shook her head with a puzzled smile. Her voice was gentle but firm. "Little boy, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m single and have never been married, much less had children."
"Orion—"
Elara finally caught up, struggling in her heels. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath.
She looked curiously at the pair, surprised by whom she saw. "Nancy?"
Nancy seemed equally shocked. Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open slightly. "Elara? Is this... your child?"
Elara noticed Orion was still holding onto Nancy’s jacket and hadn’t let go. His knuckles were white from gripping so tightly.
She gently patted his head. "Orion, that’s not polite. Let go, sweetie!"
But the usually good child shook his head, refusing to let go. Tears streamed down his cheeks now.
"Aunt Elara, she’s my mom! I won’t let go. If I do, she’ll disappear!" His voice was thick with fear and desperation.
Elara looked more carefully at Nancy, feeling uncertain. Something nagged at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what. "You..."
"I’m sorry, Elara. I truly don’t know this boy. Maybe I look like his mother a little bit?" Nancy suggested. She kept glancing down at Orion with a mixture of sympathy and confusion.
Elara quickly apologized. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. "I’m so sorry. He’s usually very well-behaved. I don’t know what’s wrong today."
Nancy didn’t seem bothered. She crouched down to Orion’s eye level, her expression softening. "I have a table reserved at this restaurant. If you’re free, would you like to join me for dinner?"
Elara wanted to say no, but seeing the desperate look in Orion’s eyes, she gave in.
The hope that flickered in his tear-filled gaze was impossible to ignore.
"Alright then. I’m sorry to bother you like this." Elara sighed internally, wondering how she was going to explain this to Dominic later.
