Chapter Thirty–Eight
Ava’s POV
The park was alive with the sounds of laughter and chatter, blending with the rhythmic chirping of birds nestled in the towering trees. Children raced across the open field, their merry shrieks echoing beneath the late afternoon sun, which painted the park with a soft golden glow. The soft evening breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass, mingling with the sweet aroma of cotton candy from a vendor nearby, and all other sorts
of flavor.
Amidst the chaotic but beautiful park, I sat on a wooden bench, watching my son, Zareon. He was giggling, his tiny hands clapping together as he watched a group of kids chase bubbles floating through the air. His round cheeks were flushed with excitement, and his bright eyes reflected nothing but pure joy, one that could mend even the most broken of hearts.
And for the first time since this morning, I smiled.
Elson had been right.
When he suggested we visit the park, I disagreed at first, even though this park had always been our little escape, just me and Zareon. A place where I could forget the world, the past, and everything I’d lost while watching my son laugh. But after what happened earlier that day, I wanted nothing more than to stay in because I wasn’t in the mood for sunshine or people.
But Elson had been persistent. He had insisted that the fresh air would do Zareon some good, and I couldn’t argue with that, because now, watching my son play, seeing the light return to his eyes after the distress of the day, I knew Elson had been right.
“This was a good idea,” I admitted, shifting my gaze to Elson, who was lounging beside me.
He smirked. “I told you. You should listen to me more often.”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t get used to it.”
He chuckled, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees as he watched Zareon tumble onto the grass, only to get right back up with a determined grin. Laughter spilled out from my lips at the sight of that, and it was then I realized I had instinctively leaned up, moving to go to my child when he fell, but the one–year–old had stood up himself. Warmth spread across my chest at that.
“I love seeing him like this,” Elson murmured, his voice softer now.
I nodded, my chest tightening. I did too, but I was scared, scared this moment would be short–lived, and I would watch his little self with tears on his face because he wanted something I couldn’t let him have.
We played with Zareon for a while, chasing him across the grass as he tumbled on his unsteady feet every time, and lifting him into the air until his giggles turned breathless. We laughed, we cheered, and we existed in an illusion that, for just a moment, felt like happiness, like we were a real family. Even at one poi elderly woman passing by smiled warmly at us.
“You have such a beautiful family,” she commented.
-n
I stiffened, not expecting such a compliment, even though I should have considered it since he was a male and carrying my son.
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<Chapter Thirty–Eight
+8 Points >
Before I could respond, Elson placed a hand on my back and said smoothly, “Thank you. My wife and I try our
best.”
My eyes widened, and warmth crept deep up my cheeks. My wife?
Elson grinned at my flustered expression while the woman cooed about how lucky we were. I felt warmth creep up my neck as I turned my face away, trying to hide my reaction which was from shock and
embarrassment.
When she finally walked off, I turned to Elson with a playful glare, trying to look composed. “What was that?” He shrugged, looking completely unbothered even though his eyes twinkled with mischief. “I just said what any proud husband would.”
I huffed, crossing my arms, even though the heat in my neck deepened. “You’re not my husband.”
He smirked. “Yet.”
I scoffed but didn’t argue further.
Because, for a brief moment, the thought lingered in my mind, my heart pounding at the acknowledgment of
- it.
Would it be so bad?
Elson had only asked me out once, and I had rejected him. At the time, I wasn’t ready. My heart was too tangled in the past, too scarred by Kyle. But now, as I watched him play with Zareon, as I saw the way he cared for him, the way he treated him like his own…
Would it be so bad if I accepted?
Maybe, just maybe, Zareon would forget ever meeting Kyle. Maybe I would finally be able to let go of the love I had stubbornly held onto for so long, even though I tried to tell myself otherwise.
Maybe I could give Elson a chance, let go of the past and the shackles that come with it.
I shook the thought away. No, that is just plain absurd.
“Zareon and I could use something cold. Are you up for it?” Elson asked, snapping me out of my daze.
I blinked. “Huh?”
He gestured toward the small ice cream stand nearby. “I’ll grab us something. Come on, buddy,” he called to Zareon, who was fascinated by something on his light blue shirt, but with the mention of the word “ice cream, “he squealed in excitement and hurried to Elson on wobbling feet, gripping his hand tightly.
I watched them walk away, a strange mixture of emotions swirling in my chest as Elson lifted Zareon into his arms, resting the excited toddler at his side while he wiped off something from his face down to his shirt while I sank onto the park bench with a small sigh.
For the first time today, I felt…..light.
Maybe this was how things were supposed to be. Maybe I should stop trying to hold myself back
for my
do this
child. After all, Elson is always good with Zareon. He treats him like his own, so how bad would it be if
I let Elson in and be the father my son needs?
The sudden sound of a child’s voice calling “Dada!” sent something cold through me.
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<Chapter Thirty–Eight
My entire body froze, and blood drained from my face.
+9 Points >
Instantly, I turned sharply toward the direction Elson and Zareon had gone, my heart pounding violently in my chest. But, I didn’t see them.
No. I said in a silent prayer.
Quickly, I stood up, my body tense, as my eyes hurriedly scanned the small crowd near the ice cream stand. For a moment, my heart pounded wildly as fear of what had happened earlier with Kyle gripped me.
But then I saw them.
Elson was laughing as he crouched in front of Zareon, trying to wipe off the ice cream that had smeared across his shirt. My son was giggling, his hands sticky, as he continued taking a huge messy bite of his ice cream, not bothered about Elson cleaning up after his mess.
It wasn’t him.
The voice hadn’t come from Zareon, rather, it came from another child, running up to his father nearby.
I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to my chest, willing my heart to calm down.
Get it together, Ava.
I was letting my wariness get the best of me.
I turned back to Elson and Zareon, my gaze softening as I watched Elson lift my baby into his arms again as they walked back toward me.
Elson was a good father. Maybe not in blood, but in every other way that mattered.
Maybe he is just what my son needs. It is what he needs; I could see it from what I was seeing. It was me who was still reluctant about everything.
As the sun began to dip lower and the sky started to take on a hint of orange and pink, we decided to call it a night. Zareon was already dozing off in Elson’s arms, his tiny fingers clutching onto his shirt.
We made our way toward the park exit, but as we walked, my attention was drawn to a small child wobbling ahead of us.
He was around Zareon’s age, and his tiny legs were moving unsteadily as he ventured away from God knows where with no one supervising him.
My brows furrowed in confusion.
Just then, he took a few small steps forward, but then he stumbled and fell.
Before I could think, my motherly instincts took over.
Dropping my bag, I rushed toward him and scooped him up gently, my heart racing.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” I cooed, brushing dirt off his chubby hands. “You okay?”
To my surprise, instead of crying, I was rewarded with the cutest smile that lit up his blue eyes.
My heart melted at that.
“Where’s your mommy, sweetheart?” I asked softly with a smile of mine.
The little boy only giggled in response.
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C
<Chapter Thirty–Eight
Before I could ask again, a sharp, panicked voice rang through the air.
“Neo!”
I barely had time to react before the child was snatched from my arms.
“Get away from my son!”
I stumbled back slightly, stunned by both the sheer bitterness in the woman’s voice and the force with which the boy was snatched from my grasp.
My mouth opened, ready to tell her off for being so careless in the first place. I mean, who in their right mind lets a toddler wander around like that? But as I dusted off my knees and finally lifted my head to meet her
gaze……
My breath hitched, and the words died on my tongue, because standing there, gripping the little boy protectively to her chest, was a woman I never expected to see.
And in that instant, the world seemed to stop.
What the hell?
The_oddluna
Thank you all for the comments and love. I can’t thank you enough for the support, and I hope you won’t ever get tired of the book. Someone mentioned them reading the book somewhere. I don’t know about that, but I’ll check if my book is plagiarized or if there is just something similar to it out there because, well, we humans think alike. Secondly, yes, there will be a chapter on Kyle and Lillian in the next chapter.
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