The Contract Lover He Couldn't Keep

Chapter 6 Drawn to Him

Vol.6

The pediatric cardiology floor was quiet. Claire couldn't find anyone in the hall to help, so she pushed open one examination room after another to search.

By the end, her whole body was shaking.

It was at that very moment that Noah called. Claire gave him a rushed rundown of what had happened, and the two of them immediately set off to look for Theo.

While Claire was tearing through the 10th floor looking for her son, elsewhere...

"Got you!"

Theodore chased his rolling toy car into the elevator. He had just lifted his arms in triumph when he looked up and found himself staring at someone in front of him.

The man was very tall. He had striking features, deep-set eyes, and an icy, distant air.

Theo froze, then widened his eyes.

Theo thought the man was really handsome, and he looked a little like the blurry photo saved on his mother's old phone.

Julian's expression was cold. When he noticed the little boy who had rushed into the elevator and kept staring at him, he instinctively lowered his eyes and looked the child over.

Theo had been staring at the man's handsome face. When those cold black eyes suddenly met his, Theo trembled and hugged his toy car tighter.

Vanessa had come to the hospital with Julian today for his regular checkup.

Ever since the incident on the East Coast of Ardenia 5 years ago, Vanessa had stayed by Julian's side, devoted to playing the perfect fiancée.

When Vanessa noticed Julian looking down at a strange little boy, she grew suspicious.

She followed Julian's gaze and quietly looked the boy over.

"Hey, sweetheart, why are you alone?" Vanessa asked, deliberately softening her voice with a smile.

Only then did Theo notice her.

The woman beside the handsome man smelled of sweet, cloying perfume. Theo wrinkled his nose. He didn't like the smell, and he didn't like this woman.

Theo took a step back and glanced at the elevator display. The numbers were still going up.

"I was chasing my toy car."

Theo looked down at the toy car in his arms. It had rolled into the elevator just as the doors opened. He had run in after it, and then the doors closed.

"Where is your mom?" Vanessa asked again.

"Outside." Theo pointed toward the elevator doors. "I'll go find her when I get down."

Vanessa smiled and bent down, reaching out to touch his hair. "You're so cute. How old are you?"

Theo dodged her hand.

"Ma'am, that's rude." He lifted his chin and said seriously, "My mommy said strangers can't touch me just because they want to."

Vanessa's hand froze in midair. She had never been so embarrassed in her life.

Her smile nearly slipped, but when she caught Julian looking this way from the corner of her eye, she forced it to stay in place.

"Haha, children are so honest. They say whatever they think." She laughed awkwardly, then explained, "I just thought you were cute. I didn't mean anything by it."

"You still can't touch me." Theo stared at her warily. "Our teacher said my body is mine. Other people can only touch me if I say yes."

Vanessa's smile froze completely.

For 2 seconds, the elevator went quiet.

She straightened and awkwardly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. When she turned to Julian, he was still watching the little boy.

His gaze was dark and fixed, never leaving the child.

For some reason, Vanessa's heart gave a sharp jolt.

"Julian?" she called tentatively.

Julian didn't respond.

The child looked no older than 5 or 6. He was indeed very cute, with a chubby round face and bright, lively features.

Julian didn't know why he kept staring at this little boy. It felt as if some invisible thread had pulled tight between them.

Normally, children stirred nothing in him. But at this moment, something familiar and painful rose from deep in his heart. It drew him in silently and made it impossible for him to look away, as if it had come from a memory he had sealed away and refused to revisit.

Julian went still, almost dazed. A sudden impulse rose in him. He wanted to bend down and hug the little boy in front of him.

But Theodore only looked up at him, blinked, and asked, "Sir, why do you keep staring at me?"