Ch2
1124 Words
Alexa stared at the woman before her, her brows knitting together.
Her name was Natalie, the wife of Leonidas Kent.
‘She doesn’t know who I am?’ Alexa thought. ‘Is she pretending, or did she truly forget someone as insignificant as me?’
“I’m here to see your husband,” Alexa said, her smile calm and controlled. “It’s very important that I speak with him.”
Natalie frowned, her gaze drifting to Nidas before returning to Alexa.
She shook her head firmly. “No. You are not seeing my husband. He isn’t even here. He’s not home. Get out. Both of you, get out of my house and don't ever come back again.”
Alexa did not like what she was hearing, but her smile did not fade. “Oh, really? That’s unfortunate. Then could you tell me when he will be back?”
Natalie’s frown deepened. “And why would I…”
“Natalie, who’s…”
Natalie gasped as the door suddenly swung open, forcing her a step back.
Leonidas stood there, completely frozen.
Alexa stared at him, just as stunned, their eyes locked in silence.
He looked exactly as he always did.
Green eyes. Dirty blond hair styled to perfection. A sharp, sculpted face that seemed almost unreal. Broad shoulders, a powerful build, and a height that towered well over six feet.
She blinked and lowered her gaze.
“Alexa?” Leonidas said, his deep baritone voice filled with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”
Alexa lifted her eyes to meet his. “I need to talk to you, Leo. Privately.”
“Leo, don’t,” Natalie pleaded, gripping his arm. “Please. Don’t talk to that woman.”
Leonidas turned and looked at her calmly. “She came all this way. I might as well give her an audience.”
Alexa gently moved herself and Nidas aside as Leonidas stepped out, closing the door behind him.
He looked at her, shock and disbelief clear on his face, before motioning for her to follow him toward the courtyard.
After a few steps, he stopped and turned to face her.
“What are you doing here, Alexa?” he asked. “You know you shouldn’t be here. How did you even find out where I live?”
“Two months ago,” Alexa replied quietly, knowing he would understand.
By the look on his face, he did.
“Oh,” he said, realization dawning on him.
Nidas tightened his grip around Alexa and looked up at Leonidas. “M-Mom,” he asked softly, “is this my father?”
Leonidas lowered his gaze, noticing the child properly for the first time.
“Mom?” he repeated, looking back at Alexa. “You have a son?”
Alexa looked between the two of them and nodded. “Yes. I do. He’s seven years old.”
Leonidas frowned at the number, then looked back down at Nidas, tilting his head as he studied him more closely.
It was like he was staring at the younger version of himself.
“Alexa,” he said slowly, lifting his eyes back to her, “what is going on here? Why are you really here?”
“You’re not stupid, Leo,” Alexa said, her voice trembling as tears threatened to fall. “You’re far too smart to be asking that. Nidas is your son. He’s your flesh and blood. But if you don’t believe me…”
She turned to Nidas. “Son, bear with Mommy.”
Carefully, she plucked a strand of his hair, then reached for Leonidas’ hand and placed it gently in his palm.
“You can do a DNA test with it,” she said quietly.
Leonidas stared down at the strand resting in his hand and slowly closed his fingers around it, shielding it from the breeze.
Though he was speechless.
Then he asked, “When we met two months ago, why didn’t you tell me any of this?”
“Because I didn’t want to force myself into your life! You’re married now, and your family hates me. They would never accept me because of my background, and they would never accept my son.” She paused, gasping for breath before continuing. “But…” She shook her head as tears streamed down her face. “I can’t do this anymore. I tried. I tried so hard to raise him on my own for seven years, but I can’t anymore. Especially not now. I won’t let my unborn child grow up the way Nidas did.”
Leonidas tilted his head, his confusion deepening. “Unborn child now?”
Alexa placed a hand over her stomach. “Yes. I’m pregnant, Leo.”
“And I’m… the father?” he asked, frowning.
“Two months ago,” Alexa replied quietly. “That’s why I’m here.”
Leonidas released a deep, unsteady breath, his head spinning as the weight of it all sank in.
“Leo,” Alexa said again, her voice breaking. “Nidas has suffered so much because of me. I wasn’t capable. I couldn’t give him what he deserved. I failed him as a mother.”
“Mom, no,” Nidas said quickly. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his head against her stomach. “Please don’t say that. I love you so much, Mom.”
Leonidas watched the two of them, the scene painfully awkward, yet something heavy settled in his chest.
He sighed. “This is too much to process in a minute, Alexa.”
Alexa nodded. “I know. But coming here was something I had to do. If you care about your son and our unborn child, then it’s your responsibility to protect us and take care of us. This time, I really do have to intrude into your life.” She swallowed. “But if you won’t accept us, say it now so I can leave before the day ends. We have nowhere else to go here.”
“Nowhere?” Leonidas repeated, nodding slowly. “Of course you don’t.”
He ran a hand through his hair, visibly overwhelmed. “Fine. I’ll take you somewhere you can stay.”
Listening in one corner, Natalie staggered back as though she were about to collapse, her chest tightening with shock and pain.
“No… this isn’t happening,” she muttered. “Leo’s first love is back, with a son and another child on the way. No. No, God, no.”
She turned and hurried back into the house to get her phone.
“I have to call Daisy,” she whispered frantically. “I can’t let that woman steal my husband. Not after everything I did just to have him. I won’t.”
- Writer
