Chapter 9: The Man They Kept Meeting
708 Words
Emma frowned as she checked the weather forecast.
Rain.
Heavy rain.
She sighed.
"Ella, don't forget your umbrella."
"I won't!"
"Last time you said that, you came home soaking wet."
Ella grinned sheepishly.
"...Oops."
Ethan quietly zipped up his dinosaur backpack.
"I'm ready, Mommy."
Emma smiled.
"My handsome boy."
That afternoon...
The rain poured harder than expected.
Emma was still trapped in an emergency meeting.
She glanced anxiously at the clock.
4:45 PM.
The daycare closed at five.
She whispered to Lily,
"I need to leave."
Lily looked apologetic.
"The finance director is still presenting."
Emma bit her lip.
"Please... just ten more minutes."
Across the city...
Adrian had just finished a meeting with an important client.
As his driver waited at a red light...
He looked out the window.
Children.
Parents.
Umbrellas everywhere.
Then...
He noticed a familiar sign.
Little Stars Daycare.
Without thinking, he said,
"Stop here."
The driver blinked.
"Sir?"
"I'll walk."
Inside the daycare...
Only a few children were left.
Ethan sat quietly, reading.
Ella was drawing a rabbit with a pink crown.
The teacher smiled.
"Your mommy called."
"She's running a little late."
Ella nodded.
"Mommy always comes."
The teacher smiled.
"I know."
A few minutes later...
The front door opened.
The teacher looked up.
"Oh?"
"Good afternoon."
Adrian stepped inside.
"I apologize."
"My car was blocking the entrance."
"I thought I'd let the staff know before moving it."
The teacher nodded politely.
"No problem at all."
As Adrian turned to leave...
A tiny voice called out.
"Bookstore Mister!"
He looked over his shoulder.
Ella waved excitedly.
"You came!"
Adrian chuckled.
"I don't think I came for you."
Ella giggled.
"I know."
"But you're here."
Ethan looked up from his book.
"Hello, Mister."
"Hello."
Adrian walked closer.
"What are you reading today?"
Ethan proudly showed him the cover.
Dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period.
Adrian smiled.
"I had no idea there were so many kinds."
"There are over seven hundred species."
Ethan answered confidently.
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Impressive."
Ella interrupted.
"I only know T-Rex."
Ethan sighed dramatically.
"You say that every time."
"I like T-Rex!"
"It's overrated."
"It is not!"
Their playful argument made Adrian laugh.
A real laugh.
One that surprised even himself.
At that moment...
Emma rushed into the daycare.
"I'm so sorry!"
The teacher smiled.
"They've been wonderful."
Emma turned toward the children—
Then froze.
Adrian.
Again.
Ella ran over happily.
"Mommy!"
"Bookstore Mister talked to us!"
Emma forced a smile.
"I'm sorry if they disturbed you."
"They didn't."
Adrian looked at Ethan.
"I enjoyed the conversation."
Ethan smiled shyly.
"So did I."
For the first time...
Emma saw something she never expected.
Ethan...
Who rarely opened up to strangers...
Was smiling at Adrian.
Her heart tightened.
Outside...
The rain had become even heavier.
Emma looked at the sky.
"Oh no..."
She hadn't brought a large umbrella.
Only a small one.
Big enough for three people.
Not four.
Adrian quietly walked to his car.
A moment later...
He returned holding a large black umbrella.
"You can borrow this."
Emma hesitated.
"I'll return it tomorrow."
"You don't have to rush."
She looked into his eyes.
For the first time in four years...
There was no anger.
No accusation.
Just kindness.
"...Thank you."
As Emma and the twins walked away beneath the umbrella...
Ella looked up at Emma and whispered,
"Mommy..."
"What is it?"
"I think Bookstore Mister likes us."
Emma smiled weakly.
"I think..."
"He's just being kind."
But behind them...
Adrian stood in the rain.
Watching the three of them disappear once again.
He didn't know why.
But seeing them walk away...
Felt strangely lonely.
That night...
Adrian arrived home.
His butler approached.
"Good evening, sir."
Adrian nodded absentmindedly.
As he loosened his tie...
Something fell from his coat pocket.
A small folded piece of paper.
He picked it up.
It was a child's drawing.
Somehow...
It had slipped into his pocket.
Three stick figures.
A mommy.
A little boy.
A little girl.
And beside them...
A very tall man.
At the top...
Written in colorful crayon...
"A Happy Family."
Adrian stared at the drawing for a long time.
His chest tightened.
He didn't know why.
But for the first time in years...
His luxurious penthouse felt unbearably empty.
- Writer
