Chapter 25: Chapter 25

LAUREN……

"Mom, you forgot to bring gifts for me?" Alex asked me with a sad face when we were sitting in the living room after lunch.

"No dear. I didn't bring you gifts cause I want you to buy your favorite things. Today you can take whatever you like." Alex's face lit up like a 440-volt watt bulb.

"Really, Mom!" His eyes were wide and he still couldn't believe his mother could say something like this to him. It was indeed a shock for him. My poor boy.

"Yes, my boy. We are going shopping after resting for a while. Are you excited?" Rhys made Alex sit on his lap and asked him in an enthusiastic tone.

"Of course Dad. It will be fun." Alex squealed excitedly and lunged at Rhys to hug him. I was happy to see their bond. In a short time, they have built such a strong bond.

After a while the three of us left to shop in the car with which I came. Suddenly I noticed we were not going toward the shopping mall but our car stopped before the amusement park. I snapped my head towards Rhys in complete surprise.

"SURPRISE!" Rhys squealed happily, looking at me then looked behind at Alex. Who was sitting behind?

"Whoa! Daddy, we will have fun here." Alex screamed in excitement jumping on the seat and Rhys laughed seeing his excitement.

"Let's have fun, dear." He came close to my face and mumbled, holding a little smile on his face. I was pleased to discover his thoughtfulness. He has gotten himself into the father role very deeply.

I gave him a nod with a grateful smile. Rhys got out of the car and held the door open for Alex. Alex jumped out of the car and held Rhys's hand. I got out of the car and walked to the other side where they were waiting for me to join them.

"Let's go." Rhys squealed with delight while advancing towards the entrance. At first, we bought three bunny ear headbands because of Alex's insistence.

I could not stop laughing seeing Rhys. He was looking hilarious.

"Stop making fun of me, Ren," Rhys said, squinting his eyes at me. And I sealed my lips making a cute face but soon burst into laughing when Alex also made fun of him.

"Dad, you are looking like a hunk rabbit."

Rhys's jaw dropped to the floor but he also laughed then we trio went inside. We have fun inside. It was the best day of my life. I have never had fun like today ever in my life. And I could say that It was Alex's best day. As I have never taken him anywhere to have fun. I was so busy trying to make money that I forgot about my child's happiness.

After having fun in the amusement park we went shopping and bought some clothes for Alex and other needed things and Rhys went with him to buy toys for him. They were having a good time with each other. So I let them and didn't disturb them. Alex totally forgot about me after finding his Dad. No matter how much a mother loves her child, a mother can never compensate for the lack of a father. The same goes for fathers too.

A father can never compensate for the lack of a mother. Every person in our life has different types of roles in our life. I always felt sorry for Alex that I could not give him the love of a father. But today seeing him this much happy made my heart at ease. I hope he stays happy like this always. But I felt afraid when he would come to know about the truth. How will he react knowing that Rhys is not his father?

We came back home having lunch in a restaurant on our way back home. Alex was playing with his toys with Rhys in the living room while I was sitting in my room with Myra. And I told her everything that happened to me in these days. And how I have fallen for Jaxon.

"So, his father is the main villain in your story?" Myra said and I let out a deep sigh.

"It's not only him, his wife Brianna is not less than a witch. And she belongs to Williams. You know them right? They are very powerful. If her father comes to know that I'm trying to steal his daughter's husband he can wipe off my existence from this world with the click of his fingers. I have no other way except backing off. It's better for both of us. I don't want to risk my son's life."

I found Myra in deep thought. "What happened, Myra?" I shook her to bring her back from her thoughts.

"Are you alright?" She blinked her eyes blankly then she shook her head with a forced smile.

"I think you should move on from Mr. Knight. And Rhys is the best option for you. Moreover, Alex is very fond of him. And they get along well together. I don't think it's a bad choice to date him. Trust me, I have seen feelings for you in his eyes. The way his eyes search for you everywhere is a signal at one thing that he has feelings for you. So if he tries to approach you, you should accept him. At least for the sake of Alex. You can do this for him, right?"

Myra was right though but the thought of choosing someone except Jaxon made my heart clenched with extreme pain. I wasn't sure about Rhys. I don't think he would want to have a life partner who has a child already. Besides, he still hasn't found his match. What if someday he found his mate and left me? Then what will happen to me and my son? Is it a wise decision to take this risk?

But now the matter of stress is not if I should choose him or not. What is important is his feelings and mine too. I don't know what he feels for me and I'm not sure I can love him or not. Feelings change for sure but mine will change it's not guaranteed. What if I can not love him back? Because of my selfishness, I can't ruin his life.

"Consider what I told you, Ren. You can't live the rest of your life alone. You need someone. And it's the best option if we choose the person who loves us. It's foolish to choose someone whom we love because, in the end, it ends up devastated. Now it's up to you, whether you want to live a devastated life or a peaceful life. Best of luck." Patting my thigh she got up from the bed leaving me with tons of stress.

________________

"Alex, You have played a lot, now it is time to sleep, so come on son, let's go to bed." Alex was watching a cartoon on the TV with Rhys and it was almost ten o'clock.

"Mom! Please give me five minutes." I glared at him because he had asked for these five minutes four times till now. And his five minutes never ended, just kept extending.

"No more five minutes. You are going to bed with me right now." I said firmly and he immediately went to Rhys's lap and snuggled with him like a koala.

"Dad, please tell Mom to let me watch cartoons a little." He pleaded to Rhys putting on his best puppy face and I rolled my eyes at his old tactics.

"It's getting late, son. Let's go to bed." He picked him up in his arms and got up from the sofa.

"But you will go back tomorrow." His words stunned both of us. His voice was filled with pain. And I felt bad for him.

Rhys looked at me for a second then again looked back at Alex. "I'm helpless, son. But I promise I will come back next weekend. And we will have lots of fun. I have work."

Rhys tried to make him understand who seemed super sad. As his Mom and Dad both will leave him tomorrow. I felt like crying. I looked up and blinked two or three times to hold back my tears.

"I know work is important. But the other child's Daddy lives with them. Then why can't you live with me? I also want to live with my Daddy and Mommy." Alex's voice cracked and tears welled up in his eyes ready to fall.

Alex pulled him into a hug. And tears rolled down from my eyes. I hate to feel vulnerable.

"Let's go to bed for now. We will sleep together like other families. You, me, and Mumma. Are you happy now?" Holding Alex's face Rhys told him, changing the topic smartly. And luckily Alex's mood lit up.

"Yeah! Today I will sleep with Daddy and Mommy!" Alex exclaimed excitedly. And Rhys looked at me with a sorry face. I blinked my eyes saying it's okay.

I knew everything was getting complicated with time. This is the specialty of lies. If you tell one lie, you have to tell 100 lies to hide it. Goddess knows how many lies we have to tell in the future for this one lie.

Rhys took Alex to my room and tucked him in the bed then slipped beside him. "Mumma, come. What are you waiting for?" Alex called me but I was feeling odd. It was the second time I was sharing my room with a man. At first, it was Jaxon now Rhys.

Oh, Goddess! Save me.

I marched towards the bed and slipped into the duvet next to Alex. He was sleeping in the middle. Rhys And I were sleeping on his either side. I was stroking Alex's hair while Rhys was patting Alex's chest. A smile was plastered on Alex's lips with closed eyes. I knew he was happy but how long? Rhys also falls asleep with Alex. But I was awake.

I kept twisting and turning on the bed, not able to sleep. Jaxon's face was not leaving my mind at all. Our passionate moments were flashing in my mind. His charming smile was doing something to my heart. It was killing me inside thinking that he would not remember me anymore. He will forget that he ever loved me. But what if he again approaches me? He will forget about me.

"No matter what happens I'll not give up. If he again approaches me I'll not give him any chance to get close to me. Hmm. That's final."

While thinking so much made me drown in slumber. I felt my eyelids heavy. And they got closed automatically. Just before I let the darkness consume me I felt soft, warm, and wet lips lingering on my forehead for a few seconds before whispering

"Sleep tight, Love." I tried to open my eyes but I couldn't and darkness consumed me in its embrace fully.