Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Ray's expression did not change. "What do you mean?"

"What else? You always seem curious about single mothers like me, right? Is there something you're actually hiding?"

With this his brow furrowed.

"Ray, whatever you were hiding this time, I think it's enough now."

"Alexa, I just—"

"No, Ray, you have to listen to me this time. The problem with my son has nothing to do with you. That's all."

Ray felt like he wanted to explode something around him, which could at least make a big booming sound, to cloud the negative thoughts of the woman in front of him. Since the first time they met, he was always curious about this.

Why is it that in her eyes, everything he does is a mistake?

"I care about Fillo because—"

"Because he looks like you? You think too much, Ray."

It's true, Ray thought so. But it seemed like what she had in mind was more than he had imagined.

Alexa, "This hurts me a lot, but I know someone will never get tired of picking on other people's weaknesses, right?"

Ray raised his head, glancing at Fran who was silent in the middle of the wrong situation. Fran was smart enough to understand that he wasn't needed and left quietly.

"Alexa, I think you misunder—"

"No. It's true. Everyone is suspicious of me. Giving me disgusted looks. Accusing me of their own speculation—I'm already satisfied with all this." She cut him off.

Of course, he couldn't interrupt her again, and let her talk until her heart was relieved.

"You also think that you and Fillo are very similar, don't you?" Then she looked at him. "Do you think he might be your son?"

Even though this question was directed at him, he couldn't say anything.

She laughed dryly. "But, he's not your child, Ray. Believe me. You don't need to think about how to take care of him, I, his mother, am here." She paused for a moment, "Yeah, even if you don't believe what I say and intend to look for proof on paper, we can do that too."

The two made eye contact.

"We can do a DNA test."

A cold feeling washed over his entire body, so he involuntarily clenched his hands into fists. He didn't say he would do that at all, but she could even guess it accurately. He couldn't look down on this woman.

At first, the DNA test was planned just to eliminate his curiosity without telling her. And just to make sure.

But in reality he actually hurt her with this?

"But, can you just take my word for it? Isn't it absurd? Look, we've only known each other for two months. At that time Fillo was already this big." She played with the button of her sleeve, looking at him with red eyes. "There's no way with that age-old introduction that we can produce a child, right?"

He finally answered, "I just thought there was a possibility."

"Possibility?" Her forehead furrowed.

"A lot of things happened in the past. Anything could be related to you, I'm just trying to make sure."

What does it mean?

She didn't understand at all. This made her think for a second longer, but still didn't understand.

She said, "I don't know, I seem to be used to other people's possibilities. It's not easy for a single mother to gain confidence. Other people will definitely think; maybe I'm a prostitute, or maybe I kidnapped someone else's baby, or am pregnant with a married man and all that could be used as a possibility. But, isn't that just guessing?"

"That's not what I meant, Alexa."

Ray had no intention of accusing her like that. He just ... just ... What?

He actually didn't understand how he could think of doing this. Fillo's face really distracted him because it was so coincidentally similar to him. Even the multiple coincidences between them were very strange.

It was as if the sky was telling him something.

"Come on, Ray," she said again. "You and I are not kids anymore. If you're curious, instead of thinking about possibilities, wouldn't you rather ask me?"

Ray looked at her. "Will you answer if I ask?"

When asked a question like that, her body stiffened slightly. It wasn't that she didn't prepare an answer to this question. But his cold gaze penetrated her as if to say that he could not be lied to.

"Of course," she smiled faintly. "Ask everything you want to know. I will answer as long as I can."

He continued to stare at her for a long time. Her gaze looked at him steadily without the slightest flinch. He started, "I remember you asked if we had met before, what was the meaning of that question?"

Damn it. Here he goes again, pretending not to remember anymore. Is he casting for a particular drama?

Without immediately answering, she licked her lips repeatedly, broke eye contact and did not relax in her place. She felt Ray was testing her, he definitely wanted her to reveal the past first and make her feel embarrassed. This man is truly disgusting.

She glanced at Fillo who was obediently sitting watching his two 'parents' talk, while shaking his legs.

Then she laughed.

Ray didn't understand why she suddenly laughed.

"Is there something funny?"

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to laugh, but this is kind of funny."

Ray frowned even more confused.

Her voice said after clearing her throat once, "Look, maybe I'll tell you, even though this is something that really reminds me of the past." Then she looked at him seriously. "Ray, you really look like my ex-boyfriend. I was wrong before. Sorry for thinking of you as him."

Now if she said it like this, would he still pretend to have forgotten. Now that his intention to secretly check on her son has been revealed, Alexa was sure that Ray knows something.

Quiet for a long time Ray seemed to remember something.

Why could he forget that at the beginning of their meeting, she had indeed been angry with him. At that time, he guessed that he probably resembled her ex-lover so just by looking at him, she felt annoyed.

So, they really look alike?

She was still smiling as she continued, "My ex-boyfriend's name was Bryan, he also had blue eyes. I did think that you might have had plastic surgery himself."

"You are crazy."

"Yeah, you're right." Her smile disappeared. "He got me pregnant, left me and just forgot about me. How can I not be crazy?"

His eyelashes lowered. "I didn't mean for you to reveal this."

She shrugged. "I've already told the story, so I can't stop, right? Even if I now know where he is, I'm still helpless. Even though he seems to have a new lover, a decent life, and abundant happiness, but he forgot that his child here had been born prematurely because of him."

This explanation stunned him. He gritted his teeth.

"Where is that man now? What's his last name?" He asked through his teeth.

"Is that any of your business?"

"Yes."

"Look, Ray. You're like this again, you're taking too much care of my business even though I didn't ask for it."

Ray's mouth opened to make a defense, but he closed it again. Because what she said was true.

"He's in this town," she said.

But then, Ray's expression changed. "Hold on, Fillo was born prematurely?"

Her eyes followed his gaze and looked at the same subject. "Yes, since childhood, his health has not been good."

What a poor child.

This time, he couldn't say that directly. He grabbed Fillo's small hand which was on his thigh. The little boy's head looked up, looking at him with a beautiful blue glow like the vast ocean. Very innocent and calming.

Ray gave him a genuine smile, instead he continued to ask, "Have you met him?"

In her flat gaze, the turmoil of hatred for Ray raged like an active volcano on the verge of erupting and she held on as hard as she could under the mask of a sad face. As a result, a single tear fell from her eye. In an invisible corner her hands covered in cold sweat were clenched tightly together. Even when her nails started to dig into the flesh, she felt no pain.

On the other hand, Ray, who didn't hear the answer immediately turned his head. Only to see she had cried.

Before he could say anything, she said first, "I already met him, but he pretended not to recognize me."

There was a flash of hatred in those eyes that he caught.

Then she looked down, covering her face, and soon the tears she had been holding back fell harder and harder. She cried without making a sound, her shoulders shaking, her hands soaking wet.

Ray didn't know what to do.

Instinctively he rose to his feet, stretched out his arms to grab the fragile back in front of him and hugged her. He didn't say anything at that time. Just listening to the cries which were initially just small sobs became even more sad.

Throughout his life, he has met many women, they are said to be weak creatures who are very sensitive, cry easily and get easily irritated.

But this was the first time, he faced it head-on.

He even really wanted to hit himself for making a woman cry.

The sound of another cry distracted him. Fillo's big round eyes were also filled with tears and some of the tears had already fallen down his cheeks. Sighing, Ray pulled out Fillo's chair easily. His other hand was now hugging her and the other was stroking the kid's cheek.

His eyes wandered far ahead and his expression was extremely gloomy.

"I am sorry. I am so sorry."

... to be continued ...