bChapter /bb215 /b

    “Alex Lowell created Pocho.”

    Mia stood so fast her chair almost tipped backward. Her hands trembled slightly as she steadied herself, her heart was racing like it was trying to beat out of her chest.

    “We have to go,” she said quickly, her voice sharper than she intended. Her hand shot out toward Aiden, and without hesitation, the little boy slid off his seat and took it.

    Aiden didn’t argue. He didn’t pout or ask why they were leaving so suddenly.

    His three–year–old eyes studied his mother’s face with a seriousness far beyond his age. He knew. He didn’t understand, but he felt it. Something about the way her smile faltered, the way her voice broke just slightly when she spoke.

    The boy didn’t ask questions. Instead, he held her hand tightly like he knew she needed him just as much as he needed her.

    “Did I say something wrong?” Mr. Felix asked from across the table, his brows pulling together in genuine confusion. His tone wasn’t harsh, just confused.

    Mia turned toward him, her lips twitching as she forced another smile. “No, no you didn’t,” she said quickly. She hated how fake it sounded, hated how it cracked at the end.

    She bent down and scooped Aiden into her arms, hugging him close. His little arms circled around her neck, he buries his face on her shoulder, hiding in that safe ce only a mother could provide.

    She held on to him tighter than necessary, almost like he might vanish from her if she didn’t.

    flicked toward her brother. Ethan was already watching her, his eyes scanning her face like he could read every thought running wild in her head. He didn’t need her to exin, he knew. He always knew.

    He nodded once, a small movement, like a silent promise that he will handle things. Turning to his friend, Ethan forced a casual grin. “I’ll call youter. Maybe we’ll hang out some other time,” he said, his voice steady.

    Mr. Felix smiled, though he still looked a little uncertain. “Sure, sure. Anytime,” he said, though his eyes lingered on Mia’s retreating figure.

    But Mia didn’t hear him. She was already pushing through the door, already walking fastb, /bher arms tightening protectively around Aiden. Her chest was tight with fears she couldn’t fully exin.

    She pressed Aiden closer to her as she hurried toward Ethan’s car. She hugged him so tight, like he was her lifeline. And maybe he was. Her son, her little boy, the one thing she had that Alex didn’t. The one person she couldn’t ever risk losing.

    Fear gripped her so strongly it made her knees weak. She wanted to copse, to sit on the ground and cry, but she didn’t. She

    couldn’t. Not here. Not in front of Aiden.

    She had no idea how to control it–the way her body reacted whenever Alex’s name was spoken out loud. It was like poisonb, /blike a wound she thought had healed being ripped open again and again.

    She hated it. She hated that one name could affect her like this.

    b11:30 /bMon, b35 /bAug (

    Today had already drained her. Losing sight of Aiden earlier had left her shaken, her heart still hadn’t recovered from that spike bof /bpanic. She had told herself to breathe, told herself it was fine, he was safe, but her body refused to calm down. And then this… this was too much.

    Felix, with his friendly smile, inviting Aiden to the Pocho anniversary event. The anniversary of a game Alex created.

    Alex…. Alex

    He’s everywhere.

    He seemed to be involved in everything, like he had his hands stretched into ces she never wanted to see him.

    He didn’t even have to be present..

    Just the sound of his name, just the reminder that he existed, was

    It was just an invite. Just a casual suggestion.

    enough to shatter her.

    But in Mia’s head, it was more than that. It was like the universe reminding her that Alex is still existing in the same world as her

    son.

    And the thought of Aiden anywhere near him… it made her stomach twist in fear.

    She couldn’t let that happen. She couldn’t let Aiden ever be close enough for Alex to see him, to notice him. The very idea made her feel sick.

    Her grip on Aiden tightened, and the boy stirred against her shoulder, mumbling something small and tired, but she didn’t loosen her hold. She pressed her lips to his hair, closing her eyes for a moment, inhaling the familiar scent of her son, grounding herself in olliit. /li/ol

    She had to protect him. That was all that mattered.

    Her chest ached as she kept walking, faster now, desperate to reach the safety of the car. She needed to get away. Away from Felix, away from that conversation, away from the reminder of a man she wished she could erasepletely.

    She needed space to think. To breathe. To clear her head before she drowned in it all.

    Her son’s tiny fingers dug into her shirt, clinging onto her like he could sense her fear.

    Mia knew she had to be strong for him.

    The car ride back waspletely quiet….

    Before they even got to the house, Aiden had already fallen asleep in the car, his small head resting against Mia’s shoulder, his breath soft and steady.

    His tiny hands clutched at her shirt even in his dreams.

    Mia carried her son carefully inside, not wanting to disturb his peaceful sleep. Sheid him gently on the bed, brushing back the strands of his hair that had fallen across his forehead.

    She paused for a moment, her chest tightening with that familiar ache of love mixed with fear. Leaning down, she pressed a soft kiss on his warm skin.

    Straightening, Mia exhaled shakily and walked out of the bedroom, pulling the door almost closed behind her so the little boy wouldn’t be disturbed.

    When she stepped into the living room, her eyes immediately fell on Ethan.

    Her brother was sitting on the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at her in silence. His gaze was steady, his expression unreadable, but Mia could feel it. He had something to say… probably a lot to say.

    The moment she walked in and sat down across from him, the weight of his stare didn’t lessen. It pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe.

    Ethan definitely had a lot to talk about. She could see it in his eyes, hear it in the silence that stretched too long between them.

    Finally, he spoke up, soft but firm.

    “Mia….I know you’re scared,” Ethan said, his voice calm, careful, as if he didn’t want to spook her. “The circumstances surrounding Aiden… they’re scary. I know that. But I need you to understand something.”

    She shifted on the couch, pulling her legs up, folding them underneath her as if to shield herself. Wrapping her arms around her body, she held herself tight while she listened, bracing for what he was about to say.

    “You’re scaring him tooi,/ii” /iEthan continued, his eyes softening even as his words struck deep.

    Her throat tightened. She wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong, but she couldn’t. Deep down, she knew he was right.

    “Aiden is very sensitive,” Ethan went on, leaning back slightly but never looking away from her. “He picks up on your emotions too fast, Mia. Too fast. This fear consuming you… it’s not healthy for you, and it’s not healthy for him.”

    Mia blinked hard, but it was no use. A hot tear slipped down her cheek, sliding slowly until it dripped from her chin. She quickly brushed it away with the back of her hand.

    She hated this….the constant fear that lived in her chest. She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t stop imagining Aiden being hurt, or worse, taken from her.

    Ever since she came here, the fear had only gotten worse

    Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she whispered, “I think we should leave.”

    The words tasted bitter.

    Ethan’s eyes widened slightly. He just sat there, staring at her, almost as if he was trying to decide if she meant it.

    “Is that what you want, Mia?” he finally asked, “Is that really what’s best for you to do?”

    Her lips trembled as she answered, her voice breaking. “What’s there to do, Ethan? What’s there to do?” Tears streamed freely now, unstoppable. “I can’t… I can’t keep living like this, waiting for something bad to happen.”

    He didn’t rush to answer. Instead, he leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees again, his voice quiet but firm. “Continue your work. Take care of yourself. And if fate has it that Aiden will meet his father… then so be it.”

    Mia’s whole body stilled at his words.

    Her voice shook when she said his name, “Ethan…”

    He cut her off gently, his tone almost pleading now. “I don’t know how many times I’m going to have to say this to you… bwhether /byou leave this country now or not, Aiden will meet….or find his father one day. No matter how much you try, iyou /ican’t stop bthat /bfrom happening. Whether he is three or thirty, it will happen one day”

    The words tore through her.

    Her eyes filled with more tears, but she couldn’t look away from her brother.

    Ethan’s voice softened, turning almost tender. “Your fears are valid, Mia. I know they are. But ! want iyou /ito be rest assured that thew, the inte, everything–will back you up if anyone tries to take him away from you. That’s not going to happen, I promise your that.” He shook his head slightly.

    Mia shook her head. “He has power Ethan”

    “He also has too much to protect to even think about trying something like that.”

    Her gaze dropped to her hands. She twisted her fingers together, ying with them nervously.

    Ethan leaned back against the couch with a quiet sigh. “Do not live with so much fear, Mia. Break away from it. Try to live your life. You have so much to live for.”

    The sincerity in his words cracked something inside her. A wet chuckle slipped past her lips, half augh, half a sob. She shook her head, wiping at her eyes again.

    Ethan reached over, ruffling her hair the way he used to when they were kids.

    “Ethan!” she gasped, ring up at him, her voice sharp but yful through the tears.

    He only chuckled, shaking his head at her expression.

    “You can start,” he said lightly, “by giving my friend, Mr. Felix, a chance. He likes you, you iknow/i.”

    Mia’s head snapped up, her mouth falling open. “You’re kidding,” she said, staring at him like he hadpletely lost his mind.

    Ethan justughed, the sound warm and teasing.

    Rolling her eyes, Mia pushed herself up from the couch and walked toward the kitchen, desperate for a ss of water to cool her burning throat.

    But Ethan, of course, wasn’t done. He followed her, his steps steady behind hers.

    “What about Esther ckwell?” he asked suddenly.

    Mia froze, her hand hovering over the cupboard. Slowly, she turned to look at him.

    ietly, h