Chapter 2
Back in the house, my son woke up from the noise I’d made and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
Looking at his face–a perfect miniature replica of Knox–felt like daggers twisting in my heart.
How could Knox, as a father, bear to let his son carry the stigma of being fatherless at such a young age?
Noticing my barely concealed grief, my son’s face filled with concern:
“Mom, did Dad pretend not to know you again?”
His words hit me like a thunderbolt.
I suddenly remembered how, after Knox reappeared as his brother “Chase,” my son had consistently called him Dad. I’d always stopped him, insisting that wasn’t his father but his uncle.
I’d assumed my child simply missed his father too much to distinguish between identical twins then,
but I never expected that I was horribly mistaken.
It turned out my son saw things clearly. He had always recognized his own father but couldn’t
understand why, overnight, his dad had stopped acknowledging him.
This also explained why Chase had always been so attentive to us–always bringing gifts for my son, checking if he was warm enough or feeling well, dropping off meat and vegetables, secretly providing financial support. Yet he’d become uncharacteristically stern whenever my son called him “Dad,” quickly correcting him every time.
Everyone who saw these said, “As uncles go, you couldn’t ask for better. Even most biological fathers
don’t show that level of dedication.”
Before learning the truth, I’d been deeply grateful to this “brother–in–law,” storing up his kindnesses in my heart, planning to repay him someday.
Now that I knew the truth, the irony was utterly unbearable.
He was our son’s biological father–wasn’t caring for him the bare minimum he should do? How could he do all this without his conscience eating him alive?
14:27
Three Years a ‘Widow‘. Until I Found His Secret!
Chapter 2
Bitterness welled up inside me. Never had I felt so acutely that the Knox I knew was truly dead–he
had buried himself with his own hands.
I’d spent three years honoring his memory, but now this chapter of my life was finally closing.
After collecting myself, I looked seriously at my son and asked if he would mind if I remarried, giving him a new father.
Sensing my heartbreak, Jayden threw his arms around me, his small hands patting my back in
comfort and firmly said:
“Mom, I don’t know why Dad keeps pretending not to know me, but if you don’t want him anymore,
then I don’t either. Wherever you go, Jayden will follow. If Dad won’t protect you anymore, then Jayden will!”
In that moment, tears burst from my eyes.
I hugged my son tightly, then called my parents.
The call connected, but before I could say anything, they launched into their usual lecture:
“Aria, since Knox passed away, Ryker has come to us at least a dozen times asking for your hand.
You’ve known each other since childhood–you know everything about him. Plus, he’s a high–ranking
official now. Why are you being so stubborn about remarrying?”
I cut them off: “Mom, Dad, I’ve made my decision. I’ll remarry.”
There was five seconds of silence, followed by disbelieving jubilation.
“Are you serious, Ria? That’s wonderful! We’re so glad you’ve come to your senses. We’ll contact him right away and start planning the wedding! Don’t worry, Ryker has promised us countless times that he’ll treat Jayden like his own son once you’re married. As for you, all you need to do is enjoy your
new life.”
Even through the phone, I could feel my parents‘ excitement.
Of course, for three years, they’d worried themselves sick over me. But because of Knox, I’d repeatedly disappointed them.
But from now on, it won’t be like that anymore.
14:27
Three Years a ‘Widow‘… Until I Found His Secret!
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