Chapter 36: Forgot? 

Nick 

I observed the child in silence, feeling my blood rush through my body and my heart pounding 

against my rib cage. The little one looked at me and frowned; he was an identical image to 

what I see in the mirror every morning–his eyes, hair, and tiny nose. It’s like seeing myself as 

a child. 

“Thank you,” the woman said, taking the cap from my hands. She didn’t look at me and just put the cap on the boy while we both stared at each other in silence. 

“Let’s go, sweetie,” she said, taking the boy’s hand and walking away with him. I stood up and 

followed them with my gaze, then moved my legs to follow their steps. 

“Nick, it’s done. They’re going to open earlier for us,” Will arrived and hugged me by the 

shoulders. 

“No, come with me.” I moved quickly. 

“What?” he said, and I kept walking towards the woman and the child. 

“What’s happening now? Where are we going?” he asked from behind. 

The woman entered a restaurant, and I watched through the window to see where she was 

going. I noticed she was heading to a table at the back. I entered cautiously, found a discreet 

spot at the bar, and sat on one of the stools. Will followed me. I ordered a drink, which I took 

down in one go without taking my eyes off the woman and the child. Their companions were 

delightedly interacting with the little one. 

“What are we doing here? Are you going to invite me to eat?” Will asked. 

“The boy.” I looked in the direction where the women were gathered. “He’s identical to me.” Will 

looked in that direction. 

“It’s the boy from the airport!” he said, surprised. 

“Lower your voice,” I said, looking at him to continue. 

“Remember I told you about the two kids who looked like you, especially the boy? They were 

with the blonde.” He pointed to the woman who was attentive to the little one. 

“I remember,” I said without taking my eyes off them. A little girl ran towards them, and now I 

remembered that she was the girl at the orphanage and called the blonde ‘mother.‘ What confused me was that I thought… 

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Chapter 36: Forgot? 

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“Mommy,” the boy said to someone not in sight, but who appeared shortly after. My breath quickened along with the blood pumping in my chest. The glass I brought to my mouth returned to the table, and I froze. 

“It’s your ex, and the boy just called her mom,” Will said, astonished. 

+8 Point 

My heart beat erratically as I realized they were mine. Alaia’s children are mine. Alaia took him 

in her arms and started kissing his cheek, drawing a smile. My hands ran through my face 

and hair. 

They are my children, and she never told me. She insisted on hiding them from me. I’ve lost all 

this time with them. I didn’t see Alaia pregnant. I didn’t see them being born. I haven’t seen 

them grow. 

“They are mine, Will. I have no doubts,” I said, watching the interaction between the women, 

the children, and Alaia’s cousin. I noisily placed the glass on the bar and a wild impulse drove 

me towards the table. 

“Hey, hey! Where are you going?” Will whispered a shout and grabbed my arm. “Damn it, Nick, 

you look furious. You can’t talk to her like that. Do you want the kids to see you like this?” He 

pointed to my face. “You need to calm down first.” 

“I can’t be calm. Alaia and Cedric teamed up to lie to mo will. They made me believe my 

children were those idiots.” 

“Wow, I thought you didn’t like kids.” 

“It’s different. It feels different knowing they’re yours.” I ran my hands over my face again, feeling a tightness in my chest as I reflected on everything I’d missed, how everything would have been different if our destiny hadn’t taken that turn if Alaia had told me she was pregnant. 

Now I remembered the care she had for that small box in her hands the day I asked for the 

divorce. Days later would have been our anniversary; she was going to tell me. 

Damn it! I felt like a piece of s**t. 

We continued watching them. The spot we chose was out of sight, allowing us to see them without being noticed. The only thing I could focus on was the children’s faces. I heard their laughter, and something stirred in my chest. 

“I have to talk to her,” I said, watching Alaia animatedly talking with the women accompanying her. I realized that Sebastian’s wife and Alex’s partner were also there. The world is very small. 

“You will, but not right now,” Will said, and frustration overwhelmed me. “I don’t know what to 

you, Nick, I don’t know how I would feel if what happened to you happened to me.” 

tell 

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Chapter 36: Forgot? 

I don’t say anything, nor do I know which of the emotions I’m feeling is the strongest. 

After holding back the urge to confront her and wanting to see the children up close, they stand up and leave the restaurant. I followed them with my gaze. 

“Let’s go,” I said when I saw them walking towards the cars. 

The vehicles started, and I walked quickly to get into mine, just as William did. It didn’t take long for me to catch up with them. I was sure the bodyguards would notice I was following, so I called Kathe and asked her to send me Alaia’s address from the investigation papers on Cedric and her. 

I felt like the biggest fool. Jealousy didn’t let me see that the children could be mine. “You executed your plan to hide my children very well, Alaia. You managed to deceive me until now.” 

I noticed the cars enter a gated entrance, and the house is surrounded by tall hedges. I drove 

to the entrance and received a call from Will. 

“Do you think they’ll let you in?” he asked as I barely answered the call and saw his car behind 

mine. 

“They will,” I said confidently. 

“I’ll be here,” he said. I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me, and hung up. 

“Good evening,” a security man greeted me, approaching my window. 

“Good evening,” I responded. “I’m Nick Garnett. I’ve come to speak with Alaia Russell.” 

The man nodded and walked to a small security booth. He took a few seconds and returned. 

“Miss Russell can’t see you right now,” the bodyguard said, and I laughed without humor. 

“Tell her I’m here to talk about my children, our children, and that I won’t leave until she sees 

me.” The man looked slightly surprised and returned to the booth. 

Just when I thought I’d be here all night, the metal gates open, allowing me to pass. I reached 

out of the car, reached the main door, and pressed the keys in my hand, looking at the house. 

At that moment, a woman opened the door. I inhaled deeply before starting to climb the 

stairs. 

“Good evening,” the woman said as soon as I entered. 

“Good evening,” I responded, looking at the opulence of the house. 

“This way,” she asked and led me to a door on my right. It was slightly ajar. I crossed the 

threshold and saw Alaia with her arms crossed. 

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+ Points 

Alaia 

We said goodbye to our outing with the girls, whom Ash and I love. Aithana, Alany, Jules, and Elizabeth are wonderful women, and we’ll stay in touch. We got into the SUVs, and after a while, the children fell deeply asleep; it was a very busy day for them. 

We arrived home, and Ash and I carefully took the children to bed. 

“They had a blast,” Ash said, looking at them in bed. 

“It doesn’t feel right to hide them. They should be free,” I said, biting my lip, and feeling immense guilt. 

“I know, you’re just doing what you think is best for them, Ali.” She hugged me by the shoulders, and we left the room, leaving a lamp on. 

“Miss Russell,” Gavin walked towards me as I reached the last step on the first floor. “Mr. Nick 

Garnett is at the entrance. He has asked to speak with you,” I turned for a second and turned 

to look at Ash, who looked confused. 

I exhaled; this can’t be good. 

“Please tell him I won’t see him,” I asked and turned to go see my mother and Elise. I heard 

Gavin’s steps moving away. 

“How was your day?” my mother asked as we entered. She was preparing dinner with the 

staff. I love her dishes. 

“Great, we have new friends.” Ash approached to kiss her mother’s head. 

“Miss,” Gavin said again, and we turned to look at him. “Mr. Garnett insisted. He said he 

wanted to talk about your children, his children with you,” he clarified, and I tensed up as soon 

as I heard it. 

“He knows,” my mother stated and everyone looked at me. 

“The time has come.” I exhaled and walked towards the office. “Let him in, Gavin,” I said and 

saw him go to the camera room. 

I opened the office door, turned on the lights, leaned my hip against the desk, and positioned 

myself in front of the door. I could feel the tension in my body. I breathed, knowing this day 

would come, although I didn’t imagine it would be so soon. I heard his steps approaching the 

door and focused my attention on it. When Nick enters, he looks like he hasn’t had a good day 

and seems tense. 

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Chapter 36: Forgot? 

“They’re mine,” he said as Sylvia closed the door behind him. “Did you plan to hide them forever? Did you plan to deceive me all my life by making them pass as Cedric’s children?” he questioned furiously. 

“I have to protect them,” I spoke calmly. 

“Protect them from their father?” he questioned indignantly. 

“I’m their mother, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect them from anyone who poses a danger to them,” I said firmly. 

“What are you talking about, Alaia?” He looked confused and angry. 

“So, you forgot? You forgot that when you found out about my pregnancy, you sent your 

grandfather to ‘ask‘ me with threats to abort my children.” My gaze sharpened towards him. 

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