Nina opened the door silently and tiptoed inside Sheila’s room. She was in a deep sleep and her light snores could be heard near the doorframe.
Her quilt was till her chin and her hand was placed under her cheek. Nina left the room quietly and instructed the maid to take extra care of Rafael.
Except for Sheila, everyone knew that her son was now called Rafael.
She went out and found Gabriel standing there, leaning on a cab, "Why are you here in a cab?" she asked him while sitting beside him.
He snaked his arm around her shoulders and pressed her to him, "My car broke down, but I didn’t want anything to stop me from meeting you," he kissed her cheek.
He was looking outside the window. His hair locks were falling softly on his forehead and Nina wanted to reach out to move them off his face.
"How are kids?" she asked him, and he smiled genuinely.
"They are good," he gazed down at her face and then kissed her forehead.
"Won’t you ask about my kid?" she asked him with a raised eyebrow and enjoyed when saw him shocked.
"Your kid?"
"Yeah! Shane’s kid is obviously my kid!" she said giggling, and he joined her.
The car stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant and Nina turned to look at him after getting out of the car.
"What?" he asked her after paying the cab driver, "Do you want to go somewhere else?"
Nina shook her head, "This is the first time you haven’t taken me to a hotel directly."
Gabriel gave her a small smile and then held her hand, "We’re here because this is where I brought you first on our first date."
Nina felt emotional. It seemed as if God had taken pity on her and now, she was about to get everything in her life.
A son and a lover.
How about we get married where his kids and my Rafael live together? Like a big family?
***
Sheila stayed in bed even when she sensed Nina had left the room. She didn’t want to move and give her the impression that she was faking it.
This was Nina’s house and here they had Nina’s servants.
How will I manage to take my kid out of here? She asked herself and then her inner voice spoke in her head,
You’re a mom, Sheila. And you can do it. Gather your courage and run from here.
This was Alexander’s nap time, so she went to his room to wake him, but she halted after opening her son’s bedroom door. He wasn’t there.
"Alexander!" she whispered and came out after checking his bathroom.
A maid was passing by, and Sheila gave her the impression as if she was too weak to walk, "Can you tell me where Alexander is?" she asked in a feeble voice, "I need to meet him and go back to my room."
The maid was hesitant for a moment. She might have the orders not to let Sheila meet the kid, but all the servants knew Sheila used to meet him briefly even when she was in excruciating pain.
"I ... I need to meet my son," she pressed her belly a little and closed her eyes, "I just took my meds," she informed the maid with a giggle, "and I can fall asleep any time. Don’t complain if you have to carry me back to my room."
The maid chuckled. Now she was sure that Sheila just wanted to see her son and get back to her room to sleep.
Why is my son sleeping in Nina’s room? Why not in his room?
Was Nina interested in selling Alexander?
"Miles?"
"Sheila. We don’t have time. Leave immediately. You don’t know her," Miles’s condition didn’t look as bad now.
Was he faking it?
"I think you should accompany us, Miles. Nina might hold you responsible for this..." She raised her hands helplessly, but he shook his head.
"She won’t do anything. I can easily pin this on you that you played with my trust!" Sheila wanted to laugh. She wished she had more time to get to know more about Shane’s father.
She turned and went to Alex who was fast asleep. It was not an easy task to carry a six-year-old in her weak condition, but she was willing to do it for the sake of her son.
"Sheila!" she heard Miles behind her when she was bending to pick him up and gave him a questioning look.
"Are you... are you with child?" he swiped her tongue on his lips, "Are you pregnant again?"
Sheila kept looking at Miles and then nodded softly. Miles pursed his lips tightly as if trying to stop his tears, "Go to St. Mary. They will not only let you stay but will fulfill all your needs. Just use my name. I’ll make a call to ensure you stay there safe and sound."
Sheila nodded and then picked up Alex who weighed almost nothing.
***
The waiter was placing the dish on the table when Nina took out her phone from her purse.
"What’re you doing?" Gabriel asked her and she shrugged with a smile.
"I need to keep an eye on my son," she said and switched on her phone to connect it to her room camera. Before Gabriel could stop her, she had already switched on the app and was horrified by what she saw on her screen.
"Oh, Gabriel. I need to go home!" she picked up her purse, "My son is in danger!"
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