Isabella~
"Let's go, Mama." I turned to look at him after hearing his excitement-filled voice.
"Alan, are you sure?" I stared at him in bewilderment, then at Xavier, wondering what magic he had worked on him to get him to agree to his dance performance right away.
"Yes, Mama, Uncle Xavier will accompany you to my school function, and then my friend will not make fun of me." He grinned as he observed Xavier's face.
"What?" I looked at Xavier's face in shock.
"I tried to convince him, but he wasn't ready to listen to anything. Then I found this solution to the problem." He let out a remorseful sigh and stared at the ground.
"However, Mr. Thompson, you can not accompany me to Alan's school function; you are not his father."
I now regret taking him to Alan's school with me. But I didn't take him with me intentionally. The alarm on my phone reminded me of his school function, which I had completely forgotten due to my intense focus on the case. I have no choice but to accept his assistance, as I have already parked my car in the hotel parking lot.
"If you don't let him see my dance performance, Mama, I won't be dancing." He crossed his arms across his chest. When I witnessed my five-year-old son's manipulation skills, I was astounded. He is typically behaving like his father, dominating and manipulative.
I sighed defeatedly as I heard the announcement of his dance performance and asked Xavier to accompany me to the function hall. Sitting with him as a couple makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable, but I have to put up with it for my son's happiness.
"I am sorry, Mr. Thompson. Alan's actions have forced you to waste your time here." As we settled into our recliners, I whispered to him.
"That's completely fine; you don't need to feel sorry. I am glad that you allowed me to see his dance performance." He fixed his gaze on the stage and cheered loudly on seeing Alan's dance.
In such a short time, he developed a close relationship with him. When my phone rang with his call, I excused myself and left the function hall to speak with him.
"Hey, where are you?" His voice sounded like a fresh morning wind.
"In Alan's school function.Did you wake up just now?" I questioned him after hearing his sleepy voice.
"Yes, last night was tough for me." He let out a deep sigh.
"Everything all right now?" I questioned him, detecting a hint of worry in his voice.
"Yes, everything is under control now. Tell me how Alan is doing; did he miss me?" His question set me on edge for a few seconds. I considered lying to him, but ultimately, I chose to be truthful and told him the truth about Alan's insistence.
"I hope you don't forget what you promised me, Bella." His voice suddenly changed into a serious one.
"Yes, it's just a school function; don't worry." I attempted to soothe his rage.
"I would advise you to keep him away from Alan, as I am confident he will do everything in his power to keep him away from you once he discovers the truth."
"No, he can't do that. I showed him the DNA reports." I argued with him, but his words sparked fear within me.
"Keep your son away from him if you want him to live with you, as a biological relationship is more important than any DNA test results."
"No, he is my son; no one can take him from me." My fear caused me to lose my temper. The idea of losing my son made my body tremble. Despite disconnecting the phone, his words continued to echo in my mind.
"Bella, is everything fine?" I came out of my inner world when Xavier touched my shoulder. I looked at him with fear-filled eyes, as if he came to snatch my son from me.
"Where is Alan?" I questioned him.
"He is with his friends." He gave me a perplexed look, but I brushed it off and sprinted in the direction of my son.
"Mama, I've won the best dancer trophy." He waved his trophy joyfully in front of me.
"That's good. Now let's go; we have to go home now." I took his hand and moved in the direction of the school's main gate.
"But Mama, the function is not finished yet. I have to meet you with my friends." He refused to leave the school now.
"I will meet your friend some other day but please let's go for now." I kneeled in front of him and pleaded.
"But mama..."He opened his mouth to express his dissatisfaction with me, but then he noticed the tears in my eyes and immediately agreed to accompany me.
"Mama, why is Uncle not joining us?" He questioned me as he saw us standing on the roadside, waiting to stop the taxi.
"No, Alan, he has some urgent work to attend to." I lied to my son to keep him away from Xavier.
To face my past fears, I forgot about my boundaries with Xavier. That's why I allowed him to meet my son, but after talking to him once again, I was reminded of why I was hiding my son from Xavier. No matter how much he has changed, I do not doubt that he will not hesitate to reveal his vicious side to me once he is aware of the truth.
"Where are you going, Bella? Let me drop you off." His car honked at us. Seeing him behind me makes me feel even more afraid.
"No, Mr. Thompson, we'll manage." I grabbed Alan's arm and began to retreat from Xavier, walking along the side of the road.
I've begged him to stop following me, so I don't understand why he still does.
"Mama, I'm too exhausted to walk anymore." Alan stopped walking and complained to me about his leg pain.
When I couldn't find a taxi, I felt compelled to sit in Xavier's car for the sake of my son. He didn't question my actions, but it was obvious from his fierce glare that he was not pleased with my impolite behavior toward him.
Alan revealed his blister by removing his shoe. Seeing the blister on his soft feet filled my heart with guilt. I'm to blame, yet there is nothing else I can do to keep my son safe from Xavier. I tried to keep him away from my son after unintentionally allowing him to become a part of my life.
He stopped the car at the medical store and bought a bandage for Alan's feet. Alan was already sleeping in my lap, so there was awkward silence on the way to my house. Xavier's eyes locked on the rearview mirror. I wanted to crawl under the ground and hide from his piercing stare, but I had to face his wrath until I got home.