Betrayed By Husband, Stolen By Brother In Law
Chapter 173: Who?

Chapter 173: Who?

"Really? Who am I going to meet today? Why aren’t you coming with me?"The little boy tilted his head, his round eyes wide with worry.

The middle-aged man chuckled softly and patted the boy’s messy hair. "I’m not going because I don’t need to, kiddo. You’re the one who’s been saying you wanted to meet your mother, remember?"

The little boy pouted, his lower lip wobbling as he shook his head stubbornly. "But I need you there with me! What if she tries to take me away?" His voice dropped to a whisper, like he was confessing a terrible secret. "I just want to know what she looks like... it’s not like I wanna go with her or anything. I love you."

The man laughed, a warm rumble in his chest, and patted the boy’s head again, ruffling his soft hair. "And I love you too, little rascal. You’re all grown up now—you can handle this. Besides, she’ll also introduce you to another man today."

The boy’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Another man?"

The man waved a hand casually, as if it wasn’t a big deal. "Don’t worry about how he’s related to you. Just treat him politely, but—" he leaned down, lowering his voice like he was sharing a top-secret mission, "—be alert. And whatever you do, don’t let him take your hair."

The boy gasped, clamping both hands protectively over his head. "Take my hair?!" he squeaked. His small hands desperately patted his hair down like he was afraid it would vanish right then and there. "No, no! I don’t want to go! I’ll look horrible without my hair! There’s a boy in my class who went bald and—and—and the sun reflected off his head! You could see it! Like a shiny plate!" His voice cracked in horror, and his little legs twitched like he was ready to bolt for his room.

Laughing so hard he had to wipe the corner of his eyes, the man scooped the boy up and pressed a kiss to his soft, white cheek. "Silly goose. I meant a strand of your hair, not all your hair."

The boy froze in his arms, still suspicious, still clutching his head. "Just one?" he mumbled.

"Just one," the man promised, grinning. "But even one strand is important. So you have to promise me- be careful. Okay?"

The boy scrunched up his face, clearly still worried, but finally gave a tiny, reluctant nod. In his mind, he was already planning his escape route if anyone dared to come near his head. If they even tried to touch him, he’d scream the place down so loudly that all of his father’s guards would come running and bring him straight back home.

He wasn’t losing a single hair today. No way. With his promise to himself, he jumped into the car that father had arranged and felt a little jolt of excitement. He was going to meet his birth mother. He wondered how she looked and if she would be happy to see him.

His father said that his mother had given him away because she did not have a mothering bone in her body. He had no idea what it meant but since his father said so, it must be true. He had no complaints. Even though all his friends teased him about not having a mom, his father was the best! When everyone’s daddy was too busy to meet the teachers or play with them, his father always made time for him.

A bit nervous, he stared outside and hiw own reflections stared back at him. He teased himself a little, patted his hair down and nervously rubbed his hands.

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and gave him an encouraging smile. "We’re here, young master. Someone will be waiting for you at the door."

The boy nodded bravely and puffed out his chest like a tiny soldier. ’Be polite. Be alert. Guard the hair.’ He repeated the mission instructions in his head like a secret code as he stepped out of the car.

Standing at the door, were two people. A man and a woman. His eyes widened. The man was not what he had expected. He looked totally cool in that leather jacket. But then, his attention turned to the woman who stepped forward. His eyes widened. She didn’t look like he imagined his mommy would. But she did look like a princess.

He watched as she stepped forward with her arms open, intending to hug him. He stood straight ready for the hug but then... suddenly took half a step back.

He didn’t mean to be rude—it was just that... well, the closer she came, the stronger the smell got. A flowery, sweet perfume clung to her like a thick cloud, and it hit him right in the nose.He wrinkled it up immediately, trying not to sneeze.

This isn’t right, he thought with a frown, my friend at school said moms are supposed to smell like cake.

He eyed her carefully, half-suspicious. No cake. No cookies. Just an overpowering flower shop explosion.

Maybe his friend had lied... or maybe, just maybe, it was because of what Father said—that she didn’t have a mothering bone in her body. Maybe real moms with mothering bones smelled like cake, and the ones without smelled like this.

He stood a little to the side and let her pat his head and frowned. Well, it was nothing great meeting a mom, it seemed.

"You’re so big now. I can’t believe it. I’m Saira, your mother."

The boy nodded solemnly. "I’m Adir." He wanted to say ’your son’ but somehow couldn’t so he simply informed her," I’m almost five."

"Five already? Wow, you’re such a big boy." Saira said and Adir nodded solemnly. He was big.

He glanced sideways at the man standing next to her—the one in the cool leather jacket—and tilted his head like a tiny detective sizing up a suspect.

Saira noticed and gave a soft laugh. "This is my friend, Adam."