The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Chapter 27 – Close Encounter

Aria POV

The last place I wanted to be on a Thursday morning was Sunshine Preschool’s Mother and Child Day.

I adjusted my sunglasses and checked my watch. Olivia had insisted I attend. "Noah deserves this," she’d said over coffee yesterday. "Every other kid will have their mom there."

She was right. I hated that she was right.

I pushed through the gate into the playground. Colorful banners hung between trees. Tables covered in finger paintings and craft supplies lined the fence. Mothers clustered in groups, chatting and laughing while their children ran wild.

I didn’t belong here. These women discussed playdates and organic snacks. I discussed hostile takeovers and quarterly earnings.

"Mama!" Noah’s voice cut through my thoughts.

I turned. He ran toward me, his curls bouncing with each step. Paint streaked across his cheek. His shirt was already dirty.

Perfect.

"Hey, baby." I knelt down and caught him in a hug. "Having fun?"

"So much fun!" He grabbed my hand and pulled. "Come see what I made!"

I let him drag me toward the craft tables. Other mothers smiled politely. I smiled back but in reality none of us meant it.

Noah showed me his artwork. A house with four stick figures. "That’s you, me, and" He pointed to the other two figures.

"Who are they?" I asked carefully.

"That’s Auntie Liv." He tapped one figure. Then hesitated on the last one. "And that’s... nobody. Yet."

My chest tightened. "It’s beautiful, sweetheart."

"Ms. Monroe?" A teacher appeared beside us. She was Young and enthusiastic. "So glad you could make it! Noah talks about you constantly."

"Does he?" I straightened up.

"Oh yes." She beamed. "He’s very proud of his mama. Says you’re a superhero."

Noah tugged my hand. "Because you are, Mama. You save companies."

The teacher laughed as I managed a smile.

"Well, enjoy the activities." The teacher moved to the next parent. "We have relay races starting in fifteen minutes!"

Noah dragged me toward the playground equipment. Other children played on swings and slides. Mothers supervised from benches, phones in hand.

I was checking my own phone when I felt it.

That presence. The one that made the air shift and my spine straighten.

I looked up slowly.

Damien Blackwood stood near the gate. Thirty feet away he was wearing dark jeans and a black shirt. Our eyes met across the playground.

My heart stopped.

What the hell was he doing here?

He started walking. Straight toward me. His gaze moved from my face to Noah, who was climbing the jungle gym.

No. No, no, no.

I moved quickly putting myself between Damien and my son. "Noah, come here."

"But Mama" He hung from a bar.

"Now, Noah." My voice came out sharper than intended.

He dropped to the ground and walked over. His face fell. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, baby." I touched his hair. "I just"

"Aria." Damien’s voice called out.

I turned. He stood three feet away. Close enough that I could see the shadows under his eyes. The tension in his jaw.

"What are you doing here?" I kept my voice low.

"My nephew attends this school." He gestured vaguely toward the playground. "His mother invited me to the event."

Of course. Because the universe hated me.

Noah peeked around my legs. Those ice-blue eyes studied Damien with open curiosity.

Damien stared back. I watched the exact moment recognition hit him. The way his breath caught. The way his hands flexed at his sides.

He saw himself in Noah’s face. Anyone would.

"Hi," Noah said. He stepped out from behind me. "I’m Noah."

"Noah." Damien’s voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat. "That’s a strong name."

"Mama picked it." Noah smiled up at him. "What’s your name?"

"I’m" Damien glanced at me. "I’m Damien."

"That’s a strong name too." Noah tilted his head. "Are you someone’s daddy?"

The question hit Damien. His eyes closed briefly. "No. Not yet."

"Oh." Noah considered this. "Maybe someday."

"Maybe." Damien knelt down to Noah’s level. "Do you like it here? At school?"

"Uh-huh!" Noah launched into an enthusiastic description of his day. The paintings. The snacks. His best friend who could do a backflip.

I watched Damien listen. Really listen. The way he focused entirely on Noah. The soft expression on his face. The careful way he nodded and responded.

This wasn’t the cold CEO I remembered. This was someone else entirely.

"Noah has your eyes," Damien said quietly, looking up at me.

My hand moved to Noah’s shoulder. "We need to go."

"Aria, please"

"Goodbye, Damien." I guided Noah toward the parking lot.

"But Mama, the relay races" Noah protested.

"We’ll come back another day." I kept walking.

"Aria, wait." Damien followed. "Please. Just five minutes."

"No." I didn’t look back.

"He’s my son." His voice carried across the playground.

Several mothers turned to look. I felt their eyes on us.

I spun around. Walked back to Damien and spoke through clenched teeth. "Don’t. Not here."

"Then where?" His desperation was clear. "You won’t answer my calls. You have security throw me out of your building. What am I supposed to do?"

"Accept that you made your choice three years ago." I stepped closer. "You don’t get to change your mind now just because it’s convenient."

"Convenient?" He almost laughed. "You think any of this is convenient? I haven’t slept in weeks. I can’t eat. I can’t focus. All I think about is" He stopped looking at Noah then lowered his voice. "Please. I’m begging you. Let me explain."

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