The CEO's Rejected Wife And Secret Heir novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Noah is Safe

Aria pov

I didn’t care about Marcus. Didn’t care about anything except seeing my son.

The drive to the hospital was the longest fifteen minutes of my life. Damien’s driver broke every traffic law, but it still felt too slow. I clutched Damien’s hand the entire way, both of us silent, both afraid to hope too much.

What if Noah was hurt worse than they thought? What if he was traumatized beyond repair? What if

"He’s going to be okay," Damien said, reading my thoughts. "He’s strong just like his mother."

We pulled up to the emergency entrance. Didn’t wait for the car to fully stop before jumping out and running inside.

"Noah Blackwood," I gasped to the nurse at reception. "My son, he was just brought in"

"Room 3," she said, pointing. "Second door on your right."

We ran.

The door was already open. And there, sitting on the examination table with a female FBI agent beside him, was Noah.

My baby.

He looked so small in the oversized hospital gown they’d put him in. His curls were messy, his eyes red from crying. But he was there.m.

"Mama!" He saw me and his face crumpled. "Mama!"

I was across the room in a heartbeat, scooping him into my arms, holding him so tight he squeaked. "Baby. Oh, baby. I’m here. Mama’s here."

"I was so scared!" He sobbed into my shoulder. "The scary man with the scary face took me and wouldn’t let me go and I called for you but you didn’t come and."

"I know, sweetheart. I know. I’m so sorry." Tears streamed down my face. "But you’re safe now, you are safe."

"Is the scary man gone?"

"Yes." I pulled back to look at him, smoothing his curls. "He’s gone. He can’t hurt you anymore."

Noah’s eyes moved past me, landing on Damien, who stood frozen in the doorway.

"Daddy?" Noah’s voice was small, uncertain.

Damien’s face did something complicated. He took a hesitant step forward. "Hi, Noah."

"So you really my daddy?" Noah asked. "Mama said you were away for work, but the scary man said you didn’t want me."

"No." Damien dropped to his knees in front of us, his eyes level with Noah’s. "No, that’s not true. I do want you. I’ve always wanted you. I was just... lost. But I’m here now. If you’ll let me be."

Noah studied him with those ice-blue eyes—so like his father’s it was almost eerie.

"You have the same eyes as me," Noah observed.

"I do." Damien smiled through his tears. "We have lots of things that are the same."

"Do you like dinosaurs?"

"I love dinosaurs."

"What’s your favorite?"

"T-Rex," Damien said without hesitation. "What’s yours?"

"Triceratops!" Noah bounced in my arms. "Because they have horns and they’re tough and they protect their families."

Something in Damien’s expression broke. "That’s a very good reason."

Noah reached out and touched Damien’s face, his small hand exploring this stranger who was his father. "You’re sad."

"I am," Damien admitted. "But I’m also very, very happy. Because you’re safe, and because I am happy to see you safe."

"The scary man said you gave him all your money to get me back." Noah’s brow furrowed. "Do you still have enough money for food? Mama says we always need money for food."

Damien laughed—a broken, beautiful sound. "Yes, buddy. We still have enough money for food."

"Good." Noah nodded seriously. Then, with the mercurial mood swing only a three-year-old could manage: "Can I have McDonald’s? The scary man only gave me gross sandwiches."

I laughed through my tears. "Yes, baby. You can have all the McDonald’s you want."

"Can Daddy come too?" Noah asked looking between us with hope in his eyes. Damien is frozen, afraid to presume, afraid to hope. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Yes," I said softly, meeting Damien’s gaze over Noah’s head. "Daddy can come too."

The smile that broke across Damien’s face was transcendent.

"Can I" He gestured awkwardly. "Can I hug you? Both of you?"

Noah answered by throwing himself at Damien, tiny arms wrapping around his father’s neck. Damien caught him, standing with Noah in his arms, and pulled me in too.

We stood there in that sterile hospital room, the three of us clinging to each other, and something fundamental shifted. The broken pieces of our family, scattered for three years, began to find their way back together.

"Excuse me?" The doctor knocked gently on the open door. "I need to do a quick examination. Make sure Noah is okay."

"I don’t want more doctors," Noah protested, burrowing into Damien’s shoulder.

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