Naylani had had her ups and downs, and Enzo was aware that his wife had been struggling with health issues. She hadn’t been herself lately, and her ntal health had slowly declined on top of her asthma. Despite that, Enzo believed in his wife.
He believed that his wife would never do anything to hurt their son. Zoren, after all, was their son—a fruit of their love. Hurting Zoren was not sothing Naylani, the woman Enzo fell in love with, would do. There was no way she would do that... or so he thought.
"Naylani, were you the one who... hurt our Renren?"
The second those words left Enzo’s mouth, he could’ve sworn he heard his world crumble. Deep in his heart, he wished that wasn’t the case. He deeply wished that this ti, she wouldn’t answer.
But alas...
Naylani suddenly grabbed his arms tightly. "He would hurt ," she whispered, shaking her head. "He cannot live, Enzo."
Enzo almost couldn’t breathe upon hearing that. Naylani didn’t answer him, but that alone was enough to know that his wife had hurt their son — their flesh and blood.
"He’s the one who started that fire and he wants to kill us all!" she added, despite her injury aching from adrenaline. "Please, Enzo, listen to . That boy... he can’t live. If he did, he would kill ! He’s the one who made sick!"
Naylani turned to the door before setting her eyes back on him. "Where is he?"
"Naylani." Enzo pressed his mouth into a thin line, peeling her hands from his arms, his eyes on her. "You’re... still sick."
"No! Listen to . That boy — that demon—"
"Enough!" Enzo hissed through his gritted teeth, but even with the swelling emotions in his chest, he tried to lower her hand gently. "Please, Naylani, enough with this now, okay?"
He squeezed her hand, almost begging. "I beg you. Enough."
A part of his heart wanted to believe that what she was saying was simply part of her hallucinations. He was hopeful that once she was a little better, he could ask her again, and she would tell him that she didn’t rember any of this.
Or better yet, he wished this was all just a bad dream, and once he woke up, he would sigh in relief. Quite wishful thinking, but that was all he could think of to salvage this family.
Sadly, this nightmare was, in fact, a reality.
A reality he had to live; a reality where he had to choose between his wife and son. Two of the most important people in his life. A reality he didn’t see coming when he married her.
"Just rest first, okay?" he humd, trying to lay her down with his hands on her shoulders. "Let’s talk tomorrow. For now, rest."
Bitterness filled Naylani’s face as she studied his expression. She knew he didn’t believe her, and she knew he wouldn’t. Otherwise, Naylani would’ve told him that Zoren was possessed by a devil. That Zoren was not just a little boy with exceptional thinking.
Zoren was calculative and manipulative; he lacked remorse and sympathy. And that he was using his young age to conceal his sches.
"Just rest for now," Enzo added under his breath when his wife cald down, fixing her blanket over her. "Let’s talk tomorrow."
After saying that, Enzo offered her a subtle smile and pulled himself away. "I will—" he paused to clear his throat. "I will be here when you wake up. I’ll just change and then co back. Good night, Naylani."
Upon saying that, Enzo turned his back on her to leave. He didn’t want to be there for now. Naylani could rest, and he needed so ti to think of what to do. After all, his wife needed imdiate help, and he could never let her near his son.
Deep in his heart, Enzo didn’t bla his wife for what she had done. He blad himself for not seeking help sooner, which in turn had put his son in danger. But just as Enzo was approaching the door, Naylani spoke.
Her voice was quiet, but he heard her words loud and clear: "He’s not your son."
Enzo stopped in his tracks, his entire body freezing. Slowly, he turned his head back and asked, "What did you say?"
"That boy... he’s not your son," she said quietly while still lying on the bed. "If you don’t believe , then go ahead and check. See if I’m lying or confused. See it for yourself, Enzo. That boy... he’s not your flesh and blood... nor is he mine."
---
Days later...
Zoren had spent the first week in the intensive care unit after being saved from the fire. But even though he was out of harm’s way, he remained in a coma. With each passing day, the anxiety building in Enzo’s heart beca too much for him to bear.
Still, he didn’t lose hope—he didn’t want to.
Seated in the chair beside his son, Enzo held his boy’s little hand. "Renren, you should wake up soon, son. Dad is getting a bit bored with you in here. Our word puzzles have already piled up, waiting for you. Once you see them, you’ll be surprised at the newspaper stock we have to answer together."
"Enzo." Suddenly, Old Mrs. Pierson’s voice reached his ears. She was sitting in the other chair across from him, her eyes fixed on him. "About Naylani..."
"Mom, please, let’s not talk about her," Enzo faced his mother and offered a forced smile. "The doctors said that even if a patient is in a coma, they still hear everything. So, let’s not... talk about that woman."
"I’m concerned about what she said." Old Mrs. Pierson didn’t budge. "Shouldn’t you check if what she said is true?" — she was referring to the DNA test. "The result wouldn’t change anything. Renren is still your boy, and he’s always going to be my grandson. However, we still need to know the truth."
"The truth is that woman did everything in the right state of mind. She was neither confused nor ntally ill when she did it. She did what she did, and I’ll do what a father should do," Enzo replied sternly, but still calmly and politely. "She wanted to believe her so badly, and so I did. That’s the only truth I need to know."
Slowly, he set his eyes on his son and smiled. "Besides, when he was admitted here, he needed blood. He had a rare blood type — the sa as mine. Isn’t that enough? That’s good enough for . Besides, I know... he’s mine, Mom."
"I know, Mom," he repeated under his breath, his eyes still on his son. He reached out and brushed his son’s temple with his fingertips. "As a parent, I know from the bottom of my heart that he’s my kid."
But deep down, both Enzo and Old Mrs. Pierson knew that it wasn’t all about parental love. It was fear that dominated Enzo, because he had already lost his wife by turning her in as the person responsible for the fire and Zoren’s attempted murder. He couldn’t afford to lose his son as well if that piece of paper ca back negative.
At the sa ti, Enzo felt his son’s hand twitched. He snapped out of his thoughts, watching as Zoren’s eyes flickered underneath his eyelids before they opened. Watching Zoren’s eyes open, Enzo’s heart felt at ease for the first ti in days.
That was right, he thought. A piece of paper wouldn’t determine whether Zoren was his son or not. His heart already knew, and that was the only thing that mattered.
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