Chapter 40: The Familiar Look
Natalie~
Zane’s voice was sharp, controlled, but beneath it was a tension that made my stomach tighten.
"Abel, take Alexander to his room. I need to talk to Natalie alone."
My heart plummeted.
Zane never took his eyes off me, and the disappointment in his gaze was a dagger to my chest. What had Abel told him? What had changed in that single moment?
Abel stepped forward, his hands reaching to pick up Alexander, but the little boy instantly tensed.
"No!" Alexander shrieked, left his legos and ran into my arms clinging to me like his life depended on it. His small fingers dug into my arms as he buried his face in my neck. "No! Don’t touch me!"
Abel hesitated, his face grim. Zane exhaled heavily, rubbing his temples as if exhausted.
This wasn’t new. Alexander had always struggled with being touched by others. Zane thought returning Alexander to school would help, but the last teacher’s report painted a different picture—Alexander sat alone, never speaking, never playing. The only time he showed any joy was when I picked him up.
Now, he was trembling against me, his little hands grasping onto my shirt as if afraid I would vanish.
I stroked his soft curls, whispering, "It’s okay, baby. I’m not leaving you."