Chapter 9: The Boy With Damon’s Eyes
The call disconnected.
Damon immediately called back.
No answer.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Nothing.
Something was wrong.
Michael never disconnected without warning.
Sarah saw his face.
"What happened?""
Damon grabbed his coat.
"We're leaving.""
"Where?""
"To find our son.""
The words felt strange.
Beautiful.
Painful.
Their son.
A child who had existed for five years without either parent knowing.
A child who carried half of Damon’s blood.
Half of Sarah’s heart.
An hour later, they arrived at a small apartment complex on the edge of the city.
The building looked old.
Nothing like the world Damon lived in.
But he had learned something.
Important things were often hidden in places nobody noticed.
Michael’s car was parked outside.
Damon immediately knew something was wrong.
The front door to the apartment was open.
"Michael?""
No answer.
Damon entered.
The room was empty.
A folder was lying on the table.
Inside was a photograph.
A young boy.
About five years old.
Dark hair.
Green eyes.
Damon’s eyes.
On the back of the photograph was one sentence.
His name is Noah.
Sarah covered her mouth.
"Noah.""
She touched the picture.
"My baby.""
Damon picked up another document.
Temporary custody records.
The signature at the bottom made his blood freeze.
Elisa Rochefort.
Again.
She had taken everything.
The first child.
The second child.
The entire future Damon was supposed to have.
A sound came from the hallway.
A small voice.
"Are you looking for me?""
Damon turned.
A little boy stood there.
He was holding a worn backpack.
His clothes were too big.
His expression was cautious.
But his eyes...
Damon couldn't breathe.
Those eyes were his.
The boy looked at Sarah.
Then at Damon.
"Who are you?""
Damon slowly lowered himself.
"My name is Damon.""
The boy watched him carefully.
"Do you know my mommy?""
Sarah stepped forward.
Tears filled her eyes.
"Yes.""
The boy looked confused.
"Who is your mommy?""
Sarah couldn't speak.
Damon answered softly.
"Her name is Sarah.""
The boy looked at her.
Something changed in his face.
A memory.
A feeling.
Then he whispered:
"She told me you would come.""
Sarah broke.
She ran forward and hugged him.
The boy froze at first.
Then slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"My mommy said my real family would find me someday.""
Damon looked away.
Trying to control himself.
Five years.
His son had waited five years.
A few minutes later, Noah sat between them while Sarah asked him questions.
"Who took care of you?""
The boy looked down.
"Mrs. Elisa.""
Damon’s jaw tightened.
"What did she tell you about us?""
Noah hesitated.
"She said my parents didn't want me.""
Sarah closed her eyes.
Damon felt anger burn through him.
"That's a lie.""
Noah looked at him.
"She said my daddy was dangerous.""
Damon knelt.
"Do you believe that?""
The boy studied him.
Then shook his head.
"No.""
"Why?""
Noah pointed at his face.
"Because I have your eyes.""
Damon almost broke.
Then Noah reached into his backpack.
"I kept this.""
He pulled out a small folded paper.
Sarah opened it.
It was a note.
Written years ago.
A note from Elisa.
But this one was different.
It wasn't meant to hurt Sarah.
It was meant for Noah.
Damon read it.
And his expression changed.
Because the note revealed something impossible.
Elisa had not stolen Noah to protect Damon’s father’s legacy.
She had stolen him because of a secret Noah carried.
A secret that had nothing to do with the children.
And everything to do with Damon’s family.
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At the bottom of the note was one sentence:
Your father never died by accident.
